In a game-changing move to bolster healthcare support for India’s elderly, all Senior Citizens above 70 with the Ayushman Vay Vandana card under the flagship Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) will get free health insurance of Rs 5 lakh a year, regardless of their income or existing insurance coverage.
Universal Top-Up Benefit for Elderly
From October 29, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme on Dhanvantari Jayanti as an extension of AB PM-JAY. The initiative grants a universal annual top-up of Rs 5 lakh to senior citizens, effectively doubling the cover for those already enrolled under AB PM JAY and offering full coverage to others. With this scheme, eligible individuals can now receive up to Rs 10 lakh in health insurance of Rs 5 lakh from their existing entitlement plus an additional Rs 5 lakh from the Vay Vandana card.
Who Qualifies?
• All Indian citizens aged 70 years or above are eligible
• There are no income or socio-economic restrictions, making it accessible to all elderly individuals—whether dependent or affluent
• Those already covered under AB PM-JAY or schemes like CGHS or ECHS can choose this plan or keep existing benefits if they prefer one over the other
Coverage and Benefits
• This scheme covers secondary and tertiary care procedures while allowing high-cost treatments like coronary angioplasty, joint replacements, cataract surgery, dialysis, cancer care, stroke treatment, neuro surgeries and more—1,961 procedures across 27 specialities
• Pre-existing conditions are covered from day one, with no waiting period
• beneficiaries may benefit from cashless treatment at over 30,000 empanelled hospitals with a wide network of 13,352 private facilities and government hospitals nationwide
• The coverage is portable, allowing patients to access treatment across India
Enrollment Process
• Seniors can register online via the Ayushman App or the official AB PM-JAY portal (beneficiary.nha.gov.in). The process involves Aadhaar-based eKYC authentication, mobile OTP verification and basic personal details to generate a digital card
• Offline registration is also available, and applications can be submitted at any empanelled hospital or Common Service Centres (CSCs). Delhi, for instance, has deployed mobile vans to assist senior citizens in enrolment
• The government has launched IEC campaigns via ASHA/AWW workers. it offers street plays, radio and TV messages, alongside a helpline (1800 110 770 / 14555), to raise awareness and facilitate easy access
Impact So Far
Within weeks of its rollout, over 10 lakh elderly citizens registered under the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme. Treatment worth over Rs 9 crore has been authorised across nearly 4,800 seniors, including 1,400 women, for procedures such as angioplasty, hip and gallbladder surgeries, cataract operations, and stroke care.
Why It Matters
With rising healthcare costs especially affecting senior citizens on fixed incomes, this enhanced senior citizens' health insurance initiative significantly eases financial burdens. It ensures timely and quality treatment while offering peace of mind for families nationwide.
Looking Ahead
The government continues its outreach efforts, which include deploying mobile outreach vans and establishing Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to ensure every eligible senior is aware and enrolled. This proactive strategy ensures that the Ayushman Vay Vandana card reaches every corner of India.
