Above 70? You'll now get free Rs 5 lakh health insurance

All senior citizens aged 70 and above will now be eligible for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), regardless of income.

The free health insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh will be on a family basis and is likely to benefit approximately six crore senior citizens.

"All senior citizens of the age 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, would be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY," said the official press release.

The AB PM-JAY previously covered only the bottom 40 per cent of the Indian population. It provided health insurance for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisations. The scheme used the 2011 socio-economic caste census criteria (SECC 2011) for both rural and urban areas.

Additional benefits and options for existing schemes

Now, senior citizens from families already covered by AB PM-JAY will receive additional benefits. They will get an extra top-up cover of Rs 5 lakh per year. This additional cover is exclusive to senior citizens and not shared with other family members below the age of 70.

The government has also addressed concerns about overlapping schemes. Seniors currently under other public health insurance schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), can either stick with their existing scheme or switch to AB PM-JAY.

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This article was originally published on September 12, 2024.