Costs and schemes Note · 4 min read

Every Indian over 70 now gets ₹5 lakh of hospital cover. Here's how to claim it

The Ayushman Vay Vandana card covers people aged 70 and above, whatever their income, from the first day. How it works, and how to enrol your parent

The Pushpa team · 3 sources

Pushpa notes18

Health cover, 70+Per family

Cover each year

₹5,00,000

Amma

Age 74 · Pune

Covered at 70

In September 2024 the Union Cabinet extended Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to every Indian aged 70 and above, whatever their income. The card for it, the Ayushman Vay Vandana card, was launched on 29 October 2024. If your parent is 70 or older, they very likely qualify

₹5 lakh

of hospital cover a year, on a family basis, for Indians aged 70+ (PIB, Sept 2024)

What it covers

Up to ₹5 lakh a year for hospital treatment, secondary and tertiary care, shared on a family basis
If the family is already covered by PM-JAY, the senior gets an extra top-up of up to ₹5 lakh a year just for themselves
Around 2,000 procedures, including cataract surgery, hip fracture and replacement, stroke care and dialysis
Pre-existing conditions from the first day, with no waiting period
Treatment at any empanelled hospital in the country, 31,466 of them, of which 14,194 are private

Who can get it

Everyone aged 70 and above, regardless of income. People with private insurance or ESI can enrol too. Those on CGHS, ECHS or CAPF schemes have to choose between their existing scheme and this one

How to enrol

At the nearest empanelled hospital
On the Ayushman app on Google Play
Online at beneficiary.nha.gov.in
Questions: call 14555, or give a missed call on 1800110770

Enrolling before anyone falls ill saves a scramble at the hospital desk. Keep a copy of the card, or its number, in her emergency file

How Pushpa helpsPushpa keeps her insurance and scheme details with the rest of her record, so whoever reaches the hospital first has the card number on their phone

Scheme details change. Check the latest on the official PM-JAY channels before you rely on them