Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally introduced the Ayushman Bharat Vaya Vandana scheme for senior citizens aged 70 years and above. This extension of government-sponsored health insurance will provide benefits of additional Rs 5 lakh.

Economically weak senior citizens who are currently under the Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY (Jan Aarogya Yojana) family health assurance scheme will now get an extra cover of Rs 5 lakh.

The National Health Authority (NHA) has streamlined the registration process for the scheme by allowing senior citizens to get Ayushman Bharat ‘Vaya Vandana’ card through the beneficiary portal (beneficiary.nha.gov.in) or NHA’s Ayushman app. Alternatively, senior citizens and their families can complete the process at PM-JAY-appointed hospitals and shared service centres.

The program will provide additional assistance to older individuals who are struggling to cover the cost of medical treatment in hospitals or related health insurance costs, which can increase with age and existing health conditions. This initiative will also provide relief to senior citizens who are managing pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or hypertension. Additionally, health insurance premiums can be affected by pre-existing conditions, potentially leading to higher costs or denial of coverage by insurance providers.

NHA recently shared the complete state-wise list of hospitals that will accept Ayushman Bharat Vaya Vandana cards to offer support to senior citizens.

Here is the list:

Complete list of hospitals by state. Check the details here.

Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card

Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This expanded scheme provides free health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh per annum to all individuals aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their income or financial situation.

The main purpose of Ayushman Vaya Vandana card is to provide free medical services to elderly individuals residing in large institutions. This newly launched welfare scheme aims to support senior citizens to receive world-class medical treatment when required.

The program advances access to senior healthcare and standards of equitable treatment by ensuring that all older adults have access to affordable healthcare. This initiative provides annual health insurance of up to 5 lakh rupees, ensuring that no senior citizen suffers from diseases thanks to the superior medical care offered in India through this health card.

Name of Scheme Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card List
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Launch date 29 October 2024
Beneficiaries Senior citizens of India aged above 70 years
Target To provide ₹ 5 lakh per year for healthcare treatments
Application mode Online offline
Official website

Benefits

Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card 2024 offers free hospital care to individuals aged 70 and above across the country.

As a part of this new scheme, any person issued Ayushman Vaya Vandana card in 2024 will be entitled to get free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh at any hospital affiliated with AB PMJAY.

Without any income criteria, any Indian citizen aged 70 years and above can apply for this programme.

This initiative sets a higher standard for equal treatment and access to healthcare for the elderly population.

Through this program, all senior citizens are provided with access to affordable healthcare solutions.

Eligibility Criteria

> Must be a permanent citizen of India
>Must be over 70 years of age
> There are no income criteria for this plan; open to all individuals

Required Documents

Aadhaar card
Mobile number
Email ID
proof of age
KYC