The move is aimed to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families with six crore senior citizens with 5 Lakh rupees free health insurance cover on a family basis, the government stated in a press release.
“With this approval, all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above irrespective of their socio- economic status would be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY. The eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under AB PM-JAY. The senior citizens of the age 70 years and above belonging to families already covered under AB PM-JAY will get an additional top-up cover upto Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves (which they do not have to share with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70 years),” the release said.
“All other senior citizens of the age 70 years and above will get a cover upto Rs 5 lakh per year on a family basis. Senior citizens of the age 70 years and above who are already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) may either choose their existing scheme or opt for AB PMJAY. It has been clarified that senior citizens of 70 years and above who are under private health insurance policies or Employees’ State Insurance scheme will be eligible to avail benefits under AB PM-JAY,” the release further added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had pledged in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections to extend the Ayushman Bharat scheme to include all individuals from the transgender community and senior citizens aged 70 and above.
More to come..
