Tue Oct 29 20:39:53 UTC 2024: ## Modi Extends Ayushman Bharat to All Senior Citizens, Excludes Delhi and Bengal

**New Delhi:** Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the expansion of the flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat to include all senior citizens aged 70 years and above. This move aims to provide free treatment in hospitals to all elderly individuals regardless of their income.

The scheme, now renamed ‘Ayushman Vaya Vandana’, will be implemented through a new card that will grant access to the benefits. However, PM Modi expressed regret that senior citizens in Delhi and West Bengal will not be able to avail the scheme due to the respective state governments’ refusal to participate in Ayushman Bharat for “political reasons.”

During a health sector event in Delhi, PM Modi handed over the Ayushman Vay Vandana card to beneficiaries and highlighted the success of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which has benefitted around 4 crore individuals. He emphasized the government’s commitment to bearing medical expenses of up to Rs. 5 lakh for the poor.

While the expansion of Ayushman Bharat is a positive step towards providing universal health coverage, the exclusion of Delhi and West Bengal has sparked debate. The PM’s statement raises concerns about the politicization of healthcare schemes and the potential impact on vulnerable populations in these states.

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