New Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card Offers Rs 5 Lakh Health Insurance for Senior Citizens Aged 70 and Above

The Indian government has introduced health insurance benefits for all senior citizens above the age of 70 years. Under this program, as part of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), health coverage will be provided to elderly citizens without any income criteria. Under this scheme, citizens above 70 years of age, as authenticated by the age enlisted in their Aadhaar card, will come under its coverage with a bottomless purse irrespective of means. Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card for Seniors

For this benefit, the eligible elderly will get a special Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card. This card provides an amount of Rs 5 lakh health insurance for over 70-year-old people. The Ayushman Bharat Vaya Vandana Card can be obtained through a simplified application process with Aadhaar-based e-KYC, and it’s an obligation on behalf of all applicants to ensure that every eligible elderly person can also enjoy health insurance without any hassle.

The insurance benefit of Rs 5 lakh has been conceptualized on a family basis so that such coverage can also be shared between those members who become eligible. Indeed, anybody else living in the same household of an age of 70 years or more is eligible for this additional Rs 5 lakh benefit. The other family members of the benefit holder will continue to enjoy the general benefit of Rs 5 lakh through Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.

Some information has been released by the PIB regarding this scheme, claimed to benefit a lot of families with much-needed financial relief. This scheme will cover seniors for free treatment, thus reducing healthcare costs as well as worries about elder care among families.

How to Apply for Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card:

Senior citizens who are willing to avail the facility can apply through the following steps:

1. Download the Ayushman Bharat app on a mobile.

2. Login as a beneficiary

3. Authenticate by entering the OTP, Captcha code, and the authentication mode preferred

4. Enter Aadhaar details and details of the applicant.

5. If the beneficiary is not located in the database, resort to the e-KYC process, after getting permission for verification by OTP.

6. Attach declaration if required, click photo, and fill the application form.

7. Insert the Beneficiary’s mobile number with OTP Verification.

8. Enter category and PIN code.

9. Add family member details and submit the application.

Once the application gets approved, the beneficiary can download his or her Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card. There is no waiting period for this coverage, wherein elders can get immediate health services once enrolled. This scheme also does not have any income restrictions; any Indian citizen who is 70 years of age or more can enroll for this coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can retired government employees above 70 with a CGHS card apply for this scheme?

All the retired employees of Central Government, who have reached an age of 70 years and above are eligible under the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme. The senior employee has an option to either avail benefits of Central Government Health Scheme or he may opt for the benefit available under Ayushman Bharat and he cannot opt for both benefits side by side.

Is the Senior already covered by private health insurance eligible for PM-JAY?

Yes, even individual private health insurance coverages can apply for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. The insurance is entirely different from the previous ones offered by PM-JAY.

Can Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries with ESIC benefit if they are 60 years or older?

Yes, all seniors 70 years and more under ESIC can also enroll in PM-JAY

Benefits of Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card for the Senior Citizen

This incremental step under the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme is aimed at streamlining health access for the elderly and, in turn, lightening the pockets of the family in terms of heavy medical costs. The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card enables the elderly populace to receive timely and comprehensive care at a larger footprint of empanelled hospitals. With this, the government hopes to bridge gaps in health insurance coverage for its elderly citizens, ensuring no one lacks access to necessary health care.