New Delhi: Approximately 4 lakh elderly women aged 70 and above have registered for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card since its launch in late October, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced on Monday. Over 1,400 women have already availed themselves of free medical treatments under the scheme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme on October 29 as an extension of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This new initiative offers senior citizens additional health benefits, including a separate annual coverage of ₹5 lakh per person, complementing the family coverage under AB PM-JAY.
Enrollment and Benefits
In the three weeks since its rollout, over 10 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above have enrolled in the scheme, including 4 lakh women. Treatments worth over ₹9 crore have been authorized, benefiting more than 4,800 elderly individuals, the ministry stated.
The scheme covers a wide range of medical conditions, including coronary angioplasty, hip replacement, cataract surgery, gallbladder removal, prostate resection, and stroke care.
Key Features of PM-JAY
The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, the world’s largest health assurance initiative, provides comprehensive hospitalisation benefits of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually. Since its inception in 2018, over ₹1.1 lakh crore has been spent on free hospitalisation for beneficiaries.
Key highlights of PM-JAY include:
- Coverage for medical exams, consultations, treatments, medicines, and post-hospitalisation care.
- No cap on family size or age, ensuring pre-existing conditions are covered from day one.
- Benefitting nearly 55 crore individuals, targeting the bottom 40% of India’s population.
The Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme marks a significant step in extending tailored healthcare support to the elderly, reinforcing India’s commitment to accessible and inclusive healthcare.
