Diwali Gift from PM Modi: Free Treatment for Senior Citizens Aged 70 and Above

Ayushman Bharat Yojana Eligibility & Benefits: Under the Ayushman scheme, beneficiaries need to present their Ayushman card at the time of hospitalization. After that, there’s no need for any paperwork or cash for treatment expenses. This means that treatment under this scheme can be availed in a paperless and cashless manner.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: All senior citizens aged 70 and above will now be covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and will benefit from free treatment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana for senior citizens over 70 years of age. This scheme will provide free treatment up to ₹5 lakh to all seniors aged 70 and above. The benefits of the Ayushman scheme will be available to all elderly individuals, regardless of their economic status—rich, poor, or middle-class. This is expected to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families with around 6 crore senior citizens.

Separate Health Coverage of ₹5 Lakh for Seniors

If a family already has an Ayushman card holder and there is a senior citizen aged 70 or above, that individual will receive an additional health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh. This means that seniors over 70 can now also obtain an Ayushman card. To benefit from this scheme, beneficiaries must obtain an Ayushman card, which can be presented for free treatment at registered hospitals associated with the scheme.

Many major hospitals across the country are registered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, allowing cashless and paperless treatment at over 29,000 listed hospitals.

How to Apply for Ayushman Card

Let’s explore the easiest way to apply for an Ayushman card from the comfort of your home. You need to follow these steps to apply for the Ayushman card:

1. Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
2. A new page will open where you need to log in.
3. Enter your mobile number and click on the “Verify” option.
4. You will receive an OTP on your mobile for verification; enter it along with the captcha code and click on “Login.”
5. After logging in, a new beneficiary portal will open. Here, select the scheme name (PMJAY), state, sub-scheme (PMJAY), district, and choose "Search by Aadhar" to enter your Aadhar number.
6. Click on the “Search” button. The next screen will display the Ayushman card list, where you can check your or your family members' names.
7. After verifying your or your family member's name on the Ayushman card list, go to the action button next to the member for whom you want to create the Ayushman card.
8. If you want to create the card in your name, verify your Aadhar number and complete E-KYC by selecting Aadhar OTP.
9. After verification, a Matching Score will appear. If it’s above 80%, your Ayushman card will be auto-approved.
10. Next, go to the “Capture Photo” option to upload your photo.
11. After uploading the photo, a new form will open where you must fill in all the required details and click the “Submit” button.

This completes the process for applying for the Ayushman card. You can log in to the Ayushman card portal to download your card.

Free Treatment for Serious Illnesses

Beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat scheme can avail of free treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer, heart diseases, kidney issues, cataracts, dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and several other severe conditions. Major surgeries like prostate cancer treatment, knee and hip replacements, pediatric surgeries, skull base surgeries, and neurosurgeries can also be performed for free under this scheme.

Benefits of Ayushman Yojana

Under the Ayushman scheme, you only need to show your Ayushman card at the time of admission to the hospital. After that, there’s no need for any paperwork or cash for treatment expenses, enabling a completely paperless and cashless experience. The scheme covers expenses incurred up to three days before hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization, including diagnostic tests and medications. Additionally, transportation costs during this period are also covered.