Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), offers free health coverage to India's poorest 40%, covering hospital costs for about 50 crore people. Launched in 2018, it provides health cover up to Rs. 5 lakh per family yearly at various hospitals.
This government scheme issues an Ayushman Card to beneficiaries. In this article, I'll provide in-depth details and information on the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme.
Latest Updates
Uttar Pradesh has issued more than 5 crore Ayushman cards, the highest in India, as part of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, resulting in daily patient admissions under the program increasing from 2,000 to 8,000.
In the 2024 interim Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated ₹7,500 crore for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
Download
If you've already applied for an Ayushman card and want to download it, just follow these steps:
- Step 1: Log in as a beneficiary on the Ayushman app or the National Health Authority' PMJAY - Beneficiary Portal - beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
- Step 2: After login, a search page opens for finding beneficiaries.
- Step 3: Search using details like state, scheme name (PMJAY), PMJAY ID, Family ID, Location, or your Aadhaar number.
- Step 4: Enter your Aadhaar number and click on the search button.
- Step 5: You'll see an Ayushman Card List associated with your Aadhaar.
- Step 7: For beneficiaries whose KYC is complete or whose card is ready, click on the download option next to their names.
- Step 8: To download the card, you need to authenticate yourself.
- Step 9: Select Aadhaar for authentication and use OTP to verify.
- Step 10: After verification, the download page will open.
Lastly, click 'download' to get your card in PDF format.
Registration
It's essential for citizens to have their names in the Ayushman Card List to apply for a card. The detailed application process is provided below:
- Step 1: Visit the official website at beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
- Step 2: Log in with your mobile number and OTP.
- Step 3: Search by state, district, scheme name (PMJAY), PMJAY ID, Family ID, or Aadhaar number for ease.
- Step 4: You can find the names of eligible citizens on the Ayushman Card List. Those without an Ayushman Card will be labelled as "Not-Generated" in the Card Status column.
- Step 5: To apply for a card, simply click on the "Action" button.
- Step 6: On the new page, complete your KYC using Aadhaar OTP and upload a recent photo.
- Step 7: Enter additional details such as mobile number, religion, date of birth, PIN code, district, and village.
- Step 8: Once you've entered the details, click the "submit" button.
What is Ayushman Card?
The Ayushman card is provided to registered beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). This card provides economically weaker families with free medical treatment up to 5 lakh rupees per year.
Ayushman Bharat Scheme covers approximately 10.74 crore households, targeting the bottom 40% of India’s population based on Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 criteria.
So far, more than 30 crore beneficiaries have been covered. This scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2018, in Ranchi, Jharkhand. It is the world's largest government-funded healthcare program.
The official portal for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is pmjay.gov.in. Beneficiaries can access the portal at beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
Features available on the beneficiary portal include:
- Link Aadhaar: Beneficiaries or operators can now link Aadhaar numbers to cards issued without the Aadhaar eKYC process.
- Add Member: This function allows beneficiaries or operators to add new members to an existing family.
- Redo eKYC: Beneficiaries or operators have the option to redo the eKYC process to update the latest photo and address.
- Check Status: A feature for beneficiaries or operators to verify the status of the card.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria are as follows:
Category | Eligibility Criteria |
---|---|
Rural Beneficiaries | One-room houses with mud walls and roofs |
Families without adult male members aged 16-59 | |
Families with disabled members without able-bodied adults | |
SC/ST families | |
Landless families dependent on manual labor | |
Urban Beneficiaries | Waste collectors |
Beggars | |
Domestic helpers | |
Street vendors, cobblers, hawkers | |
Construction workers (masons, plumbers, painters) | |
Cleaners, sanitation workers, gardeners | |
Home-based workers, craftsmen, tailors | |
Transport workers (drivers, conductors, rickshaw pullers) | |
Shop workers, assistants, waiters | |
Electricians, mechanics, repair workers | |
Laundry workers, watchmen |
Benefits
- Coverage up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family every year for hospital care.
- Over 12 crore families (about 50 crore people) can get this benefit.
- Cashless and paperless treatment at hospitals.
- Helps avoid the high cost of hospital stays.
- Families can get necessary health services without financial hardship.
Required Documents
The Aadhaar Card is a required and primary document for applying for an Ayushman card. Additionally, some states may require other documents, which are listed below.
- Family ID
- Ration Card
- Income Certificate
- Domicile Certificate, etc.
Helpline
The Ayushman Bharat helpline number is 14555. Alternatively, you can reach them at 1800-111-565 for assistance regarding eligibility, benefits, application status, and other inquiries related to the scheme.
ABHA Card
The ABHA card is a digital ID for health, given to people in India. It has a special 14-digit number that makes it easy to look at and share health information safely, helping to improve healthcare services.
The Ayushman Bharat scheme helps people get health insurance, and the ABHA card gives everyone digital health ID. This makes it easier to use healthcare services. Together, they help make healthcare better and more reachable for everyone in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, you can find frequently asked questions and their answers.
Read FAQs
What steps should I take if my name is not included in the Ayushman Card list?
If your family qualifies but isn't on the list, you can go to your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) to get added. The CSCs are allotted for identifying beneficiaries and use over 3 lakh village-level entrepreneurs for this task.
How can I check if I am eligible for the PM-JAY scheme?
To check your eligibility, visit pmjay.gov.in, click on "Am I Eligible," and log in using your mobile number and OTP. Then, select your state and verify your eligibility using your name, Aadhaar, ration card, or mobile number. Submit to view your status.
Is Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana available for all individuals in India?
PMJAY is for people and families who qualify based on the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 database. It's not for everyone, just for those who really need financial help for health insurance.