The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the Government of India’s flagship health insurance scheme, has verified nearly 36 crore beneficiaries as of November 30, 2024. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, shared these details in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Key Achievements
- Hospital Admissions Authorized:
- Over 8.39 crore hospital admissions have been authorized under the scheme.
- The total value of these admissions stands at ₹1.16 lakh crore.
- Reduced Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE):
- The scheme has significantly reduced OOPE for beneficiaries, particularly for hospitalization expenses.
- Health Coverage:
- AB PM-JAY provides an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
- It targets the economically vulnerable bottom 40% of India’s population, benefiting approximately 55 crore individuals or 12.37 crore families.
- State Scheme Convergence:
- Several states and Union Territories have integrated their health insurance schemes with AB PM-JAY, expanding coverage to more than 18 crore families.
Recent Expansions
- Inclusion of ASHA and Anganwadi Workers:
- In March 2024, the scheme included 37 lakh families of ASHA, Anganwadi Workers, and Anganwadi Helpers.
- Coverage for Senior Citizens:
- Effective October 29, 2024, the Government expanded the scheme to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of socio-economic status.
- This addition benefits an estimated 4.5 crore families or 6 crore individuals.
Impact and Outlook
The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY continues to be a cornerstone in India’s efforts to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to its most vulnerable citizens. With ongoing expansions and state partnerships, the scheme aims to ensure that quality healthcare reaches every corner of the nation while reducing the financial burden on families.