Ayushman

Ayushman Bharat Yojan

Ayushman Bharat Yojana (ABY), officially known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), is one of the world’s largest government-funded healthcare programs. Launched in September 2018 by the Government of India, it aims to provide free health coverage to economically weaker sections of society and move toward universal health coverage.

Key Objectives

• Reduce the financial burden of hospitalization.
• Improve access to quality health services.
• Ensure timely treatments without out-of-pocket expenses.
• Provide healthcare across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.

Components of Ayushman Bharat

Ayushman Bharat has two main components:

1. Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)

• Upgrading 1.5 lakh sub-centres and primary health centres.
• Offering preventive, promotive, and basic curative healthcare.
• Includes services like maternal care, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), free essential drugs, and diagnostics.

2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

• Provides ₹5 lakh health insurance cover per family per year.
• Targets over 10 crore vulnerable families.
• Enables cashless and paperless treatment in empaneled public and private hospitals.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility is based on Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.

Rural beneficiaries include:

• Families with no adult male members.
• Landless households.
• SC/ST households.
• Daily wage laborers.

Urban beneficiaries include:

• Rag pickers, domestic workers.
• Street vendors, construction and sanitation workers.
• Artisans, drivers, delivery staff, etc.

There is no cap on family size, age, or gender.

You can check your eligibility online at https://mera.pmjay.gov.in.

Services & Benefits Covered

• Cashless hospitalization.
• Surgeries, ICU care, cardiac and cancer treatments.
• 3 days pre-admission and 15 days post-discharge coverage.
• Free diagnostics (CT scans, MRIs, X-rays).
• Free medicines, consumables, and implants during hospitalization.
• Covered accommodation and food.
• Transport allowance for hospital visits.

Network of Hospitals

• Over 25,000 empaneled hospitals across India.
• Includes both government and private hospitals.
• Beneficiaries can choose any empaneled hospital.

How to Avail the Benefits

1. Check your eligibility on the PM-JAY website.
2. Visit an empaneled hospital with identity proof (like Aadhaar).
3. The hospital will verify your eligibility using the Beneficiary Identification System (BIS).
4. Avail free, cashless treatment under the scheme.

Key Highlights

• Entire treatment cost is borne by the government.
• Beneficiaries receive a digital health card (Ayushman card).
• Helps prevent poverty caused by medical expenses.
• Promotes equity and universal access to healthcare.

Conclusion

Ayushman Bharat is a landmark health initiative aiming to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India. By providing financial protection and accessible healthcare to the poorest, it ensures no Indian citizen is left behind due to medical costs. With a strong foundation in preventive care and a vast hospital network, the scheme is transforming India’s healthcare system.