Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme expanded to cover elderly above 70

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday approved health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of income under the flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), regardless of their socio-economic status.
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while announcing the Cabinet's decision while addressing the media said that this will benefit approximately 4.5 Crore families with six (6) crore senior citizens with 5 Lakh rupees free health insurance cover on a family basis.
The eligible senior citizens, under this initiative, will receive a new distinct card that entitles them to the benefits of the scheme.
Additionally, for those who are already covered under AB PM-JAY, an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year will be provided exclusively for the senior citizen, without the need to share it with other family members below the age of 70.
Meanwhile, senior citizens aged 70 and above who are already benefiting from other public health insurance schemes, such as CGHS, ECHS, or Ayushman CAPF, have the option to either continue with their existing scheme or switch to AB PM-JAY.
Senior citizens in this age group who are covered under private health insurance policies or the Employees' State Insurance scheme are still eligible for benefits under AB PM-JAY.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the announcement, in a post on X, said that the government is committed to ensure accessible, affordable and top quality healthcare for every Indian.
"In this context, the Cabinet today has decided to further expand the ambit of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to provide health coverage for all citizens above 70 years. This scheme will ensure dignity, care and security to 6 crore citizens!," said PM Modi.

The expansion of coverage to senior citizens aged 70 and above was initially announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2024.
AB PM-JAY, the world's largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, provides a health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 55 crore individuals, corresponding to 12.34 crore families. The scheme covers all family members, irrespective of age, and has already covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with 49 percent of the beneficiaries being women. The public has benefited to the extent of over Rs 1 Lakh crore under the scheme.
Rs 12,461 crore for 31,350 MW hydro power projects
The Cabinet also approved Rs 12,461 crore outlay to support the development of 31,350 MW hydropower projects that will be implemented over an eight-year period from FY2024-25 to FY2031-32. As per the official statement, the budgetary support for the cost of enabling infrastructure has been rationalized based on the project capacity.
For projects up to 200 MW, the limit of budgetary support is set at Rs one crore/MW. For projects above 200 MW, the limit is set at Rs 200 crore plus Rs 0.75 crore per MW exceeding 200 MW.
PM E-Drive to push electric mobility
The Cabinet also approved the PM E-Drive Scheme, which has been allocated a budget of Rs 10,900 crore for a period of two years to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in India and will replace the FAME programme, which had been in operation for nine years until March.
The government under the scheme will provide support to 24.79 lakh electric two-wheelers, 3.16 lakh e-three wheelers, and 14,028 e-buses. Additionally, the PM E-DRIVE will also support the establishment of 88,500 charging sites across the country.
The new scheme includes subsidies and demand incentives amounting to Rs 3,679 crore to encourage the adoption of various electric vehicles, such as electric two-wheelers, electric three-wheelers, e-ambulances, e-trucks, and other emerging EVs. Furthermore, Rs 4,391 crore has been allocated for the procurement of 14,028 e-buses by state transport undertakings and public transport agencies.
The government also introduced a new initiative to promote the use of e-ambulances for comfortable patient transport, with Rs 500 crore earmarked for their deployment. An additional Rs 500 crore has been provided to incentivise the adoption of e-trucks.