Cabinet nod to Rs 5 lakh health cover for all aged 70 and above

In a significant move aimed at expanding the beneficiary base of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the inclusion of all senior citizens aged 70 and above in it irrespective of their income.

As per the proposal cleared by the Cabinet, the eligible senior citizens will be issued a new distinct card under AB PM-JAY, while the senior citizens aged 70 and above belonging to families already covered under the scheme 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 70).

Families not covered under the scheme will get a shared cover of Rs 5 lakh per year.

Senior citizens aged 70 years and above who are 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) scheme among others, may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PM-JAY, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw told mediapersons after the meeting.

The move aims to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families with six crore senior citizens with Rs 5 lakh free health insurance cover on a family basis.

It has been clarified that senior citizens aged 70 and above who are under private health insurance policies or Employees’ State Insurance scheme will be eligible to avail benefits under AB PM-JAY.

Vaishnaw said the states' component is also there in the scheme, for which the formula will be shared soon. He said the scheme with the new additional benefits okayed by the Union Cabinet would be rolled out in a systematic manner by the health ministry.

Apart from West Bengal and Delhi, all other state governments have adopted the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the minister said.

The expansion of the scheme to cover senior citizens aged 70 and above was earlier announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2024.