Health Cover for All Aged 70 and above under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
Context:
Recently, the Union Cabinet cleared the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY) to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years and above to provide health coverage worth Rs 5 lakh.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government policies and interventions)
Key highlights:
- The union cabinet has extended AB PM-JAY to provide health coverage to all citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income levels.
- Currently, AB PM-JAY only targeted the bottom 40% of the population economically based on their income levels. It provided Rs 5 lakh shared annual health coverage to all members of eligible families.
- Under the new extension, all citizens aged 70 years and above will receive Rs 5 lakh annual coverage per family.
- Approximately 6 crore additional people in the 70+ age group, from 4.5 crore families, are expected to benefit from this expansion.
- Eligible senior citizens will be issued a new card under PM-JAY for availing of the additional benefits.
- Senior citizens aged 70 and above, who are already covered under AB PM-JAY, will receive an additional (shared) top-up cover up to Rs 5 lakh per year.
