Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY) 2026: A single hospital admission can wipe out years of a family’s savings. Ayushman Bharat Yojana exists to prevent exactly that — it gives eligible families cashless hospital treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh every year, at government and private hospitals alike, with no bills to pay at the counter. In this guide, we’ll cover who qualifies, what documents you need, how to get your Ayushman Card, and what the cover actually includes.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY) 2026 Summary
| Scheme Name | Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) |
| In Hindi | आयुष्मान भारत योजना |
| Launched On | 23 September 2018, from Ranchi, Jharkhand |
| Launched By | Prime Minister Narendra Modi |
| Run By | National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare |
| Benefit | ₹5 lakh cashless health cover per family per year (hospitalisation) |
| Who Benefits | Economically weaker families (as per SECC 2011) + all citizens aged 70+ |
| Hospital Network | 30,000+ empanelled government and private hospitals |
| Official Website | pmjay.gov.in |
What is Ayushman Bharat Yojana?
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is a government health insurance scheme that covers secondary and tertiary hospitalisation — meaning surgeries, procedures, and serious treatments, not routine outpatient visits. It’s the world’s largest publicly funded health scheme by the number of people it covers, and it works on a simple principle: if you’re eligible and admitted to an empanelled hospital, your treatment is cashless and paperless, up to ₹5 lakh per family per year.
There’s no cap on family size, and pre-existing conditions are covered from day one — a major difference from most private health insurance policies.
Who is Eligible
Eligibility under PM-JAY is decided automatically based on the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, not through an income certificate you submit yourself. You’re likely covered if your household falls under:
Rural households, if any of these apply:
- Landless households earning primarily from manual casual labour
- Female-headed households with no adult male member (aged 16–59)
- Households with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult
- SC/ST households
- Households living in a single-room, kutcha house
- Households with no adult member aged 16–59
- Destitute or those living on alms
Urban households, if the primary earner works in one of 11 listed occupational categories — such as rag pickers, domestic workers, street vendors, construction workers, sanitation workers, home-based artisans, transport workers, and similar informal-sector occupations.
Anyone aged 70 or above — this is the big change from 2024. Every Indian citizen aged 70+ gets a separate ₹5 lakh/year cover under the Ayushman Vay Vandana component, regardless of income, SECC status, or any other insurance they already have. Only an Aadhaar card is needed for this category.
Who is Excluded
You won’t be covered under PM-JAY (outside the 70+ category) if your household:
- Owns a two-wheeler, three-wheeler, four-wheeler, or a motorised fishing boat
- Has a member who is a government employee, or works in a government-managed non-agricultural enterprise
- Earns a monthly income above ₹10,000
- Owns a certain threshold of agricultural land (irrigated or non-irrigated)
- Owns a refrigerator or landline phone (as per SECC deprivation criteria)
If none of these apply and you fall under one of the SECC categories above, you’re very likely eligible.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card (mandatory for e-KYC)
- Ration card or Family ID (for household verification)
- Proof of identity — voter ID, passport, or driving licence
- A recent photograph (for the Ayushman Card)
- Mobile number registered for OTP verification
How to Check Eligibility and Get Your Ayushman Card
Online — through the official portal:
- Go to beneficiary.nha.gov.in or pmjay.gov.in and click “Am I Eligible?”
- Enter your mobile number and the captcha, then verify with the OTP sent to your phone
- Select your state, district, and scheme, and search using your Aadhaar number, ration card number, or household details
- If your name appears in the results, you’re an eligible beneficiary
- Complete e-KYC — via Aadhaar OTP, fingerprint, iris, or face authentication
- Once approved, download your Ayushman Card (PDF) directly from the portal — no physical activation needed; it works immediately
Offline — if you can’t apply online:
- Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) with your Aadhaar and ration card
- Or visit any PM-JAY empanelled hospital and speak to the Ayushman Mitra desk — they’ll verify your details and help generate your card on the spot
Senior citizens (70+): the process is the same, but enrolment happens on the dedicated portal for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana — Aadhaar verification alone is enough; no income or SECC check required.
What’s Covered
- Over 1,900 medical procedures, including surgeries, chemotherapy, kidney dialysis, neonatal care, and mental health treatment
- Pre-hospitalisation expenses (up to 3 days before admission)
- Post-hospitalisation expenses (up to 15 days after discharge)
- Treatment at any empanelled hospital in any state — the cover travels with you, it isn’t limited to your home state
Using Your Card at a Hospital
- Go to any empanelled hospital and show your Aadhaar card or Ayushman Card
- An Ayushman Mitra at the hospital’s help desk will verify your identity and eligibility
- Once verified, treatment begins — cashless, with no upfront payment for anything covered under the scheme
State Coverage Note
As of 2026, PM-JAY has been rolled out in nearly every state and union territory, with West Bengal being the most recent to join. Delhi is currently the only state/UT that hasn’t implemented PM-JAY — Delhi residents should instead check the Delhi government’s own health assistance schemes for similar coverage.
Important Links
इसके सभी अपडेट पाने के लिए WhatsApp पर जुड़ें।
Fraud alert: PM-JAY treatment is genuinely free at empanelled hospitals — nobody official will ever ask you to pay a “processing fee” to activate your card or approve your claim. Report such demands through the helpline above.
FAQs
Ayushman Bharat Yojana kya hai?
It’s a Central Government health scheme that gives eligible families cashless hospital treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh per year at government and private hospitals, based on SECC 2011 data — plus universal coverage for everyone aged 70 and above.
Do I need to pay anything to get the Ayushman Card?
No. Registration, e-KYC, and the card itself are completely free, whether you apply online, at a CSC, or at a hospital.
Is Ayushman Bharat available in Delhi?
No, Delhi has not implemented PM-JAY as of 2026. Delhi residents should check the state government’s own health schemes instead.
My family already has private health insurance — can senior citizens still get the 70+ cover?
Yes. The ₹5 lakh cover for citizens aged 70+ is available regardless of existing insurance, income, or SECC status — only Aadhaar verification is required.
How do I find out which hospitals near me accept the Ayushman Card?
Use the “Find Hospital” tool on pmjay.gov.in, where you can search empanelled hospitals by state, district, and speciality.
What if my name doesn’t show up in the eligibility check?
It means your household isn’t listed in the SECC 2011 database under the qualifying criteria. You can still check with your local CSC or Ayushman Mitra to confirm, since local records are occasionally updated. If you’re 70 or above, you’re covered separately regardless of this check.
