Ayushman Bharat PMJAY – Free Health Insurance Up to ₹5 Lakh

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. It provides free health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation. The scheme covers over 12 crore poor and vulnerable families across India.

What is Ayushman Bharat PMJAY?

PMJAY provides cashless and paperless healthcare at empanelled hospitals across India. Key features:

• ₹5 lakh coverage per family per year
• No cap on family size — all members of an eligible family are covered
• Cashless treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals
• Covers pre-hospitalisation (3 days) and post-hospitalisation (15 days) expenses
• 1,929+ medical packages covering surgeries, treatments, and procedures
• No premium — completely free for beneficiaries
• Portable — use your Ayushman card at any empanelled hospital across India

Who is Eligible?

Beneficiaries are identified from the SECC 2011 database based on deprivation criteria:

Rural Families (Any one criterion)

• Families living in kutcha house (one room, kutcha walls, kutcha roof)
• No adult member aged 16-59 years
• Female-headed household with no adult male member (16-59)
• Disabled member with no able-bodied adult member
• SC/ST households
• Landless families earning from manual casual labour
• Destitute / living on alms
• Primitive tribal groups
• Legally released bonded labour

Urban Families (Occupational criteria)

• Ragpickers, beggars, domestic workers
• Street vendors, cobblers, hawkers
• Construction workers, plumbers, painters, welders
• Sweepers, sanitation workers, gardeners
• Transport workers — drivers, conductors, rickshaw pullers
• Shop workers, assistants, attendants, waiters
• Electricians, mechanics, repair workers
• Washermen, chowkidars

Recent Expansion

• All senior citizens aged 70+ are now eligible for Ayushman Bharat regardless of income (announced in 2024)

How to Check Eligibility

1. Visit pmjay.gov.in → Click "Am I Eligible"
2. Enter your mobile number and captcha
3. Receive OTP and verify
4. Search by name, ration card number, RSBY URN, or mobile number
5. If eligible, your family details will be displayed

Alternatively, call the Ayushman Bharat helpline: 14555 or visit the nearest Ayushman Mitra at an empanelled hospital.

How to Get Your Ayushman Card

Online (Self-Registration)

1. Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in
2. Enter your mobile number linked to Aadhaar
3. Verify OTP
4. Select your family member from the list
5. Complete e-KYC using Aadhaar biometric or OTP
6. Download your Ayushman card — it will have a unique PMJAY ID

At Empanelled Hospital

1. Visit any PMJAY-empanelled hospital
2. Go to the Ayushman Mitra / PMJAY Help Desk
3. Provide your Aadhaar card and ration card
4. Ayushman Mitra will verify your eligibility and do e-KYC
5. Ayushman card printed on the spot

At Common Service Centre (CSC)

1. Visit your nearest CSC/Jan Seva Kendra
2. Carry your Aadhaar card
3. CSC operator will verify eligibility and complete e-KYC
4. Card generated and printed for a nominal fee

What is Covered?

What is NOT Covered?

• OPD (Out-Patient Department) consultations
• Cosmetic surgery
• Fertility treatments
• Organ transplant (except as specified)
• Drug/alcohol rehabilitation

How to Find Empanelled Hospitals

1. Visit pmjay.gov.in → "Find Hospital"
2. Select your State, District, and Hospital Type (public/private)
3. Filter by speciality if needed
4. View the list of empanelled hospitals with contact details

Key Benefits

• Completely free — no premium, no registration fee, no copayment
• ₹5 lakh coverage — sufficient for most surgeries and treatments
• Cashless and paperless — show your Ayushman card at the hospital
• No family size limit — all family members covered under one card
• Pan-India portability — get treatment at any empanelled hospital in any state
• Pre-existing conditions covered — no waiting period
• Empanelled private hospitals — access to quality healthcare at private facilities

Important Tips

1. Get your Ayushman card made in advance — don't wait until you need hospitalisation
2. Keep your Aadhaar details updated — the card is linked to Aadhaar for verification
3. Always go to empanelled hospitals — treatment at non-empanelled hospitals is not covered
4. Report fraud — if a hospital asks for payment despite having an Ayushman card, report to 14555
5. Senior citizens (70+) should check their eligibility under the expanded scheme even if not in SECC data

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ayushman Bharat completely free?

Yes. There is no premium, no registration fee, and no copayment. All covered treatments are cashless at empanelled hospitals.

How do I check if I am eligible for Ayushman Bharat?

Visit pmjay.gov.in, click "Am I Eligible," enter your mobile number, and search by name or ration card number. You can also call 14555.

Can I use Ayushman card in another state?

Yes. Ayushman Bharat is fully portable. You can get cashless treatment at any empanelled hospital across India.

What if my name is not in the beneficiary list?

If you believe you are eligible based on SECC criteria, contact the Ayushman Bharat helpline (14555) or visit your nearest Ayushman Arogya Mandir for verification.

Are senior citizens eligible for Ayushman Bharat?

Yes. All citizens aged 70 years and above are now eligible for Ayushman Bharat, regardless of their income or SECC status.

Can I get treatment at private hospitals?

Yes. PMJAY covers treatment at both public and private hospitals that are empanelled under the scheme.

This guide is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the Government of India. For official details, visit pmjay.gov.in or call 14555.