Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the expansion of health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above under the government’s flagship Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). The Ayushman Vaya Vandana card aims at providing health coverage to all eligible senior citizens regardless of their income.
The initial outlay from the Centre for the expansion will reportedly be Rs 3,437 crore.
Earlier, only senior citizens from poor families and some specific categories such as ASHA staff could avail themselves of the scheme. It offers health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary-care hospitalisation.
How can senior citizens avail?
Anyone aged 70 years or above can apply for the Ayushman Bharat Senior Citizen Scheme on the website, www.beneficiary.nha. gov.in, or by using the Ayushman App (available for Android on the Google Play Store). Those who have an Ayushman card also must apply again on the portal or app and complete their eKYC for a new card.
What happens if the senior citizen cannot access the app?
Family members can register the eligible beneficiary through beneficiary login option on the mobile app and website. The family member needs to enter their mobile number and put in the OTP that’s generated to initiate the enrolment process. One can also visit the nearest empanelled hospital and get themselves enrolled.
What happens if the patient faces any issue?
According to the mandate, empanelled hospitals must offer cashless treatment to beneficiaries. In case of any grievance, one can log in to the AB PM-JAY website or reach out to the national call centre 14555, mail, letter and fax. A ‘turnaround time’ of six hours has been set for resolving any complaints.
How many people are covered?
The scheme will cover almost 6 crore individuals from 4.5 crore families, according to reports. Of them, 1.78 crore senior citizens are already covered by the scheme.
Among the rest, around 80 lakh people are separately covered under various government health schemes — the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, or cover provided to family members of defence and railway personnel, according to Indian Express.
What happens if the treatment cost exceeds Rs 5 lakh?
Government insiders told Times of India that nearly all treatments covered by the scheme cost below Rs 2 lakh. Further, under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), financial assistance up to Rs 15 lakh is provided to patients from poor families — who are eligible for PM-JAY — for availing those treatments that are not covered under PM-JAY.
Can Delhi and West Bengal’s senior citizens apply?
With both Delhi and West Bengal not implementing the scheme, elderly citizens there cannot receive the benefits of AB PM-JAY.
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