New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a big gift to citizens aged 70 years and above. Now all senior citizens, rich and poor, will be provided health insurance of Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
In a program organized on the occasion of Dhanvantari Jayanti and 9th Ayurveda Day at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi, PM Modi inaugurated this scheme and gave Ayushman Vaya Vandana cards to the beneficiaries. Ayushman Bharat Yojana is applicable in 33 states and union territories except three states of the country, Delhi, Odisha and West Bengal.
Till now, Ayushman cards were made only for the poor people. Recently, the government had announced the expansion of Ayushman Bharat Yojana. It has now been implemented. With the launch of Ayushman Bharat Expanded Yojana, about six crore members of about 4.5 crore families will benefit. As per the age recorded in the Aadhar card, any person of 70 years or above will be eligible to apply for this scheme.
While launching the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, the Prime Minister said that the government is making efforts to ensure that every senior citizen above 70 years of age gets the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card. This is a scheme in which there is no income limit. Every citizen of the country who is 70 years or older will get its benefits.
How will the card be made?
People whose age is 70 years or more in the Aadhar card can get Ayushman card made. For this, registration has to be done on PMJAY portal or Ayushman app. Those who already have Ayushman card will also have to apply again on the portal or app and complete their eKYC for a new card. Senior citizens who are 70 years or more and are members of families already covered under AB PM-JAY will get additional top-up coverage of up to ₹ 5 lakh per year for themselves.
Senior citizens availing benefits of private health insurance policy or Employees State Insurance Scheme will also be eligible to get benefits under this scheme. That is, their Ayushman card will also be made. Senior citizens aged 70 years or above, who are availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes like Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), will have to choose between their current scheme or Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
