The central government has expanded its flagship Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide additional health insurance benefits for families with senior citizens aged 70 years and above.
Under the updated provisions, families with members over 70 years of age are now eligible for a total annual health coverage of ₹10 lakh — but there’s an important condition.
The extra ₹5 lakh coverage is exclusive to senior citizen members of the family and cannot be used by younger family members such as the husband, wife, or children.
This means a family’s total insurance coverage is divided into two parts:
- ₹5 lakh for the general family unit (husband, wife, and children), and
- ₹5 lakh reserved specifically for senior citizens aged 70 or above.
The scheme continues to offer cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals, and importantly, there is no cap on family size, making it particularly beneficial for multi-generational households.
👵 Who Is Eligible for the ₹10 Lakh Health Cover?
The only eligibility requirement for the additional cover is age — the beneficiary must be 70 years or older, verified through Aadhaar-based e-KYC.
There are no income restrictions, meaning even individuals from higher income groups can enroll.
All eligible senior citizens will receive a distinct Ayushman card, which can be applied for online via the Ayushman Bharat portal (www.beneficiary.nha.gov.in) or the Ayushman App on the Google Play Store.
💬 Important Details for Families
- The top-up ₹5 lakh cover applies only to senior citizens aged 70+.
- Both parents above 70 years share the same ₹5 lakh limit.
- Enrolment for senior citizens can be done using Aadhaar alone — no income proof or additional documents are required.
- Coverage begins immediately after enrolment — there’s no waiting period for treatments.
- Individuals already under other government health schemes like CGHS or ESIC must choose either Ayushman Bharat or their existing plan, as dual benefits aren’t allowed.
- Once switched, reverting to the old government scheme isn’t permitted.
🏥 Why This Matters
The move aims to provide stronger health protection for India’s ageing population, especially at a time when rising medical costs pose a serious financial burden for families.
With India’s senior citizen population projected to cross 200 million by 2030, the expansion of Ayushman Bharat represents a significant step toward universal healthcare access — though experts say greater awareness and enrollment drives will be key to ensuring its success.
Originally published on newsworldstime.com.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
