Close X
Thursday, September 19, 2024
ADVT 
India

Union Cabinet approves health coverage to all senior citizens above 70 under flagship scheme

Darpan News Desk IANS, 11 Sep, 2024 11:41 AM
  • Union Cabinet approves health coverage to all senior citizens above 70 under flagship scheme

New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 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).

Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said: " "It has been decided to cover our senior citizens who are more than 70 years old under universal health coverage, Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana. This is a very big decision. There is great humanitarian thinking in this decision. They will get the facility of free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh and this will cover about 4.5 crore families in the country, which will include about 6 crore senior citizens..."

The expansion of cover to senior citizens of the age of 70 and above was earlier announced by PM Modi in April 2024 during the launch of the BJP manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections.

According to a cabinet communique, all senior citizens, aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, would be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY. The eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under the scheme.

Senior citizens of the age 70 years and above, belonging to families already covered under the scheme, will get an additional top-up cover up to Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves (which they do not have to share with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70 years). All other senior citizens of the age 70 years and above will get a cover up to Rs 5 lakh per year on a family basis.

Those senior citizens of the stipulated age, who are already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or the Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) may either choose to continue their existing scheme or opt for AB PMJAY.

However, those who have private health insurance policies or are covered under the Employees’ State Insurance scheme will be eligible to avail benefits under AB PM-JAY.

AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme which provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 55 crore individuals corresponding to 12.34 crore families. All members of the eligible families irrespective of age are covered under the scheme, the statement said, adding that it has covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions, including 49 per cent women beneficiaries.

The public has benefited to the extent of over Rs 1 lakh crore under the scheme.

The AB PM-JAY scheme has witnessed continuous expansion of the beneficiary base. Initially, 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families comprising the bottom 40 per cent of India’s population were covered under the scheme. Later, the government revised the beneficiary base under AB PM-JAY from 10.74 crore to 12 crore families considering India’s decadal population growth of 11.7 per cent over the 2011 population.

The scheme was further expanded to cover 37 lakh ASHAs/AWWs/AWHs working across the country and their families for free healthcare benefits.

MORE India ARTICLES

Apple introduces new iPhone 16 series, available in India from Sep 20

Apple introduces new iPhone 16 series, available in India from Sep 20
Powered by the A18 Pro chip, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature a new 48MP Fusion camera with a faster quad-pixel sensor that enables 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision, the company said in a statement.

Apple introduces new iPhone 16 series, available in India from Sep 20

Despite deadline to join duty, junior doctors vow to continue protest in Bengal

Despite deadline to join duty, junior doctors vow to continue protest in Bengal
On Monday, a Supreme Court bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud ruled that doctors in West Bengal protesting against the rape-murder at R.G. Kar must resume their duties by 5 p.m. on Tuesday failing which the state government will be authorised to initiate disciplinary action against them. The bench also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra assured that no disciplinary action will be taken if the doctors report for duty at or before 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Despite deadline to join duty, junior doctors vow to continue protest in Bengal

Bajrang Punia appointed Working Chairman of All India Kisan Congress

Bajrang Punia appointed Working Chairman of All India Kisan Congress
In a major development, Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia was appointed the Working Chairman of the All India Kisan Congress on Friday. The appointment, which followed Punia and his fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat joining the Congress on Friday afternoon, is being seen as a significant move in light of the upcoming Assembly elections in Haryana scheduled on October 5.

Bajrang Punia appointed Working Chairman of All India Kisan Congress

Vinesh Phogat, Bhupinder Hooda in first list of Congress candidates for Haryana

Vinesh Phogat, Bhupinder Hooda in first list of Congress candidates for Haryana
Veteran leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who joined the party on Friday, state chief Udai Bhan, and former minister Geeta Bhukkal are among the 31 names in the Congress' first list of candidates for the October 5 Haryana Assembly elections. While Hooda will contest from Garhi Sampla-Killoi in Rohtak district, Phogat will make her electoral debut from Julana in Jind district.

Vinesh Phogat, Bhupinder Hooda in first list of Congress candidates for Haryana

Seven held in Ahmedabad with 199 kg marijuana worth Rs 43 lakh

Seven held in Ahmedabad with 199 kg marijuana worth Rs 43 lakh
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has seized 194.850 kg marijuana valued at Rs 42.86 lakh from a warehouse in the Vatva GIDC area. Seven persons hailing from Odisha, Bihar, and Nepal have been arrested in connection with the case which has come as a significant blow to the city's drug trade.

Seven held in Ahmedabad with 199 kg marijuana worth Rs 43 lakh

15 killed after bus hits van in UP's Hathras

15 killed after bus hits van in UP's Hathras
At least 15 people, including four women and an equal number of children, were killed after a roadways bus collided with the van they were travelling in on National Highway 93 here, officials said. Thirteen people have also been injured in the accident which took place on Friday and admitted to a government hospital.

15 killed after bus hits van in UP's Hathras