Advertisements
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a flagship healthcare scheme of the Government of India designed to provide universal health coverage to the economically vulnerable sections of society.
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY Health Card Eligibility
| Standard Eligibility: Traditionally based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data, targeting approximately the bottom 40% of the population (vulnerable rural and urban poor). Senior Citizen Expansion (Ayushman Vay Vandana Card): As of 2025, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above are now eligible for a separate coverage of ₹5 lakh per year, regardless of their income or socio-economic status. Occupational Categories: Includes urban workers such as domestic workers, street vendors, ragpickers, and construction laborers. |
How to Get the Ayushman Bharat Card
| Eligible individuals can check their status and apply for the card through the following methods: Official Portal: Visit the NHA Beneficiary Portal to check eligibility and complete e-KYC using an Aadhaar number. Mobile App: Download the Ayushman App (available on Android) for self-verification and card creation. Physical Locations: Visit a Common Service Centre (CSC) or an empanelled hospital to speak with an Ayushman Mitra, who can help verify details and issue the e-card. |
Who can Apply PM-JAY Ayushman Bharat Card
| All Senior Citizens (Aged 70+ years) -> A major update effective from 2024–2025 states that all citizens aged 70 and above are now eligible for the scheme, regardless of their income, caste, or socio-economic status. -> Seniors receive a distinct card (often referred to as the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card) providing ₹5 lakh annual coverage. -> If a senior is already part of a family covered under PM-JAY, they get an additional ₹5 lakh top-up just for themselves. |
| Rural Households -> Living in one-room houses with “kucha” (temporary) walls and roofs. -> Households with no adult members between the ages of 16 and 59. -> Female-headed households with no adult male member. -> Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) households. -> Landless families that depend on manual casual labor for income. -> Automatic inclusion: Destitute individuals, manual scavengers, primitive tribal groups, and legally released bonded laborers. |
| Urban Occupational Groups -> Ragpickers and beggars. -> Domestic workers (maids, cooks). -> Street vendors, hawkers, and cobblers. -> Construction workers, plumbers, masons, painters, and welders. -> Sanitation workers and sweepers. -> Transport workers (drivers, conductors, rickshaw pullers). -> Shop workers and delivery assistants. |
| Special Worker Categories ASHA workers, Anganwadi Workers, and Anganwadi Helpers along with their families. |
Who Cannot Apply PMJAY Card
| -> Owns a motorized 2/3/4-wheeler or fishing boat. -> Has a member who is a government employee. -> Earns more than ₹10,000 per month. -> Owns more than 5 acres of agricultural land. -> Owns a refrigerator or landline phone. |