Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), beneficiaries can get financial support for hospitalisation and medical treatment. If you want to know who is eligible, whether there is an age limit, how to register online and what benefits are covered, here is a complete guide.

What Is The Ayushman Card And How Much Coverage Does It offer?

The Ayushman Card is a health card issued under the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme. Key benefits:

• Cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year
• Available across all 36 states and Union Territories
• Treatment available at 30,000 plus empanelled hospitals
• Covers nearly 1,900 treatment packages
• More than 43.5 crore cards have been issued so far
The scheme helps eligible families get treatment without worrying about large hospital bills.

Who Is Eligible For An Ayushman Card?

The scheme covers several groups in both urban and rural areas. Urban beneficiaries include:
• Domestic workers
• Street vendors
• Construction workers
• Sanitation workers
• Ragpickers
• Transport workers
• Shop assistants
• Home based workers and artisans

Rural beneficiaries include:

• Families living in single room kutcha houses
• Landless labourers
• SC/ST households
• Families with a disabled member and no earning adult
• Households without an adult aged 16-59 years

Senior citizens:

• All citizens aged 70 years and above are eligible under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card.
People already covered under schemes like CGHS, ECHS or CAPF health schemes can choose whether to stay with their existing scheme or switch to PM-JAY.

What Documents Are Needed To Register For An Ayushman Card?

You may need the following documents:
• Aadhaar Card
• Aadhaar-linked mobile number
• Ration Card or Family ID
• Address proof
• Passport-size photograph
• PAN Card or other identity proof
• Income certificate (if required)
• Caste certificate (if required)
• Family relationship proof

For senior citizens:

• Aadhaar Card is mandatory
• OTP or biometric verification may be required

How Can You Register For An Ayushman Card Online?

You can apply through the PM-JAY portal or the Ayushman App.

Through the PM-JAY Portal:

1. Visit the PM-JAY beneficiary portal
2. Log in using your mobile number and OTP
3. Select your state
4. Search using: Aadhaar number, PMJAY ID, Family ID, Name
5. Complete e-KYC through Aadhaar OTP
6. Download the card after approval

Through the Ayushman App:

1. Download the Ayushman App
2. Log in with your mobile number
3. Search your details
4. Complete e-KYC using OTP, Face authentication, Fingerprint, Iris scan
5. Upload a live photo
6. Download the card after approval

What Is Covered And What Is Not Covered Under The Ayushman Bharat Scheme?

Covered under the scheme:

• Doctor consultations
• Hospital admission
• ICU and non-ICU treatment
• Medicines
• Diagnostic tests
• Surgery costs
• Implants
• Food during hospital stay
• Pre-hospitalisation expenses (up to 3 days)
• Post-hospitalisation expenses (up to 15 days)

Not covered:

• OPD consultations without hospitalisation
• Cosmetic procedures
• Fertility treatments
• Drug rehabilitation programmes
• Routine dental treatments
• Non-emergency vaccinations
• Experimental treatments
• Standalone diagnostic tests without admission

How does the hospitalisation process work and how do you find empanelled hospitals?

To use the scheme:

1. Visit an empanelled hospital
2. Show your Ayushman Card and ID proof
3. The hospital verifies your details
4. Cashless admission is processed
5. Treatment begins without upfront payment

To find an empanelled hospital:

• Visit the PM-JAY Hospital Locator portal
• Select: State, District, Specialty, Hospital type
• View the list of nearby hospitals
There are more than 30,000 empanelled hospitals across India.

What Treatment Packages And benefits Does The Ayushman Card Cover?

The scheme covers nearly 24 medical specialities, including:

• Cardiology
• Cancer treatment
• Neurosurgery
• Orthopaedics
• General surgery
• Day-care procedures

Package benefits generally include:

• Registration charges
• Hospital bed charges
• Nursing care
• Surgeon and anaesthetist fees
• Operation theatre charges
• Medicines
• Implants
• MRI, CT scan and X-ray costs
• Pathology tests
• Pre and post-hospitalisation expenses