Thu Sep 12 19:57:52 UTC 2024: ## India Expands Healthcare Coverage to All Senior Citizens

**New Delhi, India -** The Indian government has announced a significant expansion of its flagship healthcare scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), to include all senior citizens aged 70 and above.

The scheme, which provides free health insurance coverage of ₹5 Lakh per family, will be rolled out within a week, according to a senior Health Ministry official. Any individual aged 70 or above with an Aadhaar card can apply for the scheme through an online portal. The portal will have a designated link for senior citizens and will also offer face authentication for ease of registration.

This move is expected to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families and six crore senior citizens. There will be no waiting or cooling off period for the scheme, and beneficiaries will have immediate access to healthcare benefits after completing the eKYC process.

The government will continue to fund its share of the scheme (60%), while state governments have the option to expand coverage to other age groups or modify the scheme as per their requirements. Even individuals with existing private insurance or ESIC benefits can also avail the benefits of the AB PM-JAY scheme.

The Health Ministry highlighted that senior citizens are more prone to hospitalizations compared to the general population. Private insurance options are often difficult to obtain for this demographic. Therefore, the scheme will also focus on adding packages specifically for geriatric care. With 58% of the 70+ age group being women, and 54% of them being widows, this initiative is anticipated to further benefit women.

The expansion of AB PM-JAY will add approximately two crore families and three crore individuals to the scheme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over nine crore. The scheme has already facilitated 7.37 crore hospital admissions, including 49% women beneficiaries. Since its inception, the scheme has helped reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure by around ₹1 lakh crore.

This expansion is expected to significantly enhance access to healthcare for India’s elderly population, ensuring their well-being and reducing financial burdens associated with health emergencies.

Read More