Summary of this article
More than 7.72 lakh Ayushman Bharat Health Cards have been issued
Ayushman Bharat scheme mainly covers hospitalisation-related expenses
Delhi has issued more than 7.72 lakh Ayushman Bharat Health Cards under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), said Health Minister Pankaj Singh. According to him, over 46,900 beneficiaries have already received treatment under the scheme, while claims worth more than Rs 86 crore have been settled so far, expanding access to cashless healthcare for eligible families and senior citizens in the national capital.
The health cards include both beneficiaries under the Vaya Vandana Scheme for senior citizens and non-VVS beneficiaries. Officials said the scheme is helping reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses by offering cashless treatment across empanelled government and private hospitals. Delhi currently has a network of more than 230 empanelled hospitals under the programme.
Under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, eligible families receive health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation. In Delhi, beneficiaries are also receiving an additional top-up cover from the state government, taking the total potential health coverage to Rs 10 lakh in some cases.
What Does The Ayushman Bharat Card Cover?
The Ayushman Bharat scheme mainly covers hospitalisation-related expenses and treatment for serious illnesses. Eligible beneficiaries can avail of cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals anywhere in India. The coverage includes hospital admission costs, surgeries, intensive care unit (ICU) expenses, medicines during hospitalisation, diagnostics, and specialist consultations.
The scheme also covers secondary and tertiary care procedures, including treatments related to cancer, heart disease, kidney ailments, and other major illnesses. According to the scheme details, thousands of medical procedures and treatment packages are covered under PM-JAY.
Pre-hospitalisation expenses for a limited period and post-hospitalisation care are also included under several treatment packages. Beneficiaries can use the card multiple times in a year until the annual insurance limit is exhausted.
What Is Not Covered Under The Scheme?
While the scheme provides broad hospitalisation support, several common medical expenses are not covered by the scheme. Expenses for OPD consultations, routine health check-ups, common diagnostic tests conducted without hospital admission, and other everyday medical expenses are generally not covered.
Additionally, cosmetic procedures, fertility treatments, organ transplants in certain cases, and non-essential treatments may also fall outside the scheme’s coverage. Patients may additionally have to pay for medicines or services that are not part of approved treatment packages.
