Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya scheme: 6.14 crore Ayushman cards issued, over one crore hospital admissions authorised for senior citizens

The government has issued more than 6.1 crore Ayushman cards and authorised more than one crore hospital admissions for senior citizens under its Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya scheme, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad submitted in a written response to Parliament on Monday. Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a public health insurance scheme aimed at ensuring free access to health insurance for low income individuals in the country. 

General insurance companies, including standalone health insurers, offer a host of insurance products for various segments in the country. The minister shared a list of health insurance products exclusively offered to senior citizens by regulator IRDAI-registered insurance companies:

The minister also detailed the state- and UT-wise proportion of senior citizens covered under the health insurance schemes, as furnished by IRDAI for the year ended March 2023: 

Additionally, the IRDAI has mandated to the insurers that the premium charged for health insurance products offered by Insurers to senior citizens will be fair, justified, transparent and duly disclosed upfront, and stipulated that insurers and third-party administrators will establish a separate channel to address the health insurance related claims and grievances of senior citizens, the minister said. 

“Insurers are also encouraged to design health insurance policies for various groups, such as specific age or gender or different age groups,” he added.

The minister was responding to a string of queries on the country’s health insurance space and the degree of coverage available exclusive to senior citizens. 

What is AB-PMJAY?

The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya scheme is the government’s flagship health assurance programme implemented in partnership with the states and Union Territories. The scheme provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore beneficiary families comprising 55 crore individuals.