Ayushman Bharat Card Apply Online: How to Get PMJAY Health Card

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme, providing health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. If your family is eligible, you can get an Ayushman Bharat card and access free treatment at any empanelled hospital across India.

What is Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY)?

Ayushman Bharat — PMJAY was launched on September 23, 2018, to provide cashless and paperless healthcare access to the bottom 40% of India's population. Key features:

• ₹5 lakh health cover per family per year
• Cashless treatment at 30,000+ empanelled hospitals (government + private)
• No premium — fully funded by the government
• No age limit or family size restriction
• Covers 1,929+ medical/surgical procedures including pre and post hospitalization
• Portable — use anywhere in India, not limited to home state

Who is Eligible?

Eligibility is based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 database and state-specific beneficiary lists:

Rural families — must meet at least one deprivation criterion:

• No adult member aged 16–59 in the family
• Female-headed household with no male member aged 16–59
• Household with disabled member and no able-bodied adult
• SC/ST households
• Landless households with major income from manual labour
• Families living in one-room kutcha house
• Destitute families living on alms

Urban families — must belong to one of 11 occupational categories:

• Ragpicker, domestic worker, street vendor, construction worker, plumber, painter, security guard, coolie, sweeper, sanitation worker, home-based artisan/handicraft worker

Additionally: Many states have expanded eligibility to include ration card holders (PHH/AAY), senior citizens 70+, and other categories.

How to Check Ayushman Bharat Eligibility

Online (Website)

1. Visit pmjay.gov.in
2. Click "Am I Eligible?"
3. Enter your mobile number and captcha
4. Receive OTP and verify
5. Search by:
   • Name and location (state, district, village)
   • Ration card number
   • RSBY URN (if you had Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana card)
   • Mobile number
6. If your family appears in the list, you're eligible

Via Helpline

Call 14555 (Ayushman Bharat helpline) to check eligibility by providing your Aadhaar number and other details.

Visit CSC or Empanelled Hospital

Visit any Common Service Centre or Ayushman Bharat empanelled hospital with your Aadhaar card. They can check eligibility and create your card on the spot.

How to Apply for Ayushman Bharat Card Online

Method 1: Through the Beneficiary Portal

1. Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in
2. Click "Register" or "Login"
3. Enter your mobile number and verify with OTP
4. Complete Aadhaar e-KYC (enter Aadhaar number, verify with OTP)
5. If eligible, your family details will appear
6. Select family members to create cards for
7. Upload photograph (if not pulled from Aadhaar)
8. Submit — your Ayushman card is generated digitally
9. Download the e-card in PDF format

Method 2: Through Common Service Centre (CSC)

1. Visit the nearest CSC with your Aadhaar card
2. The CSC operator checks your eligibility
3. Biometric verification (fingerprint/iris) is done
4. Your Ayushman card is printed on the spot or sent digitally
5. Fee: ₹30 (prescribed by NHA for card printing)
6. Find nearest CSC: locator.csccloud.in

Method 3: At Empanelled Hospital (Arogya Mitra)

1. Visit any PMJAY-empanelled hospital
2. Go to the Ayushman Mitra / Arogya Mitra desk (usually near reception)
3. Provide your Aadhaar card
4. The Arogya Mitra verifies eligibility and creates your e-card
5. You can get treatment immediately if admitted

Method 4: Ayushman App

1. Download the Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) app from Play Store
2. Register with mobile number
3. Complete Aadhaar e-KYC
4. Check eligibility and download e-card
5. Also use the app to find nearby empanelled hospitals

Documents Required

• Aadhaar card (mandatory for all family members)
• Ration card (helpful for family verification)
• Mobile number (linked to Aadhaar for OTP)
• Any government ID — voter ID, PAN card, driving licence (as backup)

Note: If your Aadhaar details don't match the SECC database (name spelling differences), you may need to visit a CSC for manual verification.

How to Find PMJAY Empanelled Hospitals

1. Visit hospitals.pmjay.gov.in
2. Select your state and district
3. Filter by hospital type (public/private) and speciality
4. View the list with address, contact number, and empanelled packages
5. You can also search in the Ayushman app

What's Covered?

• 1,929+ medical/surgical packages
• Pre-hospitalization (3 days) and post-hospitalization (15 days) expenses
• Diagnostic tests, medicines, room charges
• Surgeries — cardiac, orthopaedic, cancer treatment, kidney transplant, etc.
• Day-care procedures — dialysis, chemotherapy
• Newborn care

What's NOT Covered?

• OPD (outpatient) treatment
• Cosmetic surgery
• Fertility treatment
• Drug rehabilitation
• Organ transplant (except kidney)

Ayushman Bharat for Senior Citizens (70+ Expansion)

In 2024, the government expanded Ayushman Bharat to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income:

• Additional ₹5 lakh top-up health cover
• Separate from the family's existing ₹5 lakh limit
• Registration through the same portal or CSC
• Aadhaar-based verification

How to Use Ayushman Card at Hospital

1. Visit any PMJAY-empanelled hospital
2. Show your Ayushman e-card or Aadhaar at the Arogya Mitra desk
3. Biometric verification is done
4. Hospital submits pre-authorization request to the insurance company/SHA
5. On approval, treatment begins — completely cashless
6. Post-treatment, the hospital settles the bill directly with the scheme
7. You pay nothing

Related Guides

• Aadhaar Card Apply Online — Aadhaar mandatory for Ayushman
• Ration Card Apply Online — helps establish eligibility
• PM Vishwakarma Yojana — another major government scheme
• PM Kisan Yojana — for farmer families

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there any premium or fee for Ayushman Bharat?

No premium is charged. The scheme is completely free for beneficiaries. The only fee is ₹30 at CSC for card printing (optional — digital card is free).

2. Can I use the Ayushman card in any state?

Yes. PMJAY is portable across India. You can use your card at any empanelled hospital in any state, not just your home state.

3. What if my name is not in the eligible list but I'm poor?

If you believe you should be eligible but are not listed, contact the State Health Agency (SHA) or call 14555. Some states have a grievance redressal process to add genuinely eligible families.

4. Can I get Ayushman card without Aadhaar?

Aadhaar is mandatory for Ayushman card creation and hospital verification. If you don't have Aadhaar, apply for Aadhaar first.

5. Is there a limit on how many times I can use the card in a year?

There's no limit on the number of hospitalizations. However, the total coverage is ₹5 lakh per family per year. Unused balance does not carry forward.

6. Does Ayushman Bharat cover pre-existing diseases?

Yes. All pre-existing diseases are covered from day one. There is no waiting period.

7. What is the difference between Ayushman card and ABHA card?

The Ayushman card (PMJAY) is your health insurance card for cashless treatment. The ABHA card (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) is a digital health ID for maintaining your health records. They are different but complementary.