Ayushman Bharat enrollment for senior citizens to start in a week

Enrollment for senior citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is set to start within a week, reported TOI citing government sources. This new phase will initially launch as a pilot program in selected locations before being rolled out nationwide.

Eligible senior citizens, including those already covered under AB-PMJAY, must apply to join the scheme through either the Ayushman mobile application or the PMJAY portal. An Aadhaar card will be required for age verification and other details.

Read more: Rs 5 lakh health insurance under Ayushman Bharat for senior citizens above 70 years: Who is eligible, benefits, how to apply

There will be no waiting or cooling-off periods; eligible beneficiaries can immediately access the benefits of the scheme after registration and eKYC. The program offers free health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually on a family basis.

Currently, AB-PMJAY covers around 25 health packages for the elderly. The National Health Authority (NHA), which oversees the program, is working to introduce additional packages specifically for geriatric care and old-age-related conditions.The annual premium for AB-PMJAY is Rs 1,102 per beneficiary, which includes Rs 50 for administrative charges. Of this, the Centre funds 60% while states contribute 40%. A senior health ministry official mentioned that the government is considering increasing the Centre’s share of the premium based on recommendations from a Niti Aayog committee led by Dr. V K Paul.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the expansion of AB-PMJAY to include seniors aged 70 and above and allocated an initial fund of Rs 3,437 crore to support the additional financial requirements.

Inputs from TOI