Ayushman Bharat Yojana 2025: Health Card Guide and Coverage Benefits

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Ayushman Bharat Yojana 2025: Health Card Guide and Coverage Benefits

The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, officially known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), is a flagship healthcare initiative by the Government of India aimed at providing universal health coverage to economically disadvantaged families. Launched on September 23, 2018, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has grown into the world’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme. As of March 23, 2025, PM-JAY continues to evolve, offering significant updates to its health card system and coverage benefits. This guide outlines how to obtain the Ayushman Bharat Health Card (Ayushman Card) and details its coverage benefits for 2025.

Ayushman Bharat Health Card Guide

The Ayushman Card (or Ayushman Bharat Golden Card) is a critical tool for accessing cashless healthcare services under PM-JAY. It serves as proof of eligibility and allows beneficiaries to avail treatment at empanelled hospitals across India. Here’s a step-by-step guide to obtaining and using the card in 2025:

Step 1: Check Eligibility
  • Who Qualifies:
  • Families identified under the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 based on deprivation criteria (e.g., rural households with kucha houses, landless laborers, SC/ST families) or occupational categories in urban areas (e.g., ragpickers, domestic workers).
  • Since September 11, 2024, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income, are eligible (approved by the Union Cabinet, benefiting 6 crore seniors across 4.5 crore families).
  • Families with active Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) cards as of February 28, 2018, are also covered.
  • How to Verify:
  • Visit pmjay.gov.in or beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
  • Click “Am I Eligible” and enter your mobile number or Aadhaar number.
  • Verify via OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
  • Select your state and search using Aadhaar, ration card, or family ID to confirm inclusion.
Step 2: Register and Apply for the Ayushman Card
  • Online Process:
  1. Go to beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
  2. Log in or register using your mobile number and OTP.
  3. Select “Ayushman Card” under “Search By” and enter your Aadhaar number.
  4. If eligible but no card is generated, click “Apply Now” under the “Action” column.
  5. Complete e-KYC:
    • Authenticate using Aadhaar OTP or biometric scan (via CSC if needed).
    • Upload a photo if prompted.
  6. Submit the application; the card is typically generated within 24-48 hours.
  • Offline Process:
  • Visit a Common Service Centre (CSC), Ayushman Bharat Kiosk at empanelled hospitals, or your local Primary Health Centre (PHC).
  • Provide your Aadhaar, ration card, or SECC family ID.
  • Complete e-KYC with assistance from an Ayushman Mitra (a trained coordinator at kiosks).
  • Pay a nominal fee of ₹30 (if applicable) to receive the card.
  • For Seniors (70+):
  • Eligible seniors receive a distinct Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, issued separately even if their family is already covered under PM-JAY.
Step 3: Download the Ayushman Card
  • After approval:
  1. Return to beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
  2. Log in, select your state, and enter your Aadhaar number.
  3. Verify via OTP and click “Download.”
  4. Save the PDF version of the card and print it for use.
  • Alternatively, use the Ayushman App (available on Google Play) to download and store the card digitally.
Step 4: Use the Card
  • Present your Ayushman Card at any of the 30,000+ empanelled hospitals (public and private) nationwide.
  • An Ayushman Mitra at the hospital verifies your card via QR code scanning, ensuring cashless treatment without upfront payment.

Note: As of February 2025, over 47.2 lakh Ayushman Vay Vandana cards have been issued to seniors, with states like Madhya Pradesh (13.57 lakh) and Uttar Pradesh (8 lakh) leading the rollout.

Coverage Benefits in 2025

PM-JAY offers comprehensive health coverage, expanded in scope and reach by 2025. Here are the key benefits:

  1. Financial Coverage:
  • Standard Coverage: Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
  • Senior Citizens (70+): An additional ₹5 lakh top-up cover exclusively for seniors in covered families, separate from the family’s shared limit.
  • No cap on family size or age, ensuring inclusivity (e.g., women, children, elderly).
  1. Treatment Scope:
  • Covers 1,949 medical and surgical procedures across 25 specialties, including:
    • Critical Illnesses: Cancer (chemotherapy, radiation), cardiac surgeries (bypass, angioplasty), neurosurgery, organ transplants.
    • General Conditions: Orthopedic surgeries (e.g., knee/hip replacement), urology, gastroenterology.
    • COVID-19: Full treatment coverage, including ICU care and diagnostics.
  • Pre- and Post-Hospitalization: 3 days pre-hospitalization (e.g., diagnostics, consultations) and 15 days post-hospitalization (e.g., follow-ups, medicines).
  1. Cashless and Portable:
  • Treatment is fully cashless at empanelled hospitals, eliminating out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Benefits are portable nationwide, allowing access at any empanelled facility, regardless of your home state.
  1. Additional Inclusions:
  • Pre-Existing Diseases: Covered from day one, no waiting period.
  • Transport Allowance: A fixed amount per hospitalization to cover travel costs.
  • Diagnostics and Drugs: Free for covered procedures, including essential medications.
  1. Exclusions:
  • Outpatient department (OPD) consultations and procedures.
  • Fertility treatments (e.g., IVF).
  • Cosmetic surgeries (unless medically necessary post-trauma).
  1. Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs):
  • While PM-JAY focuses on hospitalization, the broader Ayushman Bharat framework includes 1.5 lakh HWCs offering free primary care, diagnostics, and drugs for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health, and maternal/child health—complementing hospital benefits.

Impact in 2025:

  • Over 36 crore Ayushman Cards issued nationwide by March 2025, with 49% held by women (per X posts).
  • More than 8.2 crore hospital admissions authorized, with claims worth billions processed since inception.

Tips for 2025

  • Act Early: Apply for your card now (March 23, 2025) to ensure readiness for emergencies.
  • Verify Empanelled Hospitals: Use pmjay.gov.in (“Find Hospital” tool) to locate nearby facilities by state, district, and specialty.
  • Update Details: Contact the helpline (14555 or 1800-111-565) or visit a CSC to update mobile numbers or family data.
  • Seniors’ Advantage: If you’re 70+ or know someone who is, leverage the new Vay Vandana Card for exclusive coverage.

Conclusion

The Ayushman Bharat Yojana 2025 strengthens India’s healthcare landscape with its accessible Ayushman Card and robust ₹5 lakh coverage, now extended to all seniors above 70. From cashless treatment to nationwide portability, it alleviates financial burdens for over 55 crore beneficiaries. Start your journey today—visit pmjay.gov.in, confirm eligibility, and secure your health card to unlock these transformative benefits!

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