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| Ayushman Bharat Card |
Ayushman Bharat Card (PM-JAY): Benefits, Eligibility, & How to Apply Online
Healthcare expenses can be a massive financial burden, but the Government of India has taken a revolutionary step to make quality healthcare accessible to all. The Ayushman Bharat Card, issued under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), is the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme.
If you are wondering how this scheme can help you, who is eligible, and how to get your Ayushman Golden Card apply online, you are in the right place. In this comprehensive guide by Informer Owl, we will break down everything you need to know about Ayushman Bharat health insurance benefits, the latest expansions for senior citizens, and a step-by-step guide for the Ayushman Card download.
What is the Ayushman Bharat Card (PM-JAY)?
Launched in September 2018, the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY aims to provide free secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to millions of poor and vulnerable families in India. By possessing an Ayushman Card, eligible beneficiaries can avail of cashless medical treatments up to ₹5 Lakh per family, per year at any government or empanelled private hospital across the country.
Top Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance
The PM-JAY scheme is designed to offer maximum relief to families during medical emergencies. Here are the core Ayushman Bharat health insurance benefits:
• ₹5 Lakh Health Cover: Provides cashless treatment up to ₹5,00,000 per family annually.
• No Cap on Family Size or Age: There is no restriction on the number of family members, age, or gender.
• Pre-existing Diseases Covered: Unlike many private health insurance policies, PM-JAY covers all pre-existing conditions from day one of enrollment.
• Cashless and Paperless Treatment: Beneficiaries do not have to pay out of pocket for hospitalization, room charges, doctor fees, or OT charges.
• Pre & Post Hospitalization: Covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses (including medicines and diagnostics).
• Nationwide Portability: You can use your Ayushman Card to get treated at any empanelled hospital anywhere in India.
🚨 Major Update: Ayushman Card for Senior Citizens (70+ Years)
In a massive expansion approved in September 2024, the scheme now includes ALL senior citizens aged 70 years and above, completely regardless of their socio-economic status or income.
• Ayushman Vay Vandana Card: Eligible senior citizens will be issued a new, distinct card for this scheme.
• Top-up Cover: If a family is already covered under PM-JAY, the senior citizen (70+) in that family will get an additional top-up cover of ₹5 Lakh exclusively for themselves.
• Universal Eligibility: Even if the senior citizen is covered under private health insurance or schemes like ESI, they are still eligible to apply for this PM-JAY benefit.
PMJAY Eligibility: Who Can Apply for the Ayushman Card?
The initial selection for the PM-JAY scheme was based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011. Here is a quick look at the PMJAY eligibility:
For Rural Areas:
• Families living in only one room with kucha walls and roof.
• Households with no adult member between 16 and 59 years.
• Landless households deriving a major part of their income from manual casual labor.
• SC/ST households and primitive tribal groups.
For Urban Areas:
• Eligibility is strictly based on occupation (e.g., ragpickers, beggars, domestic workers, street vendors, construction workers, plumbers, sweepers, etc.).
For Senior Citizens:
• Anyone aged 70 years or above, based on their Aadhaar card age, is eligible regardless of their income level.
How to Check PMJAY Eligibility Online
Before you proceed with the Ayushman Golden Card apply online process, you must check if your name is on the beneficiary list:
1. Visit the official PM-JAY beneficiary portal: [https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in/](https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in/)
2. Log in using your Mobile Number and verify with an OTP.
3. Select your State, Scheme (PMJAY), District, and search by Aadhaar Number, Name, Ration Card, or PMJAY ID.
4. If your name appears, you are eligible to proceed with the e-KYC and card generation.
How to Apply Online and Complete e-KYC
If you are on the beneficiary list, getting your card is a breeze. You can do it via the web portal or the official Ayushman App (available on the Google Play Store).
1. Login: Access the PMJAY Beneficiary Portal or Ayushman App as a "Beneficiary".
2. Locate Your Profile: Search for your name using your Aadhaar or Family ID (Ration card).
3. Complete e-KYC: Click on the "Action" button next to your name. You will need to authenticate your identity using Aadhaar OTP, Fingerprint, or Face Auth.
4. Upload Details: Match your live photo with your Aadhaar photo and provide basic details like mobile number, relation, and pin code.
5. Approval: Once submitted, the application will go for approval. It is usually instantly approved if the match score is high.
Ayushman Card Download Process
Once your e-KYC is approved, you can easily do the Ayushman Card download to your phone:
1. Go to the Beneficiary Portal or open the Ayushman App.
2. Search for your profile again.
3. Your status will now show in green as "Approved".
4. Click the download icon next to your name to save the PDF of your Ayushman Card.
5. Tip: You can print this card and laminate it to carry it with you to hospitals.
Documents Required
Keep these documents handy when checking eligibility or applying for the card:
• Aadhaar Card (Mandatory for e-KYC)
• Active Mobile Number (linked to Aadhaar for OTP)
• Ration Card or Family ID (to verify family members)
Most Searched FAQs on Ayushman Bharat Card
Q1: Can I apply for an Ayushman Card if my name is not in the SECC 2011 list?
Answer: Generally, your name must be in the SECC 2011 database or added by the state government. However, if you are a senior citizen aged 70 or above, you are now unconditionally eligible to apply for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, regardless of the SECC list.
Q2: Are ABHA Card and Ayushman Card the same?
Answer: No. An ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) card is a 14-digit digital health ID used to store your medical records and prescriptions digitally. It does not provide health insurance. The Ayushman Card (PM-JAY), on the other hand, is an insurance card that gives you ₹5 Lakh free medical cover.
Q3: Is the Ayushman Card applicable in private hospitals?
Answer: Yes! The Ayushman Card is accepted at thousands of empanelled private and government hospitals across India. You can check the list of empanelled hospitals on the official PM-JAY website or app.
Q4: Do I have to pay any premium or fee to get the Ayushman Card?
Answer: No, the PM-JAY scheme is 100% funded by the government. The registration, the Ayushman card, and the hospital treatments (up to ₹5 Lakh) are entirely free for eligible beneficiaries.
Q5: How long does it take for the Ayushman card to be approved after e-KYC?
Answer: If your Aadhaar details (like name, age, and photo) match perfectly with the PM-JAY database, the approval is almost instantaneous, and you can download the card immediately. In some cases where manual verification is needed, it might take a few days.
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