PM Modi to Launch Comprehensive Health Cover for Senior Citizens Above 70 on October 29

In a significant move to support senior citizens, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a newly expanded health insurance coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) on October 29. This initiative will offer comprehensive health cover to all citizens aged 70 and above, providing free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per year, irrespective of income status. This scheme, part of PM Modi’s vision to ensure inclusive healthcare access, is expected to impact around six crore senior citizens from 4.5 crore households across the country.

This major expansion under AB-PMJAY will bring substantial relief to senior citizens, ensuring that health concerns do not strain their financial security. The program allows senior citizens to receive treatment from any of the 29,648 hospitals currently empanelled, including 12,696 private hospitals, across 33 states and Union Territories, excluding Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal. Those already possessing Ayushman Bharat cards will need to reapply for a new card and complete eKYC verification to qualify for this expanded coverage.

As part of the new initiative, senior citizens aged 70 and above will be eligible for individual annual coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh, separate from their family’s health insurance coverage under AB-PMJAY. Those under private health insurance or Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) schemes can also access these benefits if they meet eligibility requirements. However, individuals currently covered by other public health insurance schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), will need to choose between their existing coverage or the expanded AB-PMJAY scheme.

In addition to this healthcare initiative, PM Modi will launch the U-WIN portal, an electronic registry designed for routine immunizations, on the same day. This platform, developed to build on the success of the COVID-19 Co-WIN system, aims to maintain a comprehensive digital record of vaccinations administered under the Universal Immunization Programme. The U-WIN portal will cover routine vaccinations for pregnant women and children up to the age of 17, streamlining immunization records and ensuring better healthcare outcomes nationwide.

The AB-PMJAY scheme has seen significant growth since its inception, initially covering 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, or roughly the bottom 40% of India’s population. In 2022, this base expanded to 12 crore families, including ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), totaling over 37 lakh workers and their families who now receive free healthcare benefits.

With over 7.37 crore hospital admissions, covering nearly half the female beneficiaries, the scheme has provided healthcare benefits valued at over Rs 1 lakh crore. This extension reaffirms the government’s commitment to expanding accessible healthcare across demographics, ensuring India’s elderly population has reliable, free access to necessary medical treatments.

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