India recently launched the Ayushman identification cards to aid the beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Known as the Ayushman Card, it aims to create a comprehensive digital health infrastructure. The initiative offers benefits to Indian citizens by providing access to public hospitals and schemes.

This government health insurance plan covers most medical expenses, medications, and diagnostic costs, extending the free treatment services up to 5 lakh per year.

Read below this article to learn about the Ayushman card, its benefits, eligibility, application process, and more.

Overview Of PMJAY And Ayushman Card:

Feature	Details
Annual Coverage Amount	₹5 lakh per family per year
Coverage Scope	Secondary and tertiary hospitalisation
Cashless Hospitalisation	Available at empanelled hospitals across India
Pre-Hospitalisation Expenses	Covered for up to 3 days before hospitalisation
Post-Hospitalisation Expenses	Covered for up to 15 days after hospitalisation
Medical Expenses	Includes diagnostics, medication, and consultation
Beneficiaries	SC/ST, EWS, Lower Income Group, rural and urban poor
Healthcare Specialities	25 specialities, including cardiology, oncology, etc.
Hospitalisation Benefits	Available for over 1,400 medical procedures
Website	https://www.pmjay.gov.in/

What Is An Ayushman Card?

The Ayushman Card is an integral part of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), one of the world’s largest government-funded healthcare schemes. Launched in September 2018, this scheme aims to provide affordable healthcare services to the economically weaker sections of society, covering millions of Indian citizens under its health insurance plan. Beneficiaries of PMJAY can access cashless treatment services of up to ₹5 lakh per year at empanelled hospitals across India. The Ayushman Card also referred to as the PM-JAY card, acts as proof of eligibility and allows beneficiaries to access the scheme's benefits.

The Ayushman Card ensures that citizens who cannot afford expensive healthcare can still receive quality treatment without the burden of financial constraints. This card covers a wide range of medical expenses, including hospitalisation costs, diagnostic tests, pre-hospitalisation, and post-hospitalisation care.

How Does The Ayushman Card Work?

Ayushman card is used to avail the benefits under the government healthcare scheme, Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Here’s how the PM-JAY card works to ensure health insurance coverage benefits to low income citizens.

• The Ayushman card works as a health ID for citizens. This includes diagnoses, treatments, hospitalisations, lab reports, and prescriptions.

• These cards digitise health records through a unique 14-digit identification number.

• They enable citizens to share their health data with doctors and health providers.

• The records reflect details of medical tests and previous prescriptions. Details can be obtained through the official website or mobile app using the ID.

What Are The Benefits of The Ayushman Card?

The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a significant government health scheme that benefits nearly 40 percent of Indian citizens by providing healthcare insurance to the needy sections of the nation.

Over 2.2 crore individuals have availed of treatments worth Rs 30,000 crore through Ayushman cards since 2018. Given below are some of the key benefits of the PM-JAY card to the beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

• Enhanced Convenience: The card provides tremendous convenience by eliminating unnecessary, repeated medical tests.

• Lower Costs: The PM-JAY card plays a significant role in helping cut costs and make premium healthcare services accessible to low-income and vulnerable groups.

• Eligibility For PM JAY Yojana: The PM-JAY card allows citizens to register for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. It is India’s public healthcare program.

• Up To 5 lakhs of Healthcare Benefits: Cardholders become eligible for treatment worth Rs. 5 lakh per family per year in the hospitals listed.

• High-Quality Medical Care: By bearing the costs of surgeries, and treatments, the cards have enabled high-quality care for lower-income groups.

• Wide Coverage: Complex procedures like cancer surgery, heart implants, and joint replacements are made affordable. Cashless coverage has reduced high out-of-pocket expenditures.

Research shows that over 63 million Indians fall into poverty due to unaffordable healthcare costs every year. By covering hospitalisation costs, the PM-JAY card shields a vulnerable section of society. This supports the continuity of children’s education and the livelihoods of millions.

Healthcare is witnessing unprecedented penetration into remote regions. 30,000 underserved sub-health centres are also converted to health and wellness centres. It also plays a major role in securing India’s informal workforce.

As the world’s most populous country, safeguarding India’s workforce through a health insurance safety net is vital.

Also read: Ayushman Yojana- Major Changes in 2024

What Is The Aim Of The Ayushman Bharat Card?

Some of the key objectives of the PM-JAY card are listed below in brief:

• Ayushman cards aim to build comprehensive health profiles of Indian citizens. They gather all medical records from a single source.

• They enhance access to paperless health services. This helps India’s digital health infrastructure benefit crores of citizens.

• Ayushman Card's convergence of public funding through the insurance model. This has disrupted traditional incentivisation, delivery, and access across India’s healthcare landscape.

• This can be seen happening at an unprecedented pace and scale, benefiting citizens, providers, and the economy at large.

With increased budgetary allocations, and technology integrations, Ayushman cards promise financial health assurance. This card also provides medical security to crores of vulnerable Indians.

Who Is Eligible For The Ayushman Card?

To be eligible to avail the benefits of the PM-JAY card, the following criteria must be met:.

Ayushman Card Eligibility For Rural Households:

Families residing in rural areas who fulfil the conditions mentioned below are eligible for availing of the benefits of the PM-JAY card. Those conditions are listed below:

• All members living under one roof with kuccha walls or roof.

• No adult member within the age of 16-59.

• No adult male members within the age range of 16-59.

• No physically abled adult member or at least one adult disabled member

• Receive the major portion of household income as manual labour.

• SC/ST households

Ayushman Card Eligibility For Urban Households:

Families residing in rural areas who fulfil the conditions mentioned below are eligible for availing of the benefits of the PM-JAY card. Those conditions are listed below:

• Certain sections, like road accident victims, domestic workers, and homeless citizens.

