Ayushman Bharat Yojana 2026: ₹5 Lakh Cover + 70+ Card

Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is the Government of India’s health-assurance scheme, run by the National Health Authority (NHA). Eligible families get a cashless cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for listed secondary and tertiary hospital care at empanelled public and private hospitals anywhere in India. This is not a one-week 2026 vacancy drive — there is no printed last date on the NHA pages used here. In 2024 the Union Cabinet and the Prime Minister expanded the same scheme so that every Indian aged 70 years or more can get an Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, irrespective of income. This page explains both tracks (SECC/RSBY families and 70+ seniors), official apply steps, what the ₹5 lakh cover includes, and the helplines. Facts follow nha.gov.in/PM-JAY and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare / NHA press notes — not news-site rewrites.

Ayushman Bharat Yojana details @nha.gov.in

PM-JAY launched on 23 September 2018. NHA describes it as a fully government-financed assurance of ₹5 lakh per family per year for more than 12 crore poor and vulnerable families (about 55 crore people) identified mainly from SECC 2011 deprivation and occupation criteria, plus leftover RSBY families. There is no cap on family size, age or gender for those entitled families. Pre-existing diseases are covered from day one. Benefits are portable across India.

On 12 September 2024 the Cabinet approved health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 and above, irrespective of income. The Prime Minister announced the expansion on 29 October 2024. Eligible seniors receive a distinct Ayushman Vay Vandana Card. Seniors already in a PM-JAY family get an additional top-up of up to ₹5 lakh a year for themselves. People on CGHS, ECHS or Ayushman CAPF must choose their existing scheme or AB PM-JAY. NHA/MoHFW also state that persons with private health insurance or ESIC remain eligible for AB PM-JAY on the 70+ track.

Read the official About PM-JAY page on nha.gov.in

Cabinet press note PDF (12.09.2024) — 70+ coverage

Official English FAQs for senior-citizen benefits (NHA PDF)

Official links

• beneficiary.nha.gov.in — check eligibility, e-KYC, download Ayushman / Vay Vandana card (live portal, not the training/beta site)

• Ayushman app (official NHA, Android)

• How to make an Ayushman Card — NHA

• About PM-JAY — NHA

• nha.gov.in

• pmjay.gov.in

• MoHFW note on Vay Vandana enrolment

Highlights

Who is covered

NHA’s PM-JAY page still quotes about 1,929 benefit packages. States may add their own beneficiary lists but must keep SECC-eligible families. Do not treat a WhatsApp “new 2026 list” as official unless it is on NHA or your state health agency.

Important dates

Eligibility

PM-JAY family cover

• Household on the SECC 2011 inclusion / deprivation (rural) or occupation (urban) criteria, or an RSBY family not in SECC, or your state’s approved PM-JAY database.

• No family-size cap. All ages and genders in an entitled family.

• Check first on beneficiary.nha.gov.in (mobile, Aadhaar, ration card, Family ID or PM-JAY ID). Being “not found” does not always mean ineligible — complete e-KYC or visit an empanelled hospital / Ayushman Mitra.

70+ Ayushman Vay Vandana

What the ₹5 lakh cover includes

From the official About PM-JAY page: cashless treatment at the hospital for listed packages. The family floater can be used by one or all members. Cover includes medical examination and consultation, pre-hospitalisation (up to 3 days), medicines and consumables, ICU and non-ICU care, diagnostics, implants where listed, stay and food, complications during treatment, and post-hospitalisation follow-up up to 15 days.

This is hospital (secondary/tertiary) assurance, not a monthly cash pension and not automatic OPD at every clinic. Only empanelled hospitals and listed packages are paid. Confirm the package at the Ayushman desk before admission.

How to apply / get the card

A. Already on the PM-JAY list

1. Open beneficiary.nha.gov.in or the official Ayushman app.

2. Search with mobile, Aadhaar, ration card, Family ID or PM-JAY ID.

3. Complete Aadhaar e-KYC (OTP / biometrics as the portal asks).

4. Download or print the Ayushman card. Redo e-KYC if you need a fresh photo or address.

5. Or walk into an empanelled hospital and ask the Ayushman Mitra / operator desk.

B. Senior citizen 70+ (Vay Vandana)

1. Use the same live portal or app. NHA’s training/beta site (bisbeta.nha.gov.in) is not valid for treatment.

2. Log in, allow location if asked, enter state and Aadhaar, give e-KYC consent.

3. Declare category / PIN and add family members if the form asks, then submit.

4. After approval, download the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card.

5. You may also register at the nearest empanelled hospital, call 14555, or give a missed call on 1800-11-0770.

Application fee

Do not pay a “agent” to make a card. Use only NHA, the official app, or the hospital desk.

How treatment works

1. Carry the Ayushman / Vay Vandana card (or Aadhaar / registered mobile) to an empanelled hospital.

2. The hospital raises a pre-authorisation for a listed package.

3. Care is cashless at the point of service if the package is approved.

4. Portability: you may use an empanelled hospital in another state.

Helpline and support

Before you close

Search “Ayushman Bharat Yojana 2026” often lands on private blogs. Eligibility, packages and hospital lists change only on nha.gov.in, beneficiary.nha.gov.in and your state AB-PMJAY portal. There is no official “apply by 31 December 2026” in the NHA documents cited here. Verify the card and the hospital on those sites before admission.