Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme. It provides a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation at empanelled public and private hospitals across India — completely cashless and paperless for the beneficiary.
Key Features
- ₹5 lakh cover per family per year, with no cap on family size or age.
- Cashless treatment at any empanelled hospital in any state (portability).
- Covers pre-hospitalisation (up to 3 days) and post-hospitalisation (up to 15 days) expenses including diagnostics and medicines.
- Pre-existing diseases are covered from day one.
- Senior citizens aged 70 and above from all income groups were later brought under the scheme with a separate top-up cover — check current rules for this category.
Who Is Eligible?
- Families identified under the deprivation and occupational criteria of SECC 2011 data (rural and urban lists).
- Families already covered under the earlier RSBY scheme.
- Several states have expanded coverage with their own funds, so your state list may be broader than the central list.
How to Check If Your Name Is in the List
- Visit the beneficiary portal beneficiary.nha.gov.in (or the “Am I Eligible” option on pmjay.gov.in).
- Verify with your mobile number and OTP.
- Search by your state and ration card number, family ID or Aadhaar.
- You can also call the helpline 14555 or ask at the Ayushman Mitra desk in any empanelled hospital.
Documents Required for the Ayushman Card
- Aadhaar card (for e-KYC)
- Ration card / family ID that matches the beneficiary database
- Registered mobile number
How to Make Your Ayushman Card
- Complete e-KYC on the beneficiary portal or the Ayushman app yourself, or
- Visit a CSC centre or an empanelled hospital’s Ayushman Mitra desk, where the operator verifies your identity and generates the card free of cost.
How to Take Treatment
- Go to any empanelled hospital (list available on the portal or via helpline 14555).
- Show your Ayushman card at the Ayushman Mitra / PM-JAY kiosk.
- The hospital verifies your identity and raises a pre-authorisation; treatment listed in the scheme packages is then provided cashless.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PM-JAY cover OPD? No. It covers hospitalisation and day-care procedures, not routine OPD consultations or medicines bought outside.
Is there any enrolment fee? No. Card generation and treatment under the scheme are free for eligible families.
Note: Package lists, eligibility categories and portals are updated by the National Health Authority. Verify current details on pmjay.gov.in or helpline 14555.