Health insurance for people aged 70 and above to be rolled out in a week: official

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated14/09/2024

The Central government will roll out health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above under the flagship scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), within a week,

The Central government will extend health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The rollout is expected within a week following the Cabinet’s approval on September 11, 2024.

The scheme will be application-based, with Aadhaar cardholders aged 70+ eligible to apply. A pilot launch will take place to resolve potential issues. Registration can be completed through an online portal that offers face authentication for convenience.
This new initiative will provide an additional ₹5 lakh of free health insurance for each family, aiming to benefit around 4.5 crore families and six crore senior citizens.

Immediate Activation: Once the eKYC is completed, the Ayushman card will be operational without any waiting or cooling-off period.
Government Funding: The Central government will continue to fund 60% of the scheme’s costs, while states can modify or expand the scheme at their discretion.
Re-application Requirement: Individuals already possessing an Ayushman card must reapply and complete the eKYC process to receive a new card.

The decision to extend coverage recognizes the higher hospitalization rates among the 70+ age group. The government is working to introduce more healthcare packages specifically targeting geriatric care, addressing issues common in old age.
The scheme is also expected to provide significant support to women, as 58% of people aged 70+ are women, with 54% of them being widows. This will help reduce financial burdens and improve access to healthcare for older women.

With this announcement, an additional two crore families and three crore individuals will be included in the scheme. The scheme has already benefited over six crore people, reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses by ₹1 lakh crore.
Initially, the scheme covered 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families (the bottom 40% of the population). In January 2022, this was expanded to cover 12 crore families due to population growth, and later to include 37 lakh ASHA/AWW workers and their families.

Since its inception, the scheme has covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with 49% women beneficiaries. The expansion of the scheme will further strengthen the healthcare safety net for senior citizens across the country.