Centre Extends Ayushman Health Insurance to All Above 70
Date: September 11, 2024
In a major policy update, the Union Cabinet has approved the extension of Coverage of Ayushman health insurance benefit to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their income.
This expansion under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) provides free health care coverage up to 5 lakh rupees, ensuring that elderly citizens can access necessary medical services without financial burden.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared that this move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to extending Ayushman health insurance coverage to all senior citizens over 70 years old. The initiative aims to benefit approximately 6 crore senior citizens from 4.5 crore families across the country.
Key Details of the Ayushman Health Insurance Expansion:
- New Coverage for Seniors: All seniors aged 70 and above will now receive an Ayushman health insurance card, granting them free health care coverage up to 5 lakh rupees per year.
This initiative targets providing dedicated health support to the elderly. - Additional Coverage for Existing Families: In families already covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme that include senior citizens, an additional top-up coverage of 5 lakh rupees will be provided specifically for those aged 70 and above. This ensures that older family members receive extra protection without having to share their benefits with younger relatives.
- Flexibility for Current Health Insurance Holders: Seniors already enrolled in other public health insurance schemes, like the Central Government Health Scheme or Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, can either maintain their existing plan or switch to the Ayushman health insurance coverage.
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- All senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their socio-economic status, will be eligible to receive benefits under AB PM-JAY.
- Eligible senior citizens will be provided with a new, distinct card as part of AB PM-JAY.
- Senior citizens whose families are already part of the Ayushman Bharat scheme will qualify for an additional shared top-up coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year.
- All other senior citizens aged 70 and above will receive coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year on a family basis.
- Senior citizens aged 70 and above who are already benefiting from other public health insurance schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), can either retain their current scheme or choose to switch to AB PM-JAY.
- It has been confirmed that senior citizens aged 70 and above, who are covered by private health insurance policies or the Employees’ State Insurance scheme, will also be eligible to receive benefits under AB PM-JAY
What Exactly Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is ?
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance program. It provides health coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family each year for secondary and tertiary hospital care, covering an enormous 55 crore people, which equals 12.34 crore families. All members of eligible families, regardless of their age, are included under this scheme.
AB PM-JAY has made a huge impact, facilitating 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with 49% of the beneficiaries being women. The total benefit amount provided under this scheme has exceeded Rs. 1 lakh crore.
Since its launch, the AB PM-JAY scheme has consistently grown. It initially targeted 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, representing the bottom 40% of India’s population. Over time, the scheme has expanded its reach.
In January 2022, the government revised the number of families covered under AB PM-JAY, increasing it from 10.74 crore to 12 crore families, to reflect India’s population growth of 11.7% since 2011. The scheme was also expanded to include 37 lakh ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and helpers, along with their families, providing them with free healthcare benefits. Now, AB PM-JAY will also offer Rs. 5 lakh of free healthcare coverage to all citizens aged 70 and above across the country.
The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme, launched in 2015, and followed by FAME-II in 2019, played a key role in increasing electric vehicle (EV) sales in India. However, the end of FAME-II in March 2024 slowed the industry’s growth. To keep promoting EVs, the government introduced the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) as a temporary solution until FAME-III is launched.
Recently, the government extended the EMPS (Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024) by two months until September 20, 2024, with an increased budget of Rs 778 crore.
Why This Matters:
This significant expansion of the Ayushman health insurance scheme is designed to secure comprehensive health care for all senior citizens over the age of 70. The government’s objective is to eliminate financial obstacles to medical care for the elderly, enhancing their access to essential health services.
For More Information:
Seniors and their families can learn more about the Ayushman health insurance scheme and the new coverage options by visiting the official Ayushman Bharat website or contacting local health officials.
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