Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance/assurance scheme fully financed by the Government of India. It provides ₹5 Lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 50 crore beneficiaries.
✅ Key Features
- Coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospitalization expenses.
- No restriction on family size, age or gender.
- Cashless treatment at empaneled public & private hospitals.
- More than 1,500 medical procedures covered including pre & post-hospitalization.
- Nationwide portability — beneficiaries can avail benefits anywhere in India.
🎯 Objectives
The scheme aims to:
- Reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for poor and vulnerable families.
- Provide access to quality healthcare services.
- Strengthen public health infrastructure by incentivizing empanelment.
📌 Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility is based on SECC 2011 (Socio-Economic Caste Census) database:
- Rural: Deprived households (D1 to D7 categories) such as landless laborers, manual scavengers.
- Urban: Identified occupational categories such as ragpickers, domestic workers, construction laborers.
- Check eligibility using official PM-JAY portal with your mobile number or ration card.
📝 Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card
- Ration Card (for family linkage)
- Mobile Number
- Any government-issued ID for verification
🏥 How to Get the Card
- Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or Ayushman Mitra kiosk.
- Provide Aadhaar and family details for verification.
- Get your Ayushman Bharat e-card printed after approval.
💊 Treatment Process
- Visit an empaneled hospital (search on PM-JAY website).
- Show your Ayushman card / Aadhaar card.
- Hospital verifies eligibility through Beneficiary Identification System (BIS).
- Receive cashless treatment and discharge without paying.
📊 Impact
- Over 5 crore hospital admissions authorized since launch.
- Over 1.6 lakh empaneled healthcare providers across India.
- Massive reduction in catastrophic health expenditure for poor households.
❓ FAQs
Q1: Is there any enrollment fee?
No, PM-JAY is fully free for eligible families.
Q2: Can I use PM-JAY in private hospitals?
Yes, if the hospital is empaneled under PM-JAY.
Q3: What if my name is not in the list?
You can submit a grievance through the official portal or visit your nearest CSC.
📞 Helpline
Call 14555 or 1800-111-565 for support.