Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: Who Qualifies for ₹5 Lakh Free Health Cover and How to Get Your Card
Ayushman Bharat — Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. It gives eligible families free, cashless hospital treatment worth ₹5 lakh per year at any empanelled hospital in India, public or private. Pre-existing conditions are covered from day one, and there is no cap on family size or age.
If you have ever worried about a hospital bill wiping out your savings, this is the scheme to understand first.
Who is eligible
Eligibility is family-based, not income-certificate-based. You don't need to prove a specific income — you need to be on the list. Two groups are covered:
- Rural families matching the deprivation criteria of the SECC 2011 database
- Urban families in listed occupational categories (street vendors, domestic workers, construction workers, and similar)
There is no cap on family size or age for these families, and treatment is fully cashless.
Everyone aged 70 and above also qualifies
Since October 2024, every citizen aged 70 or older qualifies regardless of income under the Ayushman Vay Vandana card. Even if you pay income tax or own a large home, age 70+ makes you eligible.
For seniors in a family that already holds PM-JAY cover, the Vay Vandana card adds a separate ₹5 lakh top-up just for the 70+ members — it does not eat into the family's existing cover.
What the cover includes
- ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation
- Cashless and paperless treatment at empanelled hospitals across India
- Pre-existing conditions covered from day one — no waiting period
- Covers hospitalisation costs, many surgeries, diagnostics, and medicines during admission
- Portable nationwide — your card works in any state
How to check if your family is listed
Before anything else, confirm you are on the list:
- Visit the official beneficiary portal at beneficiary.nha.gov.in, or
- Call the 14555 helpline, or
- Ask at any empanelled hospital or Common Service Centre (CSC)
Enter your mobile number and verify with OTP, then search by your state and ration card / family details to see if your household is covered.
How to get your Ayushman card, step by step
Step 1: Verify your name
Use the beneficiary portal or the Ayushman app (Google Play Store) and confirm your family — or the 70+ member — is eligible.
Step 2: Complete eKYC
Select Beneficiary, enter the Aadhaar details of the person, and complete Aadhaar-based eKYC with OTP. For the Vay Vandana card, enter the Aadhaar of the senior aged 70+ and take a live photo as prompted.
Step 3: Download the card
Once approved — often within 15 to 30 minutes — download the Ayushman card directly from the app or portal. You can also get it made free of charge at any empanelled hospital, CSC, or Health & Wellness Centre with the help of an Aarogya Mitra.
Step 4: Carry it when you need treatment
At an empanelled hospital, show your Ayushman card and Aadhaar. The hospital's Aarogya Mitra verifies you and starts cashless treatment — you do not pay out of pocket for covered procedures.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any premium or fee? No. PM-JAY is fully government-funded. There is no premium, no enrolment fee, and no charge to make the card.
Does it cover treatment in private hospitals? Yes, at any empanelled private hospital. Check the empanelled-hospital list on the official portal before admission.
My parents are 72 and we pay income tax — do they qualify? Yes. Under the Ayushman Vay Vandana card, anyone aged 70+ qualifies regardless of income or tax status.
Is OPD (out-patient) treatment covered? PM-JAY is primarily for hospitalisation (in-patient care). Routine OPD visits are generally not covered.
What if my name isn't on the list but I'm poor? Eligibility is tied to the SECC 2011 and listed categories. If you believe you should be included, raise it at a CSC or with your state health authority — and check whether your state runs a converged state scheme.
Check if you qualify
Want a quick read on your eligibility across schemes? Use our eligibility checker, and see the full Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme page for official links and helpline details.
Coverage rules and empanelled-hospital lists change over time. Always verify your status on the official portal, pmjay.gov.in, or by calling 14555 before seeking treatment.