Ayushman Card: Eligibility, Age Limit, Registration, Benefits, Helpline Number

The Ayushman Card is a digital health ID issued under the PMJAY. It offers cashless hospitalisation of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care. Since September 2024, the scheme has been expanded to include all senior citizens aged 70+, providing them with a distinct Ayushman Vay Vandana Card. 

Ayushman Bharat PMJAY is now operational across all 28 States and 8 Union Territories in India.

Key Highlights

• Eligibility Basis: SECC 2011 rural/urban deprivation criteria and approved occupational categories
• Pre-existing Diseases: Covered from day one without waiting period
• Cashless Treatment: Available at 30,000+ empanelled hospitals across India
• Coverage Scope: 1,900+ treatment procedures including surgeries and diagnostics
• Registration Modes: PMJAY portal, Ayushman App, and Common Service Centres (CSCs)
• Helpline Numbers: 14555 and 1800-111-565

What is Ayushman Card?

The Ayushman Card is a digital health card issued under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY). 

• Eligible beneficiaries can use the card to access cashless treatment benefits of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year at empanelled hospitals across India.
• The card ensures affordable and accessible healthcare for all eligible beneficiaries. 
• It provides access to secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

As of May 2026, Ayushman Bharat PMJAY is operational across all 36 States and Union Territories, including West Bengal, which joined the scheme in 2026. Beneficiaries can complete Ayushman Card registration through the PMJAY portal, Ayushman App or Common Service Centres (CSCs).

Ayushman Bharat PMJAY Coverage in India 2026 

Ayushman Bharat PMJAY is now operational pan-India. Several major states joined the scheme recently:

• Odisha implemented Ayushman Bharat PMJAY in January 2025 with co-branded health cards.
• Delhi became the 35th State/UT to implement PMJAY in April 2025.
• West Bengal joined the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY scheme in May 2026 following the state government's approval of the central health scheme.

Ayushman Bharat PMJAY has become one of the largest government-funded healthcare schemes in the world.

What is Covered under Ayushman Bharat Yojana Scheme?

PMJAY provides cashless cover of up to ₹5,00,000 to all members of the family for listed secondary and tertiary care conditions. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana Scheme covers the following expenses incurred on the following components of the treatment:

• Medical examination, treatment and consultation
• Intensive and non-intensive care services
• Medicine and medical consumables
• Diagnostic and laboratory investigations
• Complications arising during treatment
• Accommodation benefits
• Medical implantation services 
• Food to patient
• Pre-hospitalisation charges up to 3 days
• Post-hospitalisation follow-up care up to 15 days

What is Not Covered under Ayushman Bharat Yojana Scheme?

Certain treatments and medical services are excluded under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY coverage.

The major exclusions are:

• Outpatient Department (OPD) expenses not requiring hospitalisation
• Cosmetic and aesthetic procedures
• Fertility treatments
• Drug rehabilitation programmes
• Dental procedures such as fillings, implants and root canal treatment unless linked to hospitalisation
• Non-emergency vaccinations outside government immunisation programmes
• Experimental or unapproved treatments
• Conditions requiring less than 24-hour hospitalisation unless specifically covered
• Individual diagnostic tests without hospital admission

Ayushman Card Eligibility

Here is the list of urban and rural households eligible for an Ayushman card:

I. Urban Households

• Ragpickers
• Beggars
• Domestic workers
• Street vendors, hawkers, cobblers or other service providers working on streets
• Construction workers, masons, plumbers, labours, welders, painters, coolie, security guards and other head-load workers
• Sweepers, sanitation workers and malis
• Home-based workers, handicraft workers, artisans and tailors
• Transport workers, conductors, drivers, cart pullers, helpers to drivers and conductors and rickshaw pullers
• Assistants, shop workers, peons in small establishments, delivery assistants, helpers, waiters and attendants
• Electricians, assemblers, mechanics and repair workers
• Washermen and chowkidars

II. Rural Households

• Families living in kucha houses with one-room
• Households with no adult members aged 16-59 years
• SC/ST households
• Families with a disabled member and not a non-disabled adult member
• Households with no adult male members aged 16-59 years
• Landless families that are dependent on manual casual labour

III. Senior Citizens

• All senior citizens aged above 70 years in both rural and urban areas
• Senior citizens already covered under the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY (AB PMJAY) are eligible to receive an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year 
• Senior citizens already receiving benefits from other public health insurance schemes, such as the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can continue with their current scheme or switch to AB PMJAY
• Senior citizens covered under private health insurance policies or the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme are eligible for AB PMJAY

Documents Required for Ayushman Card

The following documents may be required during Ayushman Card registration, beneficiary verification or e-KYC:

• Aadhaar Card for identity verification and Aadhaar-based authentication
• Aadhaar-linked mobile number for OTP verification
• Ration Card or Family ID for beneficiary search in eligible states
• Address proof
• PAN Card or alternate identity proof
• Income certificate, if applicable
• Caste certificate, where required
• Family relationship proof for family-based verification
• Passport-size photograph

Additional Documents for Ayushman Vay Vandana Card

• Aadhaar Card is mandatory for senior citizens aged 70 years and above
• Biometric authentication or Aadhaar OTP verification may be required during registration

Ayushman Card Online Registration Process

Registration (e-KYC) is the digital process for individuals already listed in government databases (SECC 2011/NFSA) to verify their identity and download their card.