• Families who receive food rations under the public distribution system.

• Registered construction workers

• Street vendors/cobblers/other street vendor providers.

• Beggars/ragpickers/sanitation workers/home-based workers/artisans/tailors/handicraft workers/washermen/other similar roles.

• Electrician/chowkidar/mechanic/repair workers/rickshaw puller/transport workers/waiter/peon/shop worker/delivery man.

Also read: Up To 5 Lakh Free Healthcare To Senior Citizens

How To Apply For Ayushman Cards Online?

Registering for PM JAY Yojana is a simple process. Read the steps given below to apply for an Ayushman card online.

• Visit the official National Health Authority website.

• If you are already a beneficiary, sign in using your registered mobile number. If you are a new user, you can login using your registered mobile number to check if you are a beneficiary.

• Submit the captcha, mobile number, and OTP and check if you fall under the PM JAY list.

• Now download and open the Ayushman app (download here) or visit the official PM JAY website.

• You will find the option ‘Am I Eligible’ to confirm if you are eligible to fall under the PM JAY scheme beneficiary list.

• Next, login using your mobile number and enter the requested details, including your name, state, ration card number, household number, and mobile number.

• If your family is covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, it will be confirmed.

Documents Required To Register For Ayushman Card

The essential documents needed to to apply for the PM-JAY card are mentioned below without which an applicant won’t be able to apply for the scheme:

• Age Proof

• Identity Proof (PAN card, and others)

• Income certificate

• Caste Certificate

• Family status proof

Expenses Covered Under Ayushman Card Benefits

The Ayushman Bharat insurance coverage covers a wide variety of medical services such as:

• Medical examination fees

• Consultation fees

• Hospital accommodation charges

• Lab and diagnostic expenses

• Treatment expenses

• Pre-hospitalisation expenses up to 3 days

• Post-hospitalisation expenses up to 15 days

• Non-intensive services

• ICU services

• Complications that may arise during treatment

• Food service

Critical Medical Complications Covered Under Ayushman Card

While there are nearly 1949 medical conditions covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, some of the critical complications include

• Cancer

• Heart diseases

• Burn injuries

• Neonatal concerns

• Kidney diseases

• Congenital disorders

• Neurological disorders

• Respiratory issues

• Liver disease

• Mental illnesses

List Of Diseases Not Covered Under Ayushman Bharat Yojana

Here is a list of complications that are not covered under the benefits of the Ayushman Card.

• Fertility-related procedures, such as IVF

• Dental procedures

• AIDS/HIV

• Cosmetic surgeries

• OPD consultations and services

Who Is Not Eligible For Ayushman Card Benefits?

Here is a list of individuals that cannot be considered to avail the benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

• Government employees

• Individuals with income above INR 10,000 per month.

• Individuals holding Kisan card

• Individuals owning vehicles, such as a two- or three-wheeler or car.

• Individuals owning farming machinery

• Individuals holding land over 5 acres

• Individuals owning motorised fishing boats

• Individuals owning a refrigerator in their home

• Individuals owning landline phones

What Is An ABHA Card?

Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the Indian government introduced the ABHA Card, also known as the Ayushman Bharat Health Account Card. People can access, store, and share their digital health records with healthcare providers nationwide by using it as a distinct health ID.

Name of the govt. scheme	Ayushman Bharat Health Card (ABHA)
Benefit from the scheme	Health benefits
Identification	14-digit identification code
Launched by	Ministry of health and family welfare
Official website	https://abha.abdm.gov.in/abha/v3/
Necessary documents	Aadhar card, driving license

Key Features Of The Abha Card

Some of its key features are:

• Individualised 14-Digit Health ID: Each person has a distinct 14-digit number that serves as their digital health identity.

• Digital Health Record Storage: Health records are easily shared with physicians and hospitals thanks to online access and storage.

• Interoperability: Enables seamless data exchange between various healthcare providers, guaranteeing uninterrupted patient care.

• Privacy and Security: Individuals control the sharing of their data, and healthcare providers can only access it with their permission.

Benefits Of The ABHA Card

• Access to Medical History: Since all medical records are kept digitally, you can easily access them when you need to during consultations.

• Connection: Healthcare that is interconnected helps to reduce the need for duplicate diagnostic testing and paperwork by linking various hospitals and clinics.

• Effective Care: By reviewing the patient's entire medical history, doctors are better equipped to make educated decisions.

• Nationwide Access: Travelers and residents of remote areas can find it convenient to access their health records from anywhere in the nation.

How To Create An ABHA Card?

There are several ways to create an ABHA card such as:

1. Through the ABDM portal

• Visit the official portal of ABDM and visit the ‘Create an ABHA’ option.

• Create ABHA by either using your Aadhar card or driving licence.

• Enter your personal details.

• After verification, a 14-digit ABHA ID will be generated.

• Set a strong password to secure your account.

2. Through the ABHA Mobile Application

• Download the ABHA application available on both, android and iOS.

• Register using your aadhar card or driving licence.

• Generate the ABHA ID.

How To Download The ABHA Card?

One can download an ABHA card through various ways such as:

1. Through the ABDM portal

• Visit the ABDM portal and log in.
• After logging in, download your ABHA card in a pdf format.

2. Through the ABHA application

• Open the ABHA application.

• You’ll find your ABHA card on the dashboard.

• Click on download.

Takeaway

The Ayushman Bharat card plays a significant role in revolutionising the healthcare segment of India by ensuring even the most vulnerable sections of society get access to premium healthcare services.

Medical treatment is a right of all Indians. Register for your Ayushman Card today by visiting the PM JAY government website. For more queries, readers can contact +91 1800 114477.

Stay updated with Jaagruk Bharat to get the latest information on government healthcare schemes and more, and reach out to us via our community page if you have any questions.