Thu Sep 12 12:32:25 UTC 2024: ## Ayushman Bharat Scheme Expanded to Cover All Senior Citizens Above 70 Years

**New Delhi:** In a significant move to enhance healthcare accessibility for senior citizens, the Indian government has announced an expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). Now, all citizens above 70 years of age will be eligible for the scheme, providing them with free health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh.

The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, according to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. This expansion is expected to benefit over 6 crore senior citizens from 4.5 crore families.

“We are committed to ensuring accessible, affordable and top-quality healthcare for every Indian. In this context, the Cabinet today has decided to further expand the ambit of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to provide health coverage for all citizens above 70 years,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries will receive a separate Ayushman Bharat card. Individuals currently covered under other government health schemes can choose to switch to Ayushman Bharat.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched in 2018, has already witnessed tremendous success. As of June 30, 2024, over 34.7 crore Ayushman cards have been issued, with over 7.37 crore patients benefiting from cashless hospital admissions worth over Rs 1 lakh crore.

The scheme allows beneficiaries to access cashless and paperless healthcare services at over 29,000 listed hospitals across the country.

**Eligibility for Ayushman Bharat:**

While there is no limit on the number of family members who can benefit from the scheme, all individuals must be eligible. The scheme primarily targets those residing in rural areas, the destitute, disabled individuals, and those working in the unorganized sector or as daily wage laborers.

To apply for the Ayushman card, individuals need to submit their Aadhaar card, residence proof, ration card, and a valid mobile number at a nearby CSC center. They can also check their eligibility by calling the toll-free number 14555.

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