The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income on 11 September 2024. Approximately 6 crore senior citizens will benefit from Rs. 5 lakh free health insurance per family annually. Senior citizens already covered under AB PM-JAY will receive an additional top-up of Rs. 5 lakh.
Those under other health schemes, like CGHS or ECHS, can choose between their existing plan or AB PM-JAY. The expansion was announced in April 2024, and aims to further extend coverage to more families, with AB PM-JAY already benefiting over 7.37 crore hospital admissions. Initially covering 10.74 crore families, the scheme has expanded to 12 crore families, including ASHAs, AWWs, and AWHs. This makes AB PM-JAY the world’s largest publicly funded health scheme.
