New Delhi, February 3: More than 96 lakh senior citizens across India have been enrolled under the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme, a landmark initiative providing enhanced health coverage for the elderly, officials informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Minister of State for Health, Prataprao Jadhav, stated that these cards have been issued across all states and Union territories as of December 31, 2025.
The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) currently provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Initially targeting 12 crore families from the bottom 40 per cent of India’s population, the scheme has now been expanded to include senior citizens through the Ayushman Vay Vandana card.
In October 2024, the government broadened the scope of the program to cover six crore elderly individuals aged 70 years and above, belonging to approximately 4.5 crore families, regardless of their socio-economic background. This expansion ensures that senior citizens nationwide can access comprehensive healthcare services without financial burden.
Health experts and policymakers have hailed this initiative as a significant step towards safeguarding the health and well-being of India’s elderly population. By extending benefits beyond traditional eligibility criteria, the scheme addresses the growing healthcare needs of seniors in the country and strengthens the social security framework for the ageing population.
The Ministry of Health has urged eligible senior citizens to enrol for the Ayushman Vay Vandana card to avail themselves of the benefits, which include coverage for hospitalisation, critical illnesses, and other essential medical treatments.
This development marks a key milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to make quality healthcare accessible and affordable for all, particularly the most vulnerable sections of society.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.