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Ayushman Bharat PMJAY Health Card Benefits, Coverage, Application Process 2026: The PMJAY Ayushman Card (also known as the Golden Card) is a government-issued health ID that provides eligible individuals in India with access to free healthcare services under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). It is the primary tool for availing cashless and paperless medical treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals across the country.
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Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a flagship healthcare scheme of the Government of India designed to provide universal health coverage to the economically vulnerable sections of society.
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY Health Card Benefits
| Annual Coverage: Provides a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. Cashless Treatment: Cardholders can walk into any empanelled hospital and receive treatment without paying anything upfront; the government pays the hospital directly. Family Floater Basis: The entire coverage amount can be used by one or all members of the family. No Restrictions: There is no cap on family size, age, or gender for the standard scheme. Comprehensive Coverage: It covers roughly 1,900+ medical procedures, including surgery, diagnostics, medicines, and room charges. Pre & Post Hospitalization: Covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses. Pre-existing Conditions: All pre-existing diseases are covered from the very first day of enrollment. Portability: The card is valid across India, allowing beneficiaries to get treatment in any state regardless of their home state. |
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY Health Card Eligibility
| Standard Eligibility: Traditionally based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data, targeting approximately the bottom 40% of the population (vulnerable rural and urban poor). Senior Citizen Expansion (Ayushman Vay Vandana Card): As of 2025, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above are now eligible for a separate coverage of ₹5 lakh per year, regardless of their income or socio-economic status. Occupational Categories: Includes urban workers such as domestic workers, street vendors, ragpickers, and construction laborers. |
How to Get the Ayushman Bharat Card
| Eligible individuals can check their status and apply for the card through the following methods: Official Portal: Visit the NHA Beneficiary Portal to check eligibility and complete e-KYC using an Aadhaar number. Mobile App: Download the Ayushman App (available on Android) for self-verification and card creation. Physical Locations: Visit a Common Service Centre (CSC) or an empanelled hospital to speak with an Ayushman Mitra, who can help verify details and issue the e-card. |
Who can Apply PM-JAY Ayushman Bharat Card
| All Senior Citizens (Aged 70+ years) -> A major update effective from 2024–2025 states that all citizens aged 70 and above are now eligible for the scheme, regardless of their income, caste, or socio-economic status. -> Seniors receive a distinct card (often referred to as the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card) providing ₹5 lakh annual coverage. -> If a senior is already part of a family covered under PM-JAY, they get an additional ₹5 lakh top-up just for themselves. |
| Rural Households -> Living in one-room houses with “kucha” (temporary) walls and roofs. -> Households with no adult members between the ages of 16 and 59. -> Female-headed households with no adult male member. -> Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) households. -> Landless families that depend on manual casual labor for income. -> Automatic inclusion: Destitute individuals, manual scavengers, primitive tribal groups, and legally released bonded laborers. |
| Urban Occupational Groups -> Ragpickers and beggars. -> Domestic workers (maids, cooks). -> Street vendors, hawkers, and cobblers. -> Construction workers, plumbers, masons, painters, and welders. -> Sanitation workers and sweepers. -> Transport workers (drivers, conductors, rickshaw pullers). -> Shop workers and delivery assistants. |
| Special Worker Categories ASHA workers, Anganwadi Workers, and Anganwadi Helpers along with their families. |
Who Cannot Apply PMJAY Card
| -> Owns a motorized 2/3/4-wheeler or fishing boat. -> Has a member who is a government employee. -> Earns more than ₹10,000 per month. -> Owns more than 5 acres of agricultural land. -> Owns a refrigerator or landline phone. |