Eligible beneficiaries wondering how to apply for Ayushman Card online can do so through the NHA-PMJAY beneficiary portal or the Ayushman App.

I. Through the NHA-PMJAY beneficiary portal

Step 1: Visit the beneficiary portal. Alternatively, you may also visit the official PMJAY website and click on ‘Am I Eligible’ which redirects to the beneficiary portal. 

Step 2: Enter mobile number, captcha code and OTP for login.

Step 3: Choose the ‘State’, ‘Sub scheme’ as ‘PMJAY’, ‘District’, ‘Search By’ (search beneficiary details using Aadhaar number, PMJAY ID, Family ID or name), and enter the required information and click ‘Search’. 

Step 4: Once your name appears with the status ‘Not Generated,’ click the ‘Do e-KYC’ button. 

Step 5: To authenticate, select the ‘Aadhaar OTP’ option. Your Aadhaar number will be visible. Click ‘Verify’. 

Step 6: Tick the consent and click ‘Allow’. Enter the Aadhaar OTP and mobile OTP. Your e-KYC details will be matched. If the ‘Matching Score’ is high, the system will instantly approve the registration.

Step 7: After successful verification, click on the ‘Download Card’ option to download the Ayushman Card.

Note: In most cases, beneficiaries can download the card immediately after successful e-KYC approval.

II. Through the Ayushman App

Step 1: Install the Ayushman App from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Step 2: Open the app and log in using mobile number and OTP verification.

Step 3: Search for beneficiary details using Aadhaar number, Family ID, PMJAY ID or location details.

Step 4: Complete e-KYC verification. You can choose from four methods – Aadhaar OTP, Face Auth, Fingerprint, or Iris Scan.

Step 5: The app will prompt you to take a Live Photo using your phone's camera. This photo must match the Aadhaar records for instant approval. 

Step 6: Review your details and submit the registration request.  Download the Ayushman Card directly from the app after approval.

Hospitalisation Process in Ayushman Bharat Yojana

Cashless treatment under PMJAY is available at more than 30,000 empanelled hospitals across India, including both public and private healthcare institutions. 

• Beneficiaries must check empanelled hospitals in their area online or visit a Common Services Center (CSC) for assistance.
• Individuals must visit the empanelled hospital and present their Ayushman card and required identification documents at the hospital reception. 
• The hospital will verify the details by scanning the QR code in the card.
• Once verified, the hospital will initiate the admission process and provide cashless treatment for the covered conditions and procedures. 

How to Find Empanelled Hospitals Under PMJAY?

Beneficiaries can search for empanelled hospitals online before availing cashless treatment services.

Step 1: Open the PMJAY hospital locator portal.

Step 2: Select the state, district, speciality and hospital type.

Step 3: Click on ‘Search’ to view the list of empanelled hospitals.

Step 4: Visit the selected hospital with Ayushman Card and Aadhaar verification documents.

The portal provides details of both public and private empanelled hospitals under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY.

Medical Packages Under Ayushman Bharat Yojana

Ayushman Bharat Yojana provides comprehensive treatment packages:

• Day-care packages are also covered under the this yojana just like surgical packages. 
• It covers nearly 24 specialities, including super speciality care like neurosurgery, oncology, and cardio-thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, etc. 

The package rate (surgical or defined day-care benefits) includes the following:

• Registration charges
• General ward bed charges
• Nursing and boarding charges
• Surgeons, medical practitioner, anaesthetists, consultants’ fees, etc.
• Anaesthesia, OT charges, blood transfusion, oxygen, surgical appliances costs, etc.
• Medicines and drugs
• Cost of implants or prosthetic devices (unless payable separately)
• Pathology and radiology tests, such as MRI, X-ray, CT scan, etc. 
• Pre and Post hospitalisation expenses
• Any other expenses related to the treatment in the empanelled hospitals

Ayushman Card Helpline Number

For any assistance, you can contact the Ayushman card helpline number at 14555. For Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme queries, you can give a missed call at 1800-110-770.

Ayushman Card Benefits

The following are the key Ayushman card benefits:

• Through the Ayushman card, eligible families can get cashless facilities in empanelled hospitals for listed secondary and tertiary care conditions ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹5,00,000 annually.
• Eligible families can get cashless treatment for 24 speciality areas, including oncology, cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, etc., through the Ayushman card.
• The eligible families can also claim pre-hospitalisation, post-discharge charges and medical charges for up to 15 days.
• The card covers services of around 1,929 procedures, covering all the costs related to treatment, drugs, diagnostic services,  supplies, room charges, physician's fees, OT, surgeon charges, ICU charges, etc.

Ayushman Card vs Private Health Insurance

Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and private health insurance plans differ in eligibility, premium structure and coverage conditions.

The Ayushman Card provides eligible beneficiaries with cashless healthcare coverage under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY across India. Beneficiaries can register through the PMJAY portal, Ayushman App or CSC centres and access treatment at empanelled hospitals for covered medical procedures and hospitalisation services.

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