Main purpose of this scheme
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is India’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme. It provides free health insurance cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospital treatment. The scheme mainly supports economically weaker families who cannot afford costly medical care.
Official Scheme Page:
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (click on this)
About the Scheme
Launched in 2018, PMJAY has become the backbone of India’s public healthcare system. Even in 2025–2026, it continues to play a major role in reducing medical expenses for poor and vulnerable families.
Under this scheme, eligible families can receive cashless treatment at government as well as selected private hospitals across India.
Who Can Benefit?
PMJAY mainly covers families identified under the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC). These are households with low income and limited access to healthcare.
In a major update between 2024 and 2025, the government extended PMJAY benefits to senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income. This senior-specific coverage is popularly known as Ayushman Vay Vandana.
Key benefits of this scheme
₹5 lakh health cover per year for each eligible family
Covers major surgeries, ICU care, cancer treatment, dialysis, emergency care, and more
Cashless and paperless treatment at empanelled hospitals
No limit on family size or age
Covers secondary and tertiary hospital care
How to Check Eligibility or Apply
Official Beneficiary Portal:
You can check eligibility using your mobile number, ration card, or other basic details.
If your name is missing, Ayushman Mitras at government hospitals or health centres can help with registration.
Impact of this scheme
PMJAY is currently the world’s largest government health insurance programme.
More than 36 crore Ayushman cards have been issued, and thousands of hospitals are part of the network.
The scheme has helped millions of families avoid heavy medical bills and reduced the risk of falling into debt due to health emergencies.
