Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is the Government of India’s flagship health assurance scheme designed to reduce the financial burden of hospitalisation. Eligible families can receive cashless secondary and tertiary hospital treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year at empanelled hospitals.
The scheme has expanded considerably since its launch. It now covers economically vulnerable families as well as all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status. As of June 30, 2026, 12.69 crore hospital admissions worth ₹1.92 lakh crore had been authorised under AB PM-JAY through a network of 37,413 public and private hospitals.
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What is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?
AB PM-JAY provides eligible beneficiaries with cashless hospitalisation at empanelled government and private hospitals. The cover is generally ₹5 lakh per eligible family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
The scheme covers treatment across multiple medical specialities and includes expenses connected with eligible hospitalisation, such as medical examination, medicines and consumables, diagnostic tests, procedures, ICU charges and specified pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses.
Another important feature is portability. An eligible beneficiary is not necessarily restricted to hospitals in their home district or state and can use the scheme at participating hospitals elsewhere in India, subject to applicable PM-JAY rules and packages.
Who is Eligible for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?
PM-JAY is not an open health insurance scheme where anyone below a particular income can simply enrol. For the conventional beneficiary population, eligibility is linked to the databases and criteria adopted under the scheme.
The beneficiary base primarily includes vulnerable and economically disadvantaged families identified through government databases. States and Union Territories can also use approved databases to expand coverage. ASHA workers, Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers and their eligible families were subsequently brought within the scheme.
There is one major exception to the socio-economic eligibility requirement: people aged 70 years or above are eligible for AB PM-JAY irrespective of income or socio-economic status under the Ayushman Vay Vandana initiative.
Therefore, applicants should not rely solely on income, ration-card status or assumptions about their category. The most reliable approach is to perform an official beneficiary search.
How to Check Ayushman Bharat Eligibility and Beneficiary Name
People searching for the “Ayushman Bharat beneficiary list” usually want to know whether their name or family is registered under PM-JAY.
The beneficiary portal allows users to verify their eligibility electronically. Generally, the process involves logging into the beneficiary system using a mobile number and OTP, selecting the relevant state and using the available search details to locate the beneficiary record.
If your record appears, carefully verify details such as your name, age, family information and other identification data before proceeding with card-related services.
A name not appearing in a particular search does not necessarily mean that the person should immediately conclude they are permanently ineligible. Search information may differ according to the database and state implementation. Users facing difficulty can seek assistance through the official support system or an Ayushman help desk.
What is the Ayushman Card?
The Ayushman Card is the beneficiary identification card associated with AB PM-JAY. It helps establish that a person has been verified as a beneficiary under the scheme.
It is important to distinguish between the Ayushman Card and ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account). An ABHA number is part of India’s digital health ecosystem and is not, by itself, proof that a person is entitled to ₹5 lakh PM-JAY hospitalization coverage.
Beneficiaries should therefore check specifically for PM-JAY eligibility and Ayushman Card status rather than assuming that possession of an ABHA card makes them eligible for PM-JAY.
How to Make an Ayushman Card
Eligible beneficiaries can use the official beneficiary system or the Ayushman App for supported self-verification and card-related services.
The basic process is to first locate the beneficiary record, complete the required verification or e-KYC process, confirm personal information and submit the verification. Depending on the beneficiary and verification method, Aadhaar-linked authentication and other information may be required.
Once verification is successfully completed and the card is approved/generated, the beneficiary can access the Ayushman Card digitally.
Do not pay an unauthorised agent simply to check whether your name is in the scheme. Use official PM-JAY facilities or authorised assistance channels.
How to Download Ayushman Card
If an Ayushman Card has already been generated, beneficiaries can access the official beneficiary platform or supported Ayushman App and authenticate themselves using the requested credentials.
After locating the verified beneficiary, check the card status and use the available download option. The downloaded digital card can be saved to a phone or printed for convenient use.
If the card cannot be downloaded, first check whether beneficiary verification and e-KYC have actually been completed. A beneficiary record and a successfully generated card are not always the same stage of the process.
How to Check the Ayushman Bharat Hospital List
Cashless PM-JAY treatment is available through empanelled hospitals, not automatically at every private or government hospital.
Before planned hospitalisation, beneficiaries should check the PM-JAY hospital search facility and select their state, district and required medical speciality to find relevant participating hospitals.
Hospital empanelment and available specialities can change. Therefore, it is sensible to check the current hospital status before travelling, particularly when seeking treatment at a private hospital.
At an empanelled hospital, beneficiaries can approach the Ayushman/PM-JAY help desk or Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitra for verification and assistance with cashless admission.
Ayushman Bharat for Senior Citizens Above 70
The expansion for senior citizens is particularly important. Every Indian citizen aged 70 years or above can qualify for AB PM-JAY irrespective of socio-economic status, subject to the applicable enrolment process.
Eligible senior citizens receive the distinct Ayushman Vay Vandana Card. Senior citizens aged 70+ who belong to families already covered under PM-JAY receive an additional cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year for themselves, separate from the cover available to younger family members.
Senior citizens already covered under certain other government health schemes, such as CGHS or ECHS, may have to choose between their existing scheme and AB PM-JAY according to applicable rules.
What to Do If a PM-JAY Hospital Refuses Treatment
An empanelled hospital is required to follow PM-JAY conditions for eligible beneficiaries and covered treatment. If an eligible beneficiary faces an improper denial of service, a grievance can be raised through the scheme’s grievance mechanism.
The national PM-JAY helpline 14555 can also be used for assistance relating to eligibility, cards, hospitals and grievances.
Beneficiaries should remember that the ₹5 lakh cover does not mean every medical expense at every hospital is automatically free. The treatment must fall within the scheme’s applicable packages and be provided according to PM-JAY rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much coverage does Ayushman Bharat provide?
AB PM-JAY generally provides eligible families with health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
Can I check my Ayushman Card using a mobile number?
The official beneficiary platform supports mobile-based authentication. After authentication, beneficiaries can use the available search and verification options to locate their PM-JAY record.
Is everyone with a ration card eligible for an Ayushman Card?
No. A ration card alone should not be treated as proof of PM-JAY eligibility. Eligibility depends on the beneficiary databases and applicable state or scheme criteria.
Is everyone above 70 eligible?
Yes. The scheme has been expanded to senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of socio-economic status.
Is an ABHA Card the same as an Ayushman Card?
No. ABHA is a digital health account, while an Ayushman Card identifies a verified beneficiary for benefits under AB PM-JAY.
