The Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), India’s flagship health insurance programme, has introduced an important enhancement that many beneficiaries are still unaware of. Families enrolled under the scheme can now extend their existing ₹5 lakh annual health coverage to ₹10 lakh under certain conditions, especially for senior citizens aged 70 and above.
Launched to protect economically vulnerable households from high medical expenses, PM-JAY provides cashless treatment for secondary and tertiary care at thousands of empanelled hospitals nationwide. The scheme covers all pre-existing diseases from day one and places no restrictions on the number of family members, age, or gender.
Under PM-JAY, the definition of family includes all dependent household members: spouses, parents, grandparents, children including newborns, siblings, and in-laws living together. There is no limit on family size.
Last year, the government expanded the scheme by introducing an additional top-up of ₹5 lakh for senior citizens above the age of 70. This extra coverage is offered individually to every eligible member of a PM-JAY household. The only requirement is that the beneficiary must complete Aadhaar-based eKYC to activate the enhanced health cover.
The scheme also offers free annual health check-ups for senior citizens through Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, promoting preventive healthcare and early detection of chronic conditions. Coverage includes surgeries, specialist consultations, organ transplants, and a broad range of advanced medical treatments.
With zero age restrictions, comprehensive benefits, and the option to extend coverage to ₹10 lakh for eligible senior family members, Ayushman Bharat continues to be one of India’s most impactful health protection programmes.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
