Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)

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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).

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The Finance Ministry has also included ASHA and Anganwadi workers in the PMJAY scheme's coverage.
32 Crore Ayushman Cards Created
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The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) reached a significant achievement by issuing over 32 crore Ayushman cards. Uttar Pradesh leads among states with the creation of more than 5 crore Ayushman Cards, the highest in the country.
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You can get your Ayushman Card with your voter ID if you don't have a ration card. A proposal for this is being sent to the cabinet. Over five lakh people couldn't benefit due to the lack of a ration card.

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.
PMJAY Beneficiary NHA Portal
  • 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.
Check Ayushman Card List
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Use your Aadhaar number for a simplified process.
  • 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.
Ayushman Card Status and List
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You can now check the Ayushman Card status for each listed beneficiary.
  • 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.

Ayushman Card Download Process

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.
Ayushman Beneficiary Search
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When you select the search option, your record will appear, allowing you to see the list of Ayushman beneficiaries linked with your Aadhaar number or Family ID. Additionally, you can check the status of your Ayushman Card to see if it has been generated and is available for download or if it is still Not-Generated.
  • 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.
Ayushman Card Registration
  • 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.
Ayushman card registration form
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Once you've successfully completed the steps, your Ayushman Card will be approved shortly, after which you can download it.
Ayushman card registration process

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.

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One of the scheme’s main objectives is to improve access to health services at both primary and higher levels of care. HWCs act as the first point of care, helping to decongest secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities by managing cases at the primary level​

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.
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NHA: The National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing India's Ayushman Bharat health initiative and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. It plays a key role in enhancing India’s digital health infrastructure to improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency.
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The scheme focuses on registering families and individuals under the health services provided by Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) and PM-JAY. The health cards provided ensure access to health entitlements and enable continuity of care​.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

CategoryEligibility Criteria
Rural BeneficiariesOne-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 BeneficiariesWaste 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
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Under PM-JAY, beneficiaries are selected based on the SECC 2011 data.

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.
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Under this scheme, beneficiaries receive the benefit of covering all hospital-related expenses through cashless transactions. This includes accommodation during hospital stays, expenses before and after hospitalization, and financial assistance to deal with any complications that arise during treatment.

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.

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Also, A valid mobile number is used to communicate updates, including OTP for authentication and other notifications regarding the scheme .

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.

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You can get in touch with the National Health Authority for more information, located on the 9th Floor, Tower-1, Jeevan Bharati Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 110 001. You can also contact us via the National Health Authority toll-free number at 1800-11-4477 or by email at abdm@nha.gov.in.

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.


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