Senior citizens aged 70 and above to get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

The Union Cabinet’s decision to expand the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to offer health coverage for individuals aged 70 and above, irrespective of income, marks a significant shift in public healthcare. This move is expected to greatly benefit the country’s growing elderly population, who often struggle with the high costs of medical treatment, medicines, and therapies, especially in the absence of robust social security. The expansion promises to reduce the healthcare burden on senior citizens and transform the landscape of accessible medical care in India.

Union Cabinet Approves Rs 5 Lakh Annual Health Coverage for Citizens Aged 70 and Above

Currently, the scheme is income-based and provides Rs 5 lakh shared annual coverage to all members of eligible families — estimated to comprise the bottom 40 per cent of the population economically — irrespective of their age. With the Cabinet clearing the extension of the scheme, Rs 5 lakh annual coverage per family will be provided to all citizens aged 70 years and above. An additional 6 crore people in this age group, from 4.5 crore families, are expected to benefit, according to a government statement. The eligible beneficiaries will be issued a new card under PM-JAY.

The government has announced that senior citizens aged 70 and above, who are part of families already covered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), will receive an additional top-up health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per year.

Those currently benefiting from other public health insurance schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can either continue with their existing coverage or switch to AB PM-JAY. Additionally, senior citizens covered under private health insurance or the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) will also be eligible for benefits under this expanded scheme.

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Health Coverage for Senior Citizens to be Shared Within Families, Says Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

As Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explained, the health coverage in such a scenario will be shared by the eligible beneficiaries of a family. “If there are two senior citizens (70 years+) in a family, then the Rs 5 lakh coverage will be shared between them. This is a big step towards ensuring the social security of senior citizens, especially as India transitions to nuclear families,” he said.

The government has allocated an initial outlay of Rs 3,437 crore for the expanded Ayushman Bharat scheme, which will provide health coverage to senior citizens aged 70 and above. According to Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the scheme is demand-based, with coverage increasing as demand grows.

Sources indicate that while most states will cover 40% of the costs, the Centre is expected to bear 90% of the expenses for states in hilly and northeastern regions. The finer details of the scheme will be finalized during its implementation. Experts suggest that the cost of extending coverage to all individuals over 70 years may exceed the cost of covering the poorest 40% of the population across all age groups.

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