Cabinet Approves Rs5 Lakh Health Coverage for All Senior Citizens Aged 70 Years under AB PM-JAY
Moneylife Digital Team 12 September 2024
The Union Cabinet has approved health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income, under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This will benefit about 45mn (million) families, with 60mn senior citizens receiving Rs5 lakh free health insurance coverage on a family basis.
 
In a release, the government says all eligible senior citizens will be issued a new distinct card under AB PM-JAY. Senior citizens of the age 70 years and above belonging to families already covered under AB PM-JAY will get an additional top-up cover up to Rs5 lakh per year for themselves, which they do not have to share with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70 years. 
 
All other senior citizens aged 70 years and above will get a cover of up to Rs5 lakh per year on a family basis. Senior citizens aged 70 years and above who are already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as central government health scheme (CGHS), ex-servicemen contributory health scheme (ECHS), ayushman central armed police force (CAPF) may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PMJAY.  
 
It has been clarified that senior citizens of 70 years and above under private health insurance policies or employees’ state insurance (ESI) scheme will be eligible to avail benefits under the AB PM-JAY.
 
AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, which provides health cover of Rs5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 550mn individuals, corresponding to 123.4mn families. 
 
All members of the eligible families, irrespective of age are covered under the scheme. The scheme has covered 73.7mn hospital admissions including 49% women beneficiaries. The government says the public has benefited to the extent of over Rs1 lakh crore under the scheme.
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