70+ citizens with private cover can also avail PMJAY: Centre

New Delhi: Union Cabinet's decision to extend Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to all senior citizens aged 70 and above comes just before govt completes the first 100 days in office in its third term.

"The scheme will be rolled out soon. All eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under AB-PMJAY. The senior citizens of the age 70 years and above belonging to families already covered under AB-PMJAY will get an additional top-up cover up to Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves (which they do not have to share with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70). All other senior citizens of the age 70 years and above will get a cover up to Rs 5 lakh per year on a family basis," I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

He added that eligible senior citizens already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB-PMJAY. It was clarified that citizens aged 70 years and above who are under private health insurance policies or Employees' State Insurance scheme will be eligible to avail benefits under AB-PMJAY.

Govt said AB-PMJAY is the world's largest publicly funded health assurance scheme which was launched in 2018 to provide health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 55 crore individuals corresponding to 12.34 crore poor and vulnerable families.

PM Modi said the expansion of the scheme will ensure dignity, care and security to the senior citizens. "We are committed to ensuring accessible, affordable and top-quality healthcare for every Indian. The Cabinet today has decided to further expand the ambit of AB-PMJAY to provide health coverage to all senior citizens above 70 years," PM Modi wrote on X. Union health minister J P Nadda also called the decision "momentous" and added that it will take care of the healthcare needs of all elderly irrespective of income.


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