Ayushman Bharat Card for Senior Citizens: The government has decided to provide health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) for senior citizens above 70 years of age. Under this scheme, all senior citizens above 70 years of age will be given the benefit of health insurance coverage, irrespective of their financial status. Till now, only citizens with poor financial status have been getting the facility of free health insurance under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana scheme. But after the new decision of the government, now this essential facility will be provided to all senior citizens.
Who is eligible?
Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, all citizens above 70 years of age, irrespective of their financial status, will be eligible to avail health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh. Under this, they will be issued a special card, with the help of which they will be able to avail the benefits of the scheme. The elderly who are already covered under Ayushman Bharat will get additional top-up cover of up to Rs 5 lakh, which will not be shared with other family members. Citizens below 70 years of age will continue to get health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh applicable for the entire family as before.
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What are the main benefits of this scheme?
Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), senior citizens will get health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh every year. These major services can be availed through the scheme:
- Medical examination, treatment and consultation
- Food and lodging facility during treatment in the hospital
- Operations, surgeries, and other medical procedures
- Medicines and medical supplies
- ICU Services and Non-ICU Services
- Diagnostic and lab tests
- Medical implants (if needed)
- Care for complications that arise during treatment
- Pre-hospitalization care (up to 3 days before admission)
- Post-hospitalisation follow-up care after discharge (up to 15 days)
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Those who get coverage in other schemes will also get benefits
Senior citizens who are already availing benefits of any government health insurance scheme such as Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can either continue with their current scheme or avail benefits of Ayushman Bharat Yojana. If you are covered under a private health insurance policy or Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIC), you can still avail benefits of Ayushman Bharat Yojana.It is estimated that about 6 crore elderly people from 4.5 crore families will get free health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh annually through this scheme. This will help the elderly to get better health services to prevent serious diseases.
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How to apply for the scheme?
1. You can apply for this scheme by visiting the official website of Ayushman Bharat (https://abdm.gov.in/).
2. Senior citizens can also apply for this facility by visiting their nearest PMJAY center after verification through their Aadhar card or ration card.
3. While applying, citizens may have to submit the required documents like Aadhaar card, ration card etc.
4. After the application is processed, senior citizens will get their e-card with a special AB-PMJAY ID. Through this card, they can avail all the health services under the scheme.
