Thu Sep 12 15:57:49 UTC 2024: ## India Expands Ayushman Bharat Scheme to Cover All Senior Citizens
**New Delhi, India:** In a significant move to bolster healthcare for senior citizens, the Indian government has expanded the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to include all individuals aged 70 and above, irrespective of their income. This expansion will benefit an estimated six crore senior citizens, providing them with health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year.
The scheme, previously available to families based on socio-economic criteria, now extends its reach to every senior citizen, regardless of their financial status. They will be issued a distinctive card to access their benefits under the program.
“This expansion is a testament to our commitment to ensuring comprehensive healthcare for all citizens, particularly our senior population,” said a government spokesperson.
Senior citizens aged 70 and above who are already part of families covered under AB PM-JAY will receive an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year specifically for themselves, on top of the existing coverage shared with other family members.
Those currently enrolled in other public health schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can choose to retain their current coverage or switch to AB PM-JAY.
Importantly, senior citizens who hold private health insurance policies will also be eligible to avail benefits under the AB PM-JAY scheme, according to Pankaj Mathpal, MD & CEO at Optima Money Managers.
The AB PM-JAY, now the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, offers comprehensive secondary and tertiary care hospitalization coverage to 55 crore individuals or 12.34 crore families. This expansion ensures that senior citizens across India have access to quality healthcare, further strengthening the country’s commitment to universal healthcare.
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