Ayushman Bharat Scheme: Families with Seniors Above 70 Now Get ₹10 Lakh Cover - With One Condition
The government’s flagship health insurance initiative, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ( AB PM-JAY ), has widened its reach by including senior citizens aged 70 years and above under its fold. This move ensures that elderly citizens get enhanced protection without financial strain.
Under the scheme, every eligible family receives free health insurance worth ₹5 lakh per year. Now, with the inclusion of seniors, families with members above 70 can claim an additional ₹5 lakh, taking the total coverage to ₹10 lakh annually. However, there’s a clear division, the extra ₹5 lakh is exclusively for senior members, not for the rest of the family.
This means if the ₹5 lakh base limit is exhausted for the husband, wife, or children, the extra ₹5 lakh reserved for elderly parents cannot be used by them. Essentially, the cover is split, ₹5 lakh for the family unit and ₹5 lakh for senior citizens aged 70 or above.
A major highlight of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is that it does not cap family size, making it highly beneficial for joint families where multiple generations live together.
Eligibility: Any Indian aged 70+ verified via Aadhaar, regardless of income or occupation.
Documents Needed: Only Aadhaar. If the Aadhaar mentions only the birth year, January 1 of the following year is treated as the date of birth.
Separate Card: Yes, seniors get their own Ayushman card.
Easy Enrolment: Families can add senior members through the “Add Member” option on the Ayushman portal.
Online Access: Applications can be made via beneficiary.nha.gov.in or the Ayushman App on Google Play.
Instant Benefits: No waiting period, treatment coverage starts immediately after enrolment.
Income No Bar: Even high-earning seniors are eligible.
Overlap with Other Schemes: Those covered under schemes like CGHS or ESIC can enrol but cannot claim benefits from both simultaneously.
One-Time Option: If seniors opt for Ayushman Bharat by surrendering another government scheme, they cannot switch back later.
With this expansion, the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY continues to strengthen India’s healthcare safety net, ensuring that the nation’s elderly, often the most vulnerable, get the protection and dignity they deserve.
Under the scheme, every eligible family receives free health insurance worth ₹5 lakh per year. Now, with the inclusion of seniors, families with members above 70 can claim an additional ₹5 lakh, taking the total coverage to ₹10 lakh annually. However, there’s a clear division, the extra ₹5 lakh is exclusively for senior members, not for the rest of the family.
This means if the ₹5 lakh base limit is exhausted for the husband, wife, or children, the extra ₹5 lakh reserved for elderly parents cannot be used by them. Essentially, the cover is split, ₹5 lakh for the family unit and ₹5 lakh for senior citizens aged 70 or above.
A major highlight of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is that it does not cap family size, making it highly beneficial for joint families where multiple generations live together.
Quick Guide: Key Facts About Senior Citizen Coverage
Eligibility: Any Indian aged 70+ verified via Aadhaar, regardless of income or occupation.
Documents Needed: Only Aadhaar. If the Aadhaar mentions only the birth year, January 1 of the following year is treated as the date of birth.
Separate Card: Yes, seniors get their own Ayushman card.
Easy Enrolment: Families can add senior members through the “Add Member” option on the Ayushman portal.
Online Access: Applications can be made via beneficiary.nha.gov.in or the Ayushman App on Google Play.
Instant Benefits: No waiting period, treatment coverage starts immediately after enrolment.
Income No Bar: Even high-earning seniors are eligible.
Overlap with Other Schemes: Those covered under schemes like CGHS or ESIC can enrol but cannot claim benefits from both simultaneously.
One-Time Option: If seniors opt for Ayushman Bharat by surrendering another government scheme, they cannot switch back later.
With this expansion, the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY continues to strengthen India’s healthcare safety net, ensuring that the nation’s elderly, often the most vulnerable, get the protection and dignity they deserve.
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