On the occasion of Dhanvantari Jayanti and Ayurveda Day (29 October 2024), Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated multiple health sector projects worth approximately Rs 12,850 crore at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. Marking a transformative step in healthcare, the Prime Minister announced that every senior citizen aged 70 and above would receive free treatment in hospitals. Such elderly individuals will be provided with the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, granting them access to comprehensive healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This initiative has already seen significant participation, with over 10 lakh senior citizens enrolling for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, ensuring themselves of free treatment and support under the scheme.
Background
The Vay Vandana Card is an important aspect of Ayushman Bharat PM JAY initiative that strengthens the idea of making healthcare accessible to all. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2018, reflects India’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage. This scheme, part of the broader Ayushman Bharat initiative has redefined the nation’s approach to healthcare by offering substantial health coverage to its most vulnerable citizens. Today, PM-JAY proudly holds the title of the world’s largest health assurance scheme, extending comprehensive secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation benefits of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually and encompassing nearly 55 crore individuals that form the bottom 40% of the Indian population. The households included are based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas respectively.
PM JAY covers a broad range of services that include:
- Medical examinations, treatment, and consultations
- Pre-hospitalisation expenses
- Medicine and medical consumables
- Non-intensive and intensive care services
- Diagnostic and laboratory investigations
- Medical implantation services
- Accommodation and food services
- Treatment complications
- Post-hospitalisation follow-up care up to 15 days
Unlike its predecessor, the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), which limited coverage to families of five members, PM-JAY has no cap on family size or age. This inclusive structure also ensures that pre-existing diseases are covered from day one, allowing patients to receive treatment immediately upon enrolment.
Progress of PM JAY (data as on 17 November 2024)
Since its launch, PM-JAY has made notable strides in its implementation:
- Ayushman Cards Created: A total of 35,45,10,568 cards have been generated.
- Authorised Hospital Admissions: Cumulatively, 6,50,59,465 hospital admissions have been authorised, with 17,36,903 admissions in the last 30 days and 28,540 just yesterday.
- Hospitals Empanelled: Currently, there are 30,745 empanelled hospitals, comprising 17,084 public and 13,661 private institutions.
- Authorised Hospital Admissions (Financial): The total value of authorised admissions amounts to 81,979.07 crore INR, with 2,314.77 crore INR in the last 30 days and 47.25 crore INR yesterday.
These figures highlight the extensive reach and impact of PM-JAY in providing accessible and affordable healthcare to millions across India.
Vay Vandana Card: Transforming Elderly Care
A significant expansion to PM-JAY was approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024, which promises transformative health insurance coverage for senior citizens aged 70 and above. This move aims to extend benefits to approximately 6 crore senior citizens across 4.5 crore families. Under this expansion, it was announced that all senior citizens in this age group will receive a new distinct card under AB PM-JAY to access the scheme's benefits. The promise was soon fulfilled with the launch of a dedicated “Vay Vandana Card” for this age group. The Vay Vandana Card will grant eligible seniors exclusive access to free health treatment in the hospital. This card is universal and there is no income limit , whether poor or middle class or upper class. The Vay Vandana card will also ensure that the out-of-pocket expenditure for the elderly at home be reduced to a great extent by Ayushman Vay Vandana Card.
Progress
In a significant milestone, more than 10 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above have enrolled for the newly launched Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, enabling them to access free healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This achievement comes within three weeks of the card’s rollout by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on October 29, 2024. Around 4 lakh enrolments under Ayushman Vay Vandana card are by females. Since the launch of the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, treatments worth over Rs 9 crore have been authorized, benefiting more than 4,800 senior citizens aged 70 and above, including over 1,400 women. These treatments cover a range of conditions, including coronary angioplasty, hip fractures/replacement, gallbladder removal, cataract surgery, prostate resection, and stroke, among others.
For more information related to application for Vay Vandana card please click here
Conclusion
As India moves forward, initiatives like the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card reinforce the government’s dedication to inclusive healthcare, ensuring that the elderly are supported and cared for with dignity. This continued focus on holistic and accessible health solutions cements PM-JAY’s role as a cornerstone of the nation’s health infrastructure and a model for universal healthcare globally.
References
https://dashboard.pmjay.gov.in/publicdashboard/#/
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2069388
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2073908®=3&lang=1
https://x.com/pibvijayawada/status/1853748356155375698/photo/1
https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=153181&ModuleId=3®=3&lang=1
