Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY 70+ — Who Qualifies and How to Check Eligibility
All Indian citizens aged 70 and above are eligible for health coverage under the AB-PMJAY 70+ expansion. This article explains eligibility, coverage limits and how to verify.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) expanded in 2023 to cover all Indian citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income or existing insurance status. This expansion — known as AB-PMJAY 70+ — provides health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year per eligible individual for hospitalisation costs at empanelled hospitals. (General educational content — verify current eligibility and coverage at official sources.)
Who Is Eligible
Under the AB-PMJAY 70+ expansion, all Indian citizens aged 70 and above are eligible for coverage, irrespective of income, social category or existing private health insurance. Citizens who are already beneficiaries of PM-JAY through earlier eligibility categories continue to be covered.
What the Coverage Includes
Coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year applies per eligible individual (not per family) for hospitalisation-related costs at empanelled public and private hospitals. This includes pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation costs as specified in the scheme's benefit packages. The scheme covers a wide range of medical conditions across specialties.
Coverage does not typically include outpatient consultations, routine medicines or costs at non-empanelled facilities. Understanding what is and is not covered helps retirees plan for residual healthcare costs appropriately.
How to Check Eligibility and Enrol
Eligibility can be checked at the official PM-JAY website or by calling the helpline. Enrolment for the 70+ category can be done at Common Service Centres, empanelled hospitals or through the Ayushman Bharat app. An Ayushman card is issued to eligible beneficiaries, which is used to access cashless treatment at empanelled facilities.
- Check eligibility at pmjay.gov.in or call 14555
- Enrol at a Common Service Centre, empanelled hospital or via the Ayushman Bharat app
- Obtain your Ayushman card — required to access cashless treatment
- Find empanelled hospitals near you via the PM-JAY hospital locator at pmjay.gov.in
- Understand what is covered and what residual costs may remain