Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is one of the components of Ayushman Bharat, other component is health and wellness centres (renamed in 2023 as Ayushman Arogya Mandir).

• Ayushman Bharat was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

• About: It is the largest health assurance scheme in the world.
• Ministry: Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Benefit: Provides cashless hospital cover of Rs. 5 lakhs/ family/ year for secondary and tertiary care across public and private empanelled hospitals.
• Covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and medicine.
• Target: 12 crore families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries).
• Recently, the Union Cabinet approved an expansion of it to all senior citizens aged 70 and above.

Achievement of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

• Coverage: Over 35.4 crore Ayushman cards have been issued, and the scheme is operational in 33 States and Union Territories.
• Gender Equity: 49% of the Ayushman cards have been issued to women.
• Wide network: It has been successfully empanelled 30,529 hospitals across the country, with 17,063 public and 13,466 private hospitals.