Over 5 lakh senior citizens enrolled in Ayushman Bharat scheme for elderly, set to benefit millions

Rs.5 lakh health cover for seniors under Ayushman Bharat

More than five lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above have been successfully enrolled in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) since its recent expansion, according to reports from the National Health Authority (NHA). This includes enrollment in the newly introduced Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, which provides free health coverage to elderly citizens, regardless of their income.

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi two weeks ago, the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card aims to cover those over 70 years of age with an additional Rs.5 lakh health insurance annually, separate from the existing AB-PMJAY family scheme. The scheme, which was approved by the Union Cabinet in September, is expected to provide critical health support to millions of elderly citizens in India.

As of now, a total of 5,12,598 applications have been received under the scheme. Out of these, 4,64,541 have been approved, while 47,916 applications are still pending. About 141 applications have been rejected. The state of Madhya Pradesh leads in enrollment numbers with 1.66 lakh applications, followed by Kerala (1.28 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (69,044), and Gujarat (25,491).

The scheme is part of India’s broader efforts to ensure accessible healthcare for senior citizens, especially as the country’s elderly population is expected to double by 2050. According to government officials, the Ayushman Bharat Senior Citizen Scheme is projected to benefit nearly 6 crore elderly individuals across 4.5 crore families, addressing the growing demand for geriatric care.

“We have shared Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) material with all states to raise awareness. As the word spreads, we are confident that more and more senior citizens will take advantage of this program,” a senior official said.

Launched in 2018, AB-PMJAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, originally covering 55 crore individuals across 12.34 crore poor and vulnerable families. With the recent expansion to include senior citizens, the scheme further strengthens its role in making healthcare more accessible to India’s aging population.

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