New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has announced a major expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The government will now provide free health coverage of ₹5 lakh per year to all citizens aged 70 and above. This initiative significantly increases support for elderly citizens across India.
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New Benefits for Senior Citizens
Senior citizens aged 70 and older will receive a ₹5 lakh health cover on an individual basis. This coverage is separate from the existing family coverage and will help with their medical expenses. Seniors who are already covered by AB PM-JAY will see this additional benefit added to their current coverage.
Options for Existing Beneficiaries
Those already receiving benefits from other public health schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) or the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), can choose between continuing with their current scheme or switching to AB PM-JAY. The scheme also includes seniors with private health insurance or those under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme.
Impact and Background
The AB PM-JAY is known as the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme. It originally covered 10.74 crore families from lower socio-economic groups. In January 2022, this coverage expanded to 12 crore families. The scheme has facilitated over 7.37 crore hospital admissions and provided healthcare benefits worth over ₹1 lakh crore.
Recent Expansion Details
The recent policy change aims to broaden the scheme’s reach and offer substantial healthcare support to India’s elderly population. This move follows an earlier expansion that included 37 lakh ASHAs/AWWs/AWHs and their families under the scheme.
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