Since the expansion of the AB-PMJAY health assurance scheme, more than five lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above have registered for the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, a move aimed at enhancing healthcare for the elderly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the card, which offers free health coverage regardless of income, two weeks ago. The Union Cabinet had given its approval for the initiative in September.
This new scheme is an extension of the existing AB-PMJAY family package, providing senior citizens with an additional Rs 5 lakh coverage per year.
According to the National Health Authority, applicants have submitted a total of 5,12,598 applications for enrollment under the scheme. Out of these, authorities have approved 4,64,541, while 47,916 are still pending. The system rejected only 141 applications.
Madhya Pradesh has seen the highest number of applications with 1.66 lakh, followed by:
- Kerala with 1.28 lakh,
- Uttar Pradesh with 69,044, and
- Gujarat with 25,491
An official highlighted, “We have shared IEC (information, education, communication) material with all states. As word spreads, we are confident more and more senior citizens will become involved.”
The scheme will likely benefit approximately 6 crore individuals across 4.5 crore families.
With India’s elderly population projected to double by 2050, the need for geriatric care is growing, making this scheme an essential step in addressing future healthcare demands.
Eligible seniors can apply for the Ayushman Bharat Senior Citizen Scheme through the official website www.beneficiary.nha.gov.in or via the Ayushman app.
Since its launch in 2018, AB-PMJAY has been the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance program, providing health coverage to 55 crore people from vulnerable families.
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