Key Points
The National Health Authority, the implementing agency for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), is assessing the need to add more health packages catering to the elderly as the government is set to roll out the health coverage for all aged 70 years and above...
The expanded scheme, which will benefit an estimated six crore citizens in about 4.5 crore households, is likely to be launched by the end of this month, official sources said...
"The committee which decides on health-benefit packages under the scheme is deliberating on the need for adding more health packages, which exclusively tend to geriatric care, as the number of such beneficiaries will go up with the launch of the scheme," an official source said...
"The admissions necessitated due to certain mental-health conditions, such as Alzheimer's and dementia, are also covered under the current scheme," the source said.. Be it the poor, middle class, upper-middle class or rich, every individual aged 70 years or above is eligible to receive the Ayushman card and free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh at any of the AB-PMJAY-empanelled hospital once the expanded scheme is launched...
It is an application-based scheme and people will need to register on the PMJAY portal or the Ayushman app, the sources said.. "Those already having the Ayushman card will be needed to apply again for a new card and complete their eKYC again," the source said.. Senior citizens aged 70 years and above and belonging to families already covered under AB-PMJAY will get an additional top-up cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves, which they do not have to share with other family members below the age of 70 years...
