What is Ayushman Yojana?

Ayushman Yojana, also known as Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana, is a government scheme that provides free medical coverage to vulnerable families across India, aiming to reduce their out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

What are the proposed changes in Ayushman Yojana?

Proposed changes include expanding the hospital network, increasing the insurance coverage limit from ₹5 lakh to potentially ₹7 or ₹10 lakh, and including citizens above 70 years regardless of income.

Who will benefit from the expanded coverage under Ayushman Yojana?

The expansion is expected to benefit middle-class families, senior citizens above 70 years, and those who fall below the poverty line, making healthcare more accessible to a larger population.

What is the significance of the new payment system for hospitals under Ayushman Yojana?

The new payment system aims to ensure faster settlement of hospital bills, encouraging more hospitals to join the program and improving the quality of services provided to beneficiaries.

How will the inclusion of middle-class families impact Ayushman Yojana?

Including middle-class families would help reduce the financial burden of medical expenses for many who currently do not have access to private health insurance or governmental healthcare schemes.

What is Ayushman Yojana?

Ayushman Yojana, also known as Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana, is a government scheme that provides free medical coverage to vulnerable families across India, aiming to reduce their out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

What are the proposed changes in Ayushman Yojana?

Proposed changes include expanding the hospital network, increasing the insurance coverage limit from ₹5 lakh to potentially ₹7 or ₹10 lakh, and including citizens above 70 years regardless of income.

Who will benefit from the expanded coverage under Ayushman Yojana?

The expansion is expected to benefit middle-class families, senior citizens above 70 years, and those who fall below the poverty line, making healthcare more accessible to a larger population.

What is the significance of the new payment system for hospitals under Ayushman Yojana?

The new payment system aims to ensure faster settlement of hospital bills, encouraging more hospitals to join the program and improving the quality of services provided to beneficiaries.

How will the inclusion of middle-class families impact Ayushman Yojana?

Including middle-class families would help reduce the financial burden of medical expenses for many who currently do not have access to private health insurance or governmental healthcare schemes.

What is Ayushman Yojana?

Ayushman Yojana, also known as Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana, is a government scheme that provides free medical coverage to vulnerable families across India, aiming to reduce their out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

What are the proposed changes in Ayushman Yojana?

Proposed changes include expanding the hospital network, increasing the insurance coverage limit from ₹5 lakh to potentially ₹7 or ₹10 lakh, and including citizens above 70 years regardless of income.

Who will benefit from the expanded coverage under Ayushman Yojana?

The expansion is expected to benefit middle-class families, senior citizens above 70 years, and those who fall below the poverty line, making healthcare more accessible to a larger population.

What is the significance of the new payment system for hospitals under Ayushman Yojana?

The new payment system aims to ensure faster settlement of hospital bills, encouraging more hospitals to join the program and improving the quality of services provided to beneficiaries.

How will the inclusion of middle-class families impact Ayushman Yojana?

Including middle-class families would help reduce the financial burden of medical expenses for many who currently do not have access to private health insurance or governmental healthcare schemes.

Who is eligible for Ayushman card in Delhi?

Residents of Delhi from eligible low-income families listed in the SECC database and meeting Ayushman Bharat criteria can get the Ayushman card. Eligibility is checked through the official portal or CSCs.

Who is eligible for Ayushman card?

Economically disadvantaged families identified in the PM-JAY eligibility list (SECC data) and certain priority groups like senior citizens qualify for free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year.

What is the disadvantage of Ayushman card?

Some high-end procedures and non-medical costs are not covered, and not all private hospitals participate due to reimbursement issues, limiting where you can use the card.

Is medical free in Delhi?

Government hospitals offer free or subsidised care; under Ayushman Bharat eligible patients can get cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh in empanelled hospitals.

Which hospital accepts Ayushman card in Delhi?

Many government and empanelled private hospitals in Delhi accept Ayushman cards; the full list can be searched on the official PMJAY hospital directory.

