2024-09-12 06:18:27
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has taken a big decision. Now all the elderly above the age of 70 years will be able to take advantage of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Under this, they will get health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh. The central government has made a big change in the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Earlier this scheme did not include elderly people of all categories. Now all people above the age of 70 years will be able to take advantage of this scheme. Under this scheme, treatment up to Rs 5 lakh can be availed for free. The central government has made this big announcement on Wednesday. Now the elderly of 70 years and above will be included in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The government said that about 4.5 crore families will benefit from this step. There are 6 crore elderly people in these families. They will get free health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh on the basis of family.
All senior citizens aged 70 years and above are eligible
The government said, ‘With this approval, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their financial status, will be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY. Eligible senior citizens will be issued a new separate card under AB PM-JAY. Senior citizens aged 70 years and above who belong to families already covered under AB PM-JAY will get an additional top-up cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves (which they will not have to share with other family members who are below 70 years of age).’
Elderly people who are already taking advantage of insurance plans have options
It further states that all other senior citizens aged 70 years and above will get a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh on a family basis. Senior citizens aged 70 years and above who are already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ayushman Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) can either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PMJAY. It has been clarified that senior citizens aged 70 years and above who are already availing benefits under private health insurance policies or Employees State Insurance Scheme will be eligible to receive benefits under AB PM-JAY.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised in its Lok Sabha election manifesto that it will expand the Ayushman Bharat scheme to include all persons from the transgender community and senior citizens aged 70 years and above.