Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
AB PM-JAY (launched 23 September 2018) is the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, covering approximately 12 crore families with over 42 crore Ayushman Cards issued. It provides ₹5 lakh per family per year of cashless, paperless hospitalisation cover (secondary and tertiary care, 1,929+ treatment packages) at 32,320+ empanelled hospitals across India, with full portability, pre-existing conditions covered from day one, three-day pre-hospitalisation and 15-day post-discharge cover, and no cap on family size. Eligibility for the core scheme is SECC 2011-based (six deprivation markers in rural, eleven occupational categories in urban areas). A landmark 2024 expansion — Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana (AVVY), launched 29 October 2024 — extends PM-JAY to all Indian citizens aged 70+, regardless of income or SECC status. Existing PM-JAY families with 70+ members get an additional exclusive ₹5 lakh/year top-up for those seniors (up to ₹10 lakh household total); non-SECC seniors get an individual ₹5 lakh/year cover via Aadhaar e-KYC self-enrolment on the Ayushman App. CGHS/ECHS holders must choose between those schemes and AVVY; private insurance holders can use AVVY additionally. As of March 2026: 3.4 crore+ seniors enrolled, ₹4,200+ crore in claims authorised (primarily cataract, knee replacement, cardiac, dialysis). Key gap: OPD costs not covered.