Ayushman Bharat: All you need to know about world’s largest government-backed health insurance programme

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Ayushman Bharat is the world’s largest fully government financed health insurance scheme. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2018.

The scheme has been designed especially for members of the economically weaker sections of the country. According to PM Modi, “Ayushman Bharat is one of the revolutionary steps towards a new India.”

Components

Ayushman Bharat comprises two inter-related components: Health and Wellness Centres and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

Health and Wellness Centers

Under the Ayushman Bharat programme, Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) are set up by the government. These HWCs are designed to serve primary health care facilities to the people. Under this scheme the government has announced the creation of 1,50,000 HWCs across the country.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

The second and the most important component of Ayushman Bharat is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PM-JAY). It provides a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals.

All facilities are completely cashless. In total about 50 crore poor and vulnerable people of the country would be benefited under this scheme.

Key features

Under Ayushman Bharat an e-card is provided to the beneficiaries. As per available official data, a total of 12.55 crore PM-JAY e-cards have been issued till August 10, 2020.

The scheme covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and medicines.

There is no restriction on the family size, age or gender.

Benefits of the scheme are available across the country.

Treatment under Ayushman Bharat is totally cashless.

Eligibility

The Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched with the aim of providing healthcare services to 10 crore poor families residing both in rural and urban areas in the country.

Among other criteria, people who have a ‘pucca’ house, landline phones, refrigerators, two, three or four-wheeler vehicles or earn more than Rs 10,000 per month are not eligible for this scheme.

Anyone may also call the Ayushman Bharat Yojana call centre to check eligibility. The number is 14555 or 1800-111-565.

How to apply

There is no special registration process for Ayushman Bharat Yojana. This scheme is applicable to all beneficiaries identified under Socio Economic Caste Census 2011.