Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY) 2026 Overview
Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY) is a government health insurance scheme that provides eligible families with cashless hospital treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh every year. This scheme aims to protect economically weaker families from financial burdens due to hospital expenses.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY) 2026 Summary
Scheme Details
This section provides an overview of the key details related to the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
- Scheme Name: Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
- Launched On: 23 September 2018
- Launched By: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Run By: National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Benefit: ₹5 lakh cashless health cover per family per year
- Who Benefits: Economically weaker families (as per SECC 2011) + all citizens aged 70+
- Hospital Network: 30,000+ empanelled government and private hospitals
- Official Website: pmjay.gov.in
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Who is Eligible
Eligibility for PM-JAY is determined based on the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011. Below are the criteria for eligibility.
- Rural households: Landless households earning primarily from manual casual labour
- Rural households: Female-headed households with no adult male member (aged 16–59)
- Rural households: Households with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult
- Rural households: SC/ST households
- Rural households: Households living in a single-room, kutcha house
- Rural households: Households with no adult member aged 16–59
- Rural households: Destitute or those living on alms
- Urban households: Primary earner works in listed informal-sector occupations
- Age: Anyone aged 70 or above
Who is Excluded
Certain households are not eligible for PM-JAY coverage. Here are the exclusions.
- Ownership: Household owns a two-wheeler, three-wheeler, four-wheeler, or a motorised fishing boat
- Employment: Household has a member who is a government employee
- Income: Household earns a monthly income above ₹10,000
- Land Ownership: Household owns a certain threshold of agricultural land
- Ownership: Household owns a refrigerator or landline phone
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Documents Required
To apply for the Ayushman Card, the following documents are necessary.
- Aadhaar Card: Mandatory for e-KYC
- Ration card or Family ID: For household verification
- Proof of identity: Voter ID, passport, or driving licence
- Photograph: A recent photograph for the Ayushman Card
- Mobile Number: Registered for OTP verification
How to Check Eligibility and Get Your Ayushman Card
Here’s how you can check your eligibility and obtain your Ayushman Card.
- Online: Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in or pmjay.gov.in and click “Am I Eligible?”
- Verification: Enter your mobile number and verify with the OTP
- Search: Select your state, district, and scheme, and search using your Aadhaar or ration card number
- e-KYC: Complete e-KYC via Aadhaar OTP or biometric verification
- Download: Download your Ayushman Card (PDF) directly from the portal
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What’s Covered
The scheme covers a wide range of medical procedures and expenses. Here are the details.
- Procedures: Over 1,900 medical procedures including surgeries and treatments
- Pre-hospitalisation: Expenses up to 3 days before admission
- Post-hospitalisation: Expenses up to 15 days after discharge
- Coverage: Treatment at any empanelled hospital in any state
Using Your Card at a Hospital
Follow these steps to use your Ayushman Card at a hospital.
- Identification: Show your Aadhaar card or Ayushman Card at the hospital
- Verification: An Ayushman Mitra will verify your identity and eligibility
- Treatment: Once verified, treatment begins cashless
State Coverage Note
As of 2026, PM-JAY has been implemented in nearly every state and union territory.
- Recent Addition: West Bengal is the most recent state to join
- Exclusion: Delhi has not implemented PM-JAY