Senior Citizens Can Avail Rs. 5 Lakh Free Health Cover with Ayushman Card

The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card was launched in October 2024 under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The scheme, keeping in mind health care for the elderly, is aimed at providing free health insurance to them. They can get up to Rs 5 lakh if they are Indian citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their income or previous eligibility.

Prime minister Narendra Modi introduced this Ayushman Card health insurance for senior citizens that gives comprehensive coverage for nearly 2,000 medical procedures, including pre-existing conditions, without a waiting period. Read on to learn more on this extremely useful initiative for senior citizens in India.

The government’s special provision for senior citizens aged 70 and above, can be obtained from the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card issued via the Ayushman App or website. 

The Ministry of Health mentions that it is a big step in the progress of citizen healthcare in India. It further provided a video on X on how to create an Ayushman Vay Vandana Card and unlock essential healthcare benefits.

The Ayushman Card health cover for senior citizens scheme operates on a family floater basis, which means that the whole family shares the coverage amount. It is aimed at providing financial protection against high healthcare costs for underprivileged families.

The application process is simple and can be completed online or through designated centres with minimal documentation.

Steps to Register

To claim the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, here are the following steps.

1. As a first step, download the 'Ayushman App' from the Google Play Store.
2. Here, one can select 'Login as beneficiary' or 'operator', if applicable. Enter your mobile number, captcha, and select the authentication method.
3. GIve the OTP, the captcha code, and click on Login.
4. The app will now access your device location. Give it permission. 
5. Next, enter beneficiary details, including Aadhaar and state information.
6. If the beneficiary is not found, complete the eKYC process.
7. Fill out the form with the required information. Next, submit the mobile number and OTP for the beneficiary.
8. Add family members if necessary and proceed.
9. Once the eKYC is approved, the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card will be available for download.

That’s it! You are protected with this wonderful government health insurance India scheme. 

For comprehensive protection, families can explore health insurance for senior citizens to cover critical medical expenses and age-related treatments. Additionally, health insurance for parents ensures that elderly family members have access to timely healthcare without financial stress.

The Ayushman Card health cover for senior citizens is renowned for its extensive coverage, and the recent expansion enhances its reach and impact. It not only addresses the current healthcare needs of India’s senior citizens but also reflects a pledge to inclusivity and equity in healthcare. Some of the Ayushman Bharat benefits include: 

• Medical Examinations and Consultations: The plan pays for doctor visits, medical check-ups, and treatments, ensuring that senior citizens get complete and continuous care.
• Pre-Hospitalisation Care: Expenses for tests and consultations up to three days before admission are covered, helping seniors prepare for treatment without financial worry.
• Medicines and Consumables: The cost of important medicines and medical supplies is included, reducing personal spending during treatment.
• Intensive Care Services: Both regular and ICU care are covered, ensuring that critical health needs are taken care of without extra cost.
• Diagnostic Investigations: All necessary scans, lab tests, and diagnostic procedures are covered to help doctors detect and treat illnesses accurately and on time.
• Medical Implants: The plan also includes the cost of implants like stents or joint replacements.
• Accommodation and Food Services: Hospital stay expenses, including room charges and meals, are covered to make recovery more comfortable.
• Treatment Complications: If any complications occur during or after treatment, those costs are also covered.

It is important to support families who care for elderly parents. This ensures their well-being and dignity. This includes providing financial aid, access to healthcare services, and emotional support and goes a long way in reducing caregiver stress. There are many community programs, respite care, and government initiatives that assist families. Encouraging flexible work options and awareness about elder care can further strengthen this support system.

While the Ayushman Bharat scheme serves as a strong support, it should be noted that private insurance plans often cover specific treatments or come with higher premiums. The Ayushman Card provides an additional safety net of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care. The best choice is a combination of both, which ensures broader coverage, reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses. Senior citizens can avail Ayushman benefits for and reserve private insurance for specialized or non-covered treatments.

Preventive medicine takes a complete and proactive approach to keeping people healthy. Instead of waiting for illness to strike, it focuses on maintaining wellness through good nutrition, regular exercise, mental well-being, and a healthy environment. 

Digital healthcare makes this even easier by offering online consultations, remote monitoring, and access to medical records from anywhere. Together, preventive and digital healthcare are helping build a stronger, more responsive system that supports healthy and active aging in India.

India’s healthcare network is being continuously expanded to ensure quality medical services reach every citizen, including senior citizens in rural and urban areas. Initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) aim to provide comprehensive primary care, while empanelled hospitals under PM-JAY deliver free secondary and tertiary treatments. The integration of digital health records, telemedicine, and public-private partnerships further enhances efficiency and accessibility. These efforts collectively contribute to a stronger, more inclusive, and technology-enabled healthcare system across the country.

A free health cover Rs 5 lakh per family helps with most hospital expenses but may not fully cover high-cost treatments for age-related illnesses. Senior citizens can use private insurance as their main coverage and Ayushman Bharat as a backup senior citizen health scheme. This combination gives them extra financial support for medical bills. It creates a stronger, more complete healthcare safety net.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme is a very important step towards providing healthcare access to the underprivileged and senior citizens in India. The eligibility is for all those who are aged 70 and above, offering essential financial protection against rising healthcare costs. Those who can afford can always opt for an additional health insurance.