Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY 2026

What is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), launched in September 2018, is the government's health assurance scheme. It provides free treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation at government and empanelled private hospitals. A Press Information Bureau note of 23 April 2026 reports that 43.52 crore Ayushman cards had been created by 28 February 2026.

Key benefits

• Cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year, cashless at empanelled hospitals.
• All pre-existing diseases are covered from day one.
• No limit on family size, age or gender.
• Portability across India: you can be treated at any empanelled hospital in any state.

Who is eligible

1. Families identified under the scheme's criteria, which are based on deprivation and occupation data (SECC) and the lists of states that run PM-JAY along with their own schemes. You cannot join just by applying; your family's name must be in the beneficiary database.
2. All senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income. This was added in September 2024. Seniors get a separate card for this cover (known as the Ayushman Vay Vandana card).

Many states run their own health schemes together with PM-JAY, so the cover and the list of beneficiaries can differ by state.

Who is not covered

Families not in the eligible database (and members under 70 in such families) are not covered by PM-JAY itself, though your state may have a separate scheme. Treatment at hospitals that are not empanelled is not cashless.

Documents required

Your Aadhaar for eKYC, and your ration card or the family ID used in your state, to find your name in the database.

How to check eligibility and get an Ayushman card

1. Open the official beneficiary portal (beneficiary.nha.gov.in) or the Ayushman App.
2. Log in with your mobile number and OTP, then search by state, scheme and Aadhaar, ration card or family ID.
3. If your name appears, complete Aadhaar eKYC and download your Ayushman card.
4. Seniors aged 70+ can enrol with Aadhaar eKYC even if their family is not in the database.

You can also get the card made free of cost at an empanelled hospital's Ayushman Mitra desk or at a CSC.

How to use it in hospital

Go to an empanelled hospital and show your Ayushman card or Aadhaar at the Ayushman Mitra desk. The hospital verifies you and treatment is cashless under the approved package. You do not pay for covered treatment.

Helpline

National Health Authority call centre: 14555.

Important

Beware of fraud: the government never asks for money, an OTP or your bank PIN over the phone to release a benefit. Apply only on the official portal or at an authorised centre, and never pay an agent to "get your name added".

Rules, amounts and dates can change and may differ by state. Always confirm on the official portal before applying.

Last checked: 24 October 2026 on pmjay.gov.in and the PIB note of 23 April 2026.