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ActiveCentral Sector SchemeLaunched 2018-09-23Verified: 2026-09-16

Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

World largest government-funded health assurance scheme providing ₹5 lakh annual cashless health cover per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

Government Levelcentral Government
Administering BodyMinistry of Health and Family Welfare
Beneficiary Sector
Health & Healthcare
Applicable Jurisdiction
All India

₹Benefits & Entitlement Breakdown

Health assurance cover of ₹5,00,000 per family per year on a family floater basis for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across 27,000+ empanelled public and private hospitals nationwide. Includes 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses, diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications. Cashless and paperless treatment at point of care. All senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income, receive a distinct top-up cover of ₹5,00,000 per year under the Ayushman Vay Vandana card.

📊Budget Allocation & Beneficiary Reach

Fiscal Budget Allocation

₹7,300 Crore (Union Budget FY 2024-25 allocation for PMJAY)

Official Budget Document ↗
Verified Beneficiary Reach

35.4+ Crore Ayushman Cards issued, 6.5+ Crore hospital admissions

As of: 2024-03-31PIB / Official Citation ↗

Verified Eligibility Criteria

Age Requirement:No specific age restriction
Annual Family Income Ceiling:No gross income ceiling specified
Target Occupations:all, informal_worker, daily_wage_worker, driver, construction_worker
Eligible Gender:all
Social Category / Reservation:all, SC, ST, BPL
Specific Operational Conditions & Exclusions:

Rural households meeting D1-D7 deprivation criteria (kutcha houses, no adult male 16-59, female-headed, SC/ST, disabled, manual scavengers, landless manual laborers) and defined urban occupational categories (ragpickers, domestic workers, street vendors, transport workers). Distinct universal entitlement for all Indian citizens aged 70 years and above, requiring only Aadhaar verification regardless of income.

Required Documents Checklist

  • ✓
    Aadhaar Card or Government Photo Identity ProofMandatory

    Mandatory for individual e-KYC verification.

  • ✓
    Ration Card / Family Composition DocumentMandatory

    Proof of family linkage matching SECC/NFSA databases.

  • ✓
    Active Mobile Number linked with AadhaarMandatory

    For receiving authentication OTP during card generation.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official National Health Authority Beneficiary Portal (https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in) or use the Ayushman App. 2. Select "Beneficiary" login and enter your mobile number; authenticate using OTP. 3. Search for your family record by State, Scheme (PMJAY), District, and Search By (Aadhaar number, Family ID, or Ration Card number). 4. If eligible, view your family member list and click "Action" to complete e-KYC using Aadhaar OTP, Iris scan, or Fingerprint authentication. 5. Capture a live matching photograph as prompted by the portal. 6. Submit the e-KYC; once verified, download the Ayushman Card (Golden Card) directly or collect it from an empanelled hospital Pradhan Mantri Aarogya Mitra (PMAM).

Official Government Application Portal

You will be redirected to the secure official portal: beneficiary.nha.gov.in

Apply on official government website

Frequently Asked Questions (Officially Sourced)

Verified answers sourced directly from official circulars, gazettes, and portal FAQs. Never AI-invented.

Is there any cap on family size or age under AB-PMJAY?

No, there is no cap on family size, age, or gender. Pre-existing medical conditions are covered from day one of enrollment.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Can senior citizens aged 70 and above enroll regardless of income?

Yes. Under the expanded Union Cabinet decision, all citizens aged 70 years and above are eligible for an exclusive annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family, independent of economic status.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

How can a beneficiary find an empanelled hospital?

Beneficiaries can search empanelled hospitals on https://pmjay.gov.in under "Find Hospital" or call the national toll-free helpline 14555.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Common Rejection Reasons & Warnings

Household not matching SECC 2011 deprivation criteria or approved NFSA state database; mismatch between name on Aadhaar and Ration Card/SECC record; household falling under exclusion categories (owning 3/4-wheeler, govt employee).

Editorial Verification & Change Log

DateFieldDescription / UpdateSource Citation
2026-09-16initial_verificationBaseline verification of AB-PMJAY guidelines, benefit packages, and universal 70+ expansion.Official Source ↗

Application Window & Deadlines

Open throughout the year (Continuous enrollment)

Related Welfare Programs

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Direct benefit maternity benefit scheme under Mission Shakti offering cash incentives up to ₹6,000 for pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

National affordable medicine initiative providing high-quality generic medicines and surgicals through dedicated Kendra outlets at 50% to 90% lower prices.

Mission Indradhanush (IMI / Universal Immunization Programme)

National universal immunization drive providing 100% free life-saving vaccines against 12 preventable diseases for children up to 5 years and pregnant women.

Official Helpline & Nodal Offices

National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

3rd, 7th & 9th Floor, Tower-l, Jeevan Bharati Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 110001

Helpline: 14555 / 1800-111-565 (Toll-Free National Helpline)

Jurisdiction: National (All-India)

Notice a Discrepancy?

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Verification Metadata

Last verified by Eligo researchers on 2026-09-16 against official government documentation.

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