Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), a key component of the Ayushman Bharat initiative, was launched under the National Health Policy 2017 to achieve Universal Health Coverage. Designed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the commitment to "leave no one behind," PMJAY aims to transform healthcare by shifting from a segmented approach to a comprehensive, need-based system.
It provides financial protection for secondary and tertiary healthcare, ensuring access to quality medical services for economically vulnerable families. Alongside health and wellness centres (HWCs), PMJAY is crucial to strengthening India’s healthcare infrastructure.
What is Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana?
Launched by the Prime Minister on September 23, 2018, the PMJAY scheme provides health insurance coverage to approximately 50 crore Indian citizens. Over the years, the Ayushman card has facilitated numerous success stories. In a recent expansion, the scheme now extends benefits to all senior citizens above 70 years of age, offering ₹5 lakh in annual health insurance coverage, regardless of economic status.
Features of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, or PMJAY, is a flagship health scheme under the Ayushman Bharat initiative that will provide secondary and tertiary care to economically vulnerable families with financial protection. It will ensure access to quality healthcare by reducing out-of-pocket expenditures on hospitalisation costs.
World’s Largest Government-Funded Health Scheme: Fully financed by the government, PMJAY is the world’s most extensive health insurance/assurance program.
Comprehensive Financial Coverage: Provides ₹5 lahks per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation at empanelled public and private hospitals across India.
Massive Beneficiary Base: Covers over 12 crore economically vulnerable families, benefiting approximately 55 crore individuals.
Cashless Treatment: Enables beneficiaries to access healthcare services directly at hospitals without upfront payments.
Preventing Medical-Induced Poverty: Aims to reduce catastrophic healthcare expenses that push nearly six crore Indians into poverty annually.
Pre & Post-Hospitalization Coverage: Includes expenses for diagnostics and medicines, covering up to 3 days before and 15 days after hospitalisation.
No Restrictions: Available to families regardless of size, age, or gender.
Coverage from Day One: All pre-existing medical conditions are covered immediately upon enrollment.
Nationwide Portability: Beneficiaries can receive cashless treatment at any empanelled hospital across India.
Extensive Medical Services: Covers 1,929 procedures, including costs for medicines, diagnostics, surgeries, physician fees, ICU, OT, and room charges.
Equal Reimbursement for Public & Private Hospitals: Public hospitals receive reimbursements at par with private hospitals for healthcare services.
Benefits of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
PMJAY offers comprehensive health coverage, ensuring financial protection and access to quality medical care. With cashless treatment, hospitalisation benefits, and no age or family size restrictions, it provides essential healthcare support to eligible families.
Financial Coverage: Provides up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for medical expenses.
Extensive Treatment Coverage: Covers 1,929 procedures, including doctor’s fees, room charges, diagnostics, ICU, and surgical costs.
Cashless Treatment: Beneficiaries can avail of cashless medical services at public and private hospitals across India.
Pre & Post-Hospitalization Benefits: Includes coverage for three days before hospitalisation and 15 days after, including medicines and diagnostics.
No Restrictions: Open to all eligible families regardless of age, gender, or family size.
Easy Access: Only a valid ID is required to utilise Ayushman Bharat benefits at empanelled hospitals.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Registration (Apply Online)
Following is a step-by-step guide on how to register for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana:
Step 2: Click the 'Am I Eligible' tab from the top menu.
Step 3: Fill in the captcha code, mobile number, and OTP for verification.
Step 4: Fill in the same captcha and click 'Login'
Step 5: Select your state, district, and search criteria, then fill in all the details
Step 6: Your name will appear in the results if your family is eligible.
Step 7: If you do not have a PMJAY card, then click on the 'Apply' button under the column 'Action'
Step 8: Then authenticate your Aadhaar card through OTP received at your registered mobile number and fill in all the other required details
Step 9: Your Ayushman Bharat Yojana registration will be complete.
PMJAY Hospital List PDF download
After you register for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, you can get cashless treatment for various diseases and procedures at any private or public hospitals empanelled under the PMJAY. You can click here to find the nearest empanelled hospital.
You can also download the PMJAY hospital list by clicking here to avail cashless medical treatment.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Inclusions And Exclusions
The PMJAY includes critical diseases and pre- and post-hospitalization expenses. Here is a list of diseases covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana:
Coronary artery bypass grafting
Skull base surgery
Anterior spine fixation
Double valve replacement
Prostate cancer
Pulmonary valve replacement
Laryngopharyngectomy with gastric pull-up
Carotid angioplasty with stent
Tissue expander for burn-related disfigurement
Beneficiaries can also avail of free COVID-19 testing and treatment under this scheme.
While this scheme provides financial support for most critical illnesses, specific treatments are not covered under PMJAY:
Organ transplants
Outpatient department (OPD) services
Standalone diagnostic tests
Cosmetic procedures
Drug rehabilitation programs
Fertility treatment
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for registering on the Ayushman Bharat portal vary for rural and urban residents. Additionally, the Union Cabinet expanded the coverage of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) in September 2024 to include all senior citizens aged 70 and above.
