The Union government has made a significant move to enhance healthcare access for senior citizens by approving expanded coverage under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Announced by the Union Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, this new provision will offer health insurance to all individuals aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

This decision will benefit approximately 4.5 crore families and 6 crore senior citizens across the country. Under the scheme, eligible seniors will receive free health coverage worth ₹5 lakh per year on a family basis. This new benefit ensures that all individuals in this age group, regardless of their socio-economic status, can access critical healthcare services.

For those seniors who are already part of families covered by AB PM-JAY, the new policy provides an additional top-up coverage of ₹5 lakh annually specifically for them. This benefit is exclusive and does not need to be shared with younger family members. Additionally, seniors currently enrolled in other public health schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can choose to continue with their existing schemes or switch to AB PM-JAY.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the government’s commitment to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare for all Indians through a post on X. The expansion of AB PM-JAY also includes senior citizens who are covered by private health insurance or the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme, ensuring that this critical support reaches a broader demographic.

AB PM-JAY is recognized as the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, offering ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. This initiative aims to cover 55 crore individuals, equivalent to 12.34 crore families, marking a significant step forward in the country’s healthcare system.