In a significant step, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This expanded scheme offers free health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually for every citizen aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income or economic status.
The initiative aims to provide dignified healthcare access to elderly citizens, many of whom have struggled with costly medical treatment.
“This card ensures that elderly people no longer need to live with the anxiety of high healthcare expenses. They can now live with swabhimaan,” said the Prime Minister during the launch event. PM Modi emphasized that the scheme has already benefited 4 crore individuals, and the inclusion of senior citizens will further solidify the government’s commitment to universal health coverage.
Key Benefits and Structure of the Expanded Scheme
The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card provides an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family, specifically for members aged 70 years or older. If multiple elderly individuals reside in the same household, the cover will be shared among them. Beneficiaries must register through the PM-JAY portal or the Ayushman app, even if they already hold an Ayushman card, and complete the mandatory eKYC process to activate the new card.
The cost of this expansion will be ₹3,437 crore, covering the scheme’s rollout for the current fiscal year and the next. Experts say that providing health insurance for all citizens above 70 is more expensive than covering the poorest 40% of the population across all age groups, but the government views it as essential given India’s aging population.
Addressing India’s Aging Population
The expanded scheme comes at a crucial time, as India’s population ages rapidly. According to the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), only 8.6% of the population was over 60 years old during the 2011 census. However, this figure is expected to rise to 19.5% by 2050, representing approximately 319 million elderly citizens—three times the 103 million recorded in 2011.
The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card is designed to address the healthcare needs of this growing demographic, marking the first time any specific age group has received comprehensive health coverage in India.
Who Will Benefit?
The new scheme will cover nearly 6 crore individuals from 4.5 crore families. Of these, 1.78 crore beneficiaries are already enrolled under the original Ayushman Bharat scheme. Additionally, 80 lakh individuals are covered by existing government health programs, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
Beneficiaries of these schemes can choose whether to continue with their current coverage or switch to Ayushman Bharat.
In a unique feature, individuals insured under the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will be eligible for both ESIC and Ayushman Bharat coverage, as their premiums are funded by employers and employees rather than the government. Those with private health insurance can also avail of the Ayushman Bharat coverage, providing them with an additional health safety net.
U-WIN Portal Launched
At the same event, Prime Minister Modi announced the nationwide rollout of the U-WIN portal, a digital platform aimed at streamlining vaccinations for pregnant women and children. The platform will support 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants annually by fully digitalizing the vaccination process.
It aims to ensure the timely delivery of essential vaccines to women and children (from birth to 16 years) for protection against 12 preventable diseases, as part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s flagship Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).
The U-WIN portal, a Made-in-India initiative, will also create secure digital identities for beneficiaries, easing access to vaccination records and helping healthcare providers monitor immunization schedules. “This platform will ensure that life-saving vaccines reach every mother and child, empowering the next generation,”
PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also launched a nationwide campaign, “Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan,” was launched with 470,000 volunteers, aiming to revolutionize public health awareness and attempt multiple Guinness World Records.
By – Sabita Mishra