On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, granting universal health coverage to all Indian residents aged 70 and above.
In September, the Union Cabinet approved a significant expansion of the AB PM-JAY health scheme to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income level.
This initiative adds a dedicated annual health coverage of Rs 5 lakh specifically for the elderly, supplementing the existing family health coverage under AB PM-JAY.
With India’s elderly population expected to double by 2050 – making up one-fifth of the population – this measure aims to address the rising demand for geriatric healthcare services in the coming decades.
PM Modi stated, “Every elderly person above 70 years of age in the country will get free treatment in the hospital by an Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.”
“With the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, seniors from all income groups – whether low, middle, or high – will now have access to free hospital treatment,” he added.
The expanded scheme, with an allocated budget of Rs 3,437 crore, builds upon the existing AB PM-JAY family coverage, adding separate coverage specifically for elderly individuals.
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda highlighted two special features of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s health policy.
He explained that the policy is holistic, encompassing all aspects of preventive, promotional, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of integrating various sectors under one umbrella, stressing that this achievement will remain memorable.
Industry Experts Praise Health Coverage Expansion
Industry experts widely praised the decision to extend health coverage to everyone over 70 years. This expansion is likely to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families, covering around 6 crore senior citizens.
Abhay Soi, President, NATHEALTH & Chairman & Managing Director, Max Healthcare Institute asserted, “This initiative marks a pivotal step in elder care, extending support to a segment with a high disease burden, pressing need for enhanced healthcare access and reinforcing the nation’s position as a leader in inclusive healthcare.”
Prateep Chakraborty, COO, HelpAge India highlighted, “Data shows that just about 20 per cent are covered by any health insurance with further variation across socio-economic categories, even as the majority of elderly face one or more chronic diseases and with increasing age, the challenges relating to activities of daily living.”
“The scheme will notably benefit chronic care patients and will help reduce the burden of healthcare not only for the elderly, but their families as well. We look forward to its implementation,” he further added.
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