Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) has provided free hospital services worth more than Rs 1.29 lakh crore to more than 9 crore people. Now senior citizens above 70 years of age will get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh every year. More than 40 crore ‘Ayushman Cards’ have been issued.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) has changed the lives of crores of people in the country. Under this scheme, which started in September 2018, so far the beneficiaries have got the benefit of free hospital services worth more than Rs 1.29 lakh crore. According to official figures, more than 9 crore people have got treatment under this scheme so far.
Under PM-JAY, every family gets free health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh every year. Initially, this scheme was brought for 10.7 crore poor families of the country, covering about 40% of the country’s population. People of states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are among the biggest beneficiaries.
In September 2024, the government took another big decision. Now all the elderly above 70 years of age will get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh every year, regardless of their income status. This move will directly benefit about 6 crore senior citizens.
Under PM-JAY, about 2,000 types of treatments are being provided with cashless facility. This includes all services like treatment, medicines, tests, doctors’ fees, operation theatre and ICU charges. Most beneficiaries have used this scheme for general medicine, infectious diseases, general surgery, medical oncology, ophthalmology and orthopedic treatment. Common treatments like hemodialysis, COVID-19 screening and fever have also been done in large numbers. So far, ‘Ayushman cards’ have been issued to more than 40 crore people and more than 31,907 government and private hospitals across the country are associated with this scheme.
However, there is still a large population of the country that has not received any kind of health insurance protection. According to a report by Niti Aayog, about 30% of the population – that is, about 40 crore people – fall in the ‘missing middle’ category. In view of this, the Standing Committee on Finance Affairs of Parliament has recommended that the PM-JAY scheme should be opened for these people as well by taking some payment, so that more and more people can avoid bearing the cost of treatment of serious diseases.