Modi govt offers Rs. 5 lakh Ayushman Bharat insurance coverage to citizens aged 70 and above
Over 45 million Indian households nationwide are expected to benefit from the new insurance plan.
The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a $6,000 (INR 500,000) health coverage plan for all senior citizens 70 years of age and above on Wednesday. Launched under the Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme, formally known as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the program will provide coverage to all older adults, regardless of their financial situation.
The Union Cabinet made the decision during its meeting on Wednesday. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is the world’s largest publicly sponsored health-care program, according to the Indian government. 550 million families are covered by the program, regardless of the ages of the family members. According to the government, over 45 million Indian households nationwide are expected to benefit from the new insurance plan.
The government stated in a release that “all senior citizens of the age of 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, would be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY.” The government says that the current amount allocated for the plan, INR 3,437 crore, will increase over time. “This is a demand-driven program; as demand increases, so will the coverage,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav stated during the cabinet meeting.
Special Card Issuance for Senior Citizens
Senior citizens will be issued a special card under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) in order to benefit from the new insurance scheme. Citizens who are already covered under prior AB PM-JAY programs will receive an additional $6,000 per year. Senior adults who are now receiving benefits under another government policy will be able to choose between continuing their present plan and enrolling in the new scheme.
According to government data, the system has covered more than 73 million hospital admissions to date, with women accounting for nearly half of the beneficiaries. The healthcare project has provided about ₹1 lakh crore in benefits to the public.
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