Centre's health coverage scheme for elderly above 70 under Ayushman Bharat: All you need to know

The Union Cabinet recently announced several key initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility, boosting renewable energy, and promoting electric mobility across India. Among these, the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) now offers comprehensive health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income or socio-economic status.In addition, the government approved substantial outlays for hydropower projects and introduced the PM E-Drive Scheme to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, replacing the FAME programme.
Here's all you need to know about the new insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat

The union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light to the new initiative designed to offer extensive health coverage to senior citizens aged 70 and above. This scheme falls under the umbrella of the flagship program Ayushman Bharat.

The government's new initiative is set to support around 4.5 Crore families, which includes six (6) crore senior citizens. Under this program, each family will receive free health insurance coverage of up to 5 Lakh rupees.
The AB PM-JAY extends financial protection to approximately 55 crore people, equivalent to 12.34 crore households, by providing a health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. Since its inception, it has facilitated 7.37 Crore hospital admissions, with women constituting 49 percent of the beneficiaries. The cumulative financial benefit availed by the public under this scheme has surpassed Rs. 1 Lakh crore.
The key advantage of this top-up is that it is exclusively available to the senior citizen and does not need to be shared with other family members below the age of 70. Also, for senior citizens who are already benefiting from other public health insurance schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), there is an option to either continue with their existing scheme or switch to AB PM-JAY, depending on their preference and healthcare needs. Elderly people aged 60 and above who have private health insurance coverage or are beneficiaries of the Employees' State Insurance program can still avail themselves of the advantages offered by the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

The new insurance coverage aims to provide healthcare benefits to all citizens above the age of 70, regardless of their income level.
The government has announced that senior citizens who meet the eligibility criteria will receive a unique card, distinct from the existing one, as part of the scheme.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is an initiative by the government to ensure that all citizens, particularly the underprivileged, vulnerable sections of society and now all citizens above 70, have access to quality hospital services without facing financial hardship.
PM-JAY offers a wide range of health services, including expenses related to hospitalization, day care surgeries, follow-up care, and benefits for pre and post-hospitalization expenses. The scheme also covers services for newborn children.
Steps to apply for PMJAY OnlineFirst check eligibility

Once you've confirmed your eligibility, follow these steps to avail the PMJAY scheme:
1. Access to services:
2. Cashless and paperless access:
Beneficiaries receive free treatment for secondary and tertiary care for specific packages. Services are cashless and paperless at public hospitals and empaneled private hospitals.
3. Empanelment of hospitals:
Hospitals are empaneled by the state government via an online portal.
4. Eligibility:
PM-JAY is entitlement-based, with no enrolment required. Eligible families are identified based on deprivation and occupational criteria using the SECC database in both rural and urban areas.

To register for the PMJAY scheme, ensure you have the following documents ready:

(Please note: These steps are applicable for those eligible under the scheme before the recent announcement. The portal has not been updated for the new changes at the time of publication of this article)