Eligibility Criteria for Rural Households:
D1: Residing in a single-room house with kutcha walls and roof
D2: No adult members aged 16 to 59 years
D3: No adult male members aged 16 to 59 years
D4: A disabled member with no non-disabled adults in the household
D5: Belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST)
D7: Landless families primarily dependent on manual labour for income
Eligibility Criteria for Urban Households:
Beggars
Waste collectors
Domestic workers
Street vendors, hawkers, cobblers, and other street service providers
Construction workers, labourers, plumbers, security guards, painters, masons, welders, coolies, and other manual workers
Sanitation workers, gardeners, and maintenance staff
Home-based workers, handicrafts workers, artisans, and tailors
Transport workers, conductors, drivers, helpers, rickshaw pullers, and cart pullers
Electricians, assemblers, mechanics, and repair workers
Security personnel (chowkidars) and washermen
Eligibility Criteria for Senior Citizens
Every senior citizen in India aged above 70 years in rural and urban areas, irrespective of income status
Senior citizens covered under private health insurance policies or the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme
Senior citizens already receiving benefits from other public health insurance schemes, such as the Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), or Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) can switch to Ayushman Bharat PMJAY or continue with their current scheme
Documents For Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
Here is a list of documents needed for the Ayushman Bharat portal login process:
Aadhaity proof such as a driver's license, voter ID, or passport
Proof of residence, including utility bills, passport, or voter ID
Family information, including the name and Aadhaar number of each member
Caste certificates for beneficiaries from specific categories
Income certificate
Bank account details
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Card Download
Beneficiaries can apply for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana Card, which offers the convenience of paperless, cashless, and portable transactions under the PMJAY scheme. Simply present the card at any hospital for quick and easy service. Here's how you can download the Ayushman Bharat Card:
Step 2: Enter the captcha code, mobile number and click ‘Verify’.
Step 3: Enter the OTP sent to your mobile number, captcha code and click ‘Login’.
Step 4: Choose the ‘State’, ‘Sub scheme’ as ‘PMJAY’, ‘District’, ‘Search By’ and enter your Family ID, Aadhaar number or PMJAY ID, captcha code and click ‘Search’.
Step 5: The PMJAY beneficiary list will be displyed on the screen.
Regular Health Insurance Plans Vs Government Health Insurance Scheme
Private insurance companies offer regular health insurance schemes, while government health insurance schemes are insurance coverages provided by the government for no or lower premiums, such as the PMJAY. Here are the differences between the two:
Features
Private Health Insurance
Government Health Insurance
Eligibility
All individual citizens
Lower-income group families
Premium
Paid by the policyholder
Paid by the government or a low premium of ₹100-500 paid by the policyholder
Insured amount
Maximum insurance coverage of up to ₹6 crores
Maximum insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh
Coverage
Broader coverage
Narrow coverage
Hospital room
Single hospital room available depending on the plan
Single hospital room may not be available under the plan
Empanelled hospitals
Wide network of empanelled private hospitals
Selected private and public hospitals
Ambulance charges
Available under most plans
Available under selected plans
Maternity benefits
Available under most plans
Available for a single child under most plans
Health check up
Covered under most plans
Not covered
Cumulative bonus
Available if there is no claim in the previous year
Not available
Tax benefits
Available under Income Tax Act
Not available
In short, PMJAY is the Ayushman Bharat scheme's most colossal initiative, providing full health insurance coverage to vulnerable families in India who cannot pay for every cost associated with their healthcare needs. It grants them cashless and pre and post-hospitalization benefits and financial protection from high medical bills.
Over the years, the scheme has expanded its reach over millions of citizens, including senior citizens above 70 years of age, through easy registration processes all over the country with its nationwide portability and a user-friendly approach; it thus remains a lifeline for those who need medical care, giving hope and support for a better future for all.
How to add name in Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana?
You can add a member in Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, by logging into the official NHA beneficiary website. After logging in, the family members details are displayed. Click on ‘Download’ option and authenticate using the Aadhaar OTP. On the next screen, click on the ‘Add Family Member’ option, enter the required details and ‘Submit’.
How to enroll in Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana?
To enroll to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, visit the official PMJAY website and click 'Am I Eligible' tab. Fill in the required details to login. Select your state, district, and search criteria, then fill in all the details. Click on the 'Apply' button under the column ‘Action’ and authenticate your Aadhaar card through OTP and fill in all the other required details to complete the registration.
What is PMJAY beneficiary?
A PMJAY beneficiary is an individual or family identified eligible to receive the health insurance coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) of the government. The PMJAY beneficiary will receive cashless treatment for the treatments and diseases covered under the PMJAY at the empanelled hospitals for free or subsidised rates.
About the Author
Saloni Dhumne
Content Writer - Personal Finance
A former journalist by profession, I live by the power of the written word. Specializing in personal finance, I simplify wealth planning for individuals looking to grow their money effectively. Beyond my work, I eagerly seize any opportunity to travel, exploring offbeat destinations and embracing new experiences.. Read more
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