Ayushman Bharat Eligibility for People Above 70

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People aged 70 and above are eligible for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) benefits, which is a flagship government initiative that offers up to Rs. 5 lakh health coverage.


Introduced on 23rd September 2018, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, this scheme witnessed a significant move on September 11, 2024. The Union Cabinet announced that all senior citizens aged 70 years and above would be included under this scheme. (Irrespective of their income) They receive medical treatment coverage for free.


Scroll down to explore all the key new developments:


What are the Key New Developments in the AB PM-JAY Scheme?


The Union Cabinet brought the latest development to provide health benefits to nearly 4.5 crore families. The government aims to cover around six crore people aged 70 and above. Explore the major recent updates:



  • Separate New Card


Eligible senior candidates will get a new, distinct card to avail this free medical insurance coverage under the AB PM-JAY scheme.



  • Additional Coverage


If a family already has the AB PM-JAY card and elderly members aged 70 or above, they will receive an additional top-up coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year.


This extra benefit is only for themselves. It means the senior member does not need to share the total sum insured with other family members who are below the age of 70.



  • Family Coverage


If a family does not have the AB PM-JAY card, then the elderly members of that family will only receive a health cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh each year. It will be counted as a family.



  • Scheme Selection


It is another notable development under the AB PM-JAY. The elderly who are already a part of other government medical insurance policies now have the choice to either continue with their current scheme or enrol themselves under this scheme.


Those schemes include Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), or Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), etc.



  • Eligibility Not Affected by Other Health Schemes


People aged 70 and above who already have private medical insurance schemes or the Employees' State Insurance scheme can also avail AB PM-JAY benefit.


Notable Statistics Related to AB PM-JAY


Recent AB PM-JAY data that proves the effectiveness of this scheme:



  • According to the Press Information Bureau report, the government distributed over 42 crore Ayushman cards till 28th October, 2025.



  • As of the same date, more than 86 lakh people aged 70 or above opt for this scheme.



  • Considering the network hospitals, the 1st November 2025 Press Release reported that more than 33,000 hospitals are empanelled under AB-PMJAY. They comprise 17,685 public and 15,380 private health organisations across the country.


Moreover, this latest approval extends the scheme's benefits to all senior citizens in the specified age group, irrespective of their socio-economic status. It highlights the growing focus on providing healthcare coverage for the elderly.