How long is an Ayushman card valid?

The card’s benefits are yearly, and you usually need to renew eligibility annually to retain coverage.

How to get free treatment in private hospital in Delhi?

Go to a private hospital that is empanelled under Ayushman Bharat and present your Ayushman card to get cashless treatment under the scheme.

Does AIIMS Delhi accept Ayushman card?

Yes, AIIMS Delhi and other major hospitals empanelled under the scheme accept Ayushman cards for eligible treatments.

Which disease is not covered by Ayushman Bharat?

Routine outpatient expenses, cosmetic procedures, and some non-hospitalisation costs are not covered; coverage focuses on specified inpatient and critical care services.

Which hospitals accept Ayushman card near me?

You can find nearby empanelled hospitals by entering your state/district/pin on the PMJAY hospital search portal.

How much money is given in ayushman Bharat scheme?

The scheme offers up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for eligible secondary and tertiary care.

Which documents are required to make an Ayushman card?

Commonly required documents include Aadhaar, ration card, and proof of eligibility/details used for SECC verification.

Is ayushman Bharat eligible for private hospitals?

Yes, private hospitals that are empanelled under the scheme will provide cashless treatment to eligible cardholders.

What is Modi 5 lakh scheme?

This refers to the PM-JAY scheme providing up to ₹5 lakh free medical cover per family per year under Ayushman Bharat.

How to apply for a health card online?

Visit the PMJAY/beneficiary portal, click on 'Am I Eligible', enter details like mobile number/OTP and follow steps to register and download your Ayushman card.

Is ayushman Bharat eligible for private hospitals?

Yes, private hospitals that are empanelled under the scheme will provide cashless treatment to eligible cardholders.

How to register or create a profile in the Aadhaar app?

You can register on the app using your Aadhaar number and verify with OTP sent to your registered mobile.

What is the new Aadhaar app and how is it different from mAadhaar?

The new Aadhaar app is a redesigned version offering improved security and easier access compared to mAadhaar.

Jaagruk Bharat is a private organization offering support for documentation and government scheme access. We are not affiliated with any government body. Official services are available on respective government portals. Our goal is to make processes easier and more accessible for citizens.

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Ayushman Yojana: Major 2024 Changes, Good News For Middle-Class To Benefit From Free Healthcare!

Pragya Pathak

Author

Updated: 09-01-2026 at 3:30 PM

Serving Over

500K+ Users

India’s healthcare system has been strengthened by Ayushman Yojana, popularly known as Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana, which provides free medical care to the poor. Since the inception of this government scheme, it has provided free medical cover to about 10 million beneficiaries across India. The govt health insurance scheme is extremely unique and exceptional as it provides health insurance worth Rs. 5 lakh to people who cannot afford to pay premiums of other expensive health insurance schemes.

As the scheme enters its fifth year, the government intends to make substantial changes to increase its scope and impact, while also alleviating the burden on the middle class. The changes are concerning various aspects of the scheme, like expansion of the hospital network, creation of a faster payment mechanism, and introduction of a new card called the Ayushman Vaya Vandana card, which will widen the scope of the scheme and cover more types of people.

Read the article to learn more about the govt health insurance scheme, ranging from its benefits and new changes to the registration process and process of viewing the Ayushman Yojana Hospital list, including answers to popular questions, like ‘Ayushman yojana kya hai?’.

Overview

The table below summarises some key details about the govt health insurance scheme that one should know.

Name of the scheme	Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana (PMAY)
Objective of the scheme	To provide health insurance cover to vulnerable families and protect them from high healthcare costs
Recent change introduced in it	Focus on broadening the hospital's network, introducing the Ayushman Vaya Vandana card, and faster payment systems
Mode of application	Online

Overview Of Ayushman Yojana

Launched to provide financial protection to vulnerable families from high healthcare costs, many have found solace in Ayushman Yojana. The beneficiaries can seek free treatment from empanelled hospitals all over India, thus reducing their out-of-pocket health expenses. However, in response to evolving healthcare needs, the Sarkari Yojana must also be updated and expanded. The Yojana is being adopted by several states of India, including the Ayushman Yojana in Delhi.

The government is aware of that fact and is currently overhauling the scheme to expand its benefits beyond the current limits. These could involve increasing coverage limits, among others, thereby including the middle class.

Proposed Changes In Ayushman Yojana

Recent reports indicate that several developments will take place in Ayushman Yojana. One major update being considered is broadening the hospital's network under this government scheme. This would include not only large urban hospitals but also smaller facilities in smaller towns, too, so this will mean that more people would access healthcare easily.

Moreover, there are indications that before long the insurance ceiling sum of funding might be raised from five to seven or ten lakh rupees. This step would secure financially dependent families, especially during severe diseases that require prolonged treatment.

Inclusion Of Senior Citizens

One potential major change encompasses the introduction of the Ayushman Vaya Vandana card, which will cover all senior citizens above 70 years, irrespective of whether they fall beyond any income bracket or not, as well as those who fall within any income bracket below the poverty line, i.e., no means testing age criteria.

Operationally, this would mean that health services would be cost-free for the aged whose health status is normally worse and who do not have the financial ability to pay for their treatment. Therefore, instead of targeting income, the new scheme could benefit middle-class households that are currently out of Ayushman Yojana eligibility.

Faster Payment System For Hospitals

The government is also considering a new payment system, which will ensure fast settlement of hospital bills as part of its efforts to make the implementation process of Ayushman Yojana more seamless.

This is because it fills one of the loopholes in today’s system, where a lack of timely payments may affect hospitals’ involvement and quality of services. By having an efficient payment method in place, more hospitals would be interested in joining the program, thus increasing the options available to beneficiaries.

Potential Impact On The Middle Class

Ayushman Yojana gets extended to include middle-class people, which marks a significant change in policy as it acknowledges their financial challenges.

While it was originally designed for weaker sections of society, expanding its coverage to encompass middle-class families may help ease the burden of medical expenses for many more people.

This expansion might especially assist those without access to private health insurance and currently excluded from governmental healthcare schemes.

How To Apply For Ayushman Yojana?

The application process for people who want to enjoy more benefits of the Ayushman Yojana scheme is still simple.

Individuals eligible to register for the Ayushman Yojana card can do this online through the portal.

During Ayushman Yojana registration, individuals are required to submit their Aadhaar card and other identification documents as proof of eligibility, which can be done through the government’s official website. Individuals can do several other functions, like Ayushman Card download through the same portal.

Once approved, victims will receive an Ayushman Yojana card, which they can use at any empanelled hospital for treatment. The holder shall enjoy free medical care within a certain limit of coverage that may rise in value as per proposed changes.

Benefits Of Ayushman Yojana

The beneficiaries of this govt health insurance scheme enjoy several benefits. Some of the key Ayushman Yojana benefits are described below for one's clarity:

Ayushman Bharat provides monetary aid of up to Rs. 5 lakhs for a family, which covers almost 1500 medical and surgical procedures. This helps all the family members whenever they might need emergency medical treatment and provides them with a protective shield.
The government scheme offers cashless treatment at empanelled or registered hospitals nationwide. So, people must ensure that they visit the empanelled hospitals only to avoid any last-minute hassle.
The govt health insurance scheme promotes preventive health services through the establishment of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), which offer various services like free health check-ups, consultation services, etc. This helps in the early detection of diseases and saves millions of lives.

Conclusion

The suggestion updates employ inclusions that offer an important change to India’s healthcare structure. The government aims to construct a more comprehensive health system by possibly increasing the coverage limit and widening eligibility criteria to include older persons and the middle class. All these alterations are aimed at enhancing the accessibility of quality health care regardless of income status or social position.

While finalising these updates, the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana has been further enhanced so that it covers many Indians and at the same time provides better support. This is good news for those already on board as well as for those who are about to be brought in under this scheme.

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