Ayushman Bharat Health Card — How to Apply & Check Eligibility

What is Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY)?

Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is the world's largest health insurance scheme by the Government of India. It provides ₹5 lakh free health coverage per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization.

Key Benefits

• ₹5 lakh health cover per family per year
• Cashless treatment at empaneled hospitals
• Covers 1,949+ treatment packages including surgery, day care, and diagnostics
• No cap on family size — entire family covered
• Pre-existing diseases covered from day one
• No enrollment fee — completely free
• Works across India — portability between states

Who is Eligible?

Eligibility is based on SECC 2011 (Socio-Economic Caste Census) data:

Rural Families (any one criterion):

• Households with only one room, kucha walls, and kucha roof
• No adult member aged 16-59
• Female-headed household with no adult male member aged 16-59
• Disabled member and no able-bodied adult
• SC/ST households
• Landless households earning majority from manual casual labour
• Destitute / living on alms
• Manual scavenger families
• Primitive tribal groups
• Legally released bonded labour

Urban Families (occupational categories):

• Rag picker
• Beggar
• Domestic worker
• Street vendor / cobbler / hawker
• Construction worker / plumber / mason / painter
• Sweeper / sanitation worker / gardener
• Home-based artisan / handicraft worker
• Transport worker (driver, conductor, rickshaw puller)
• Shop worker / assistant / waiter / mechanic

Recently expanded: Senior citizens (70+) are now covered regardless of income under the expanded Ayushman Bharat scheme.

How to Check Eligibility

Method 1: Online Portal

1. Visit pmjay.gov.in → "Am I Eligible?"
2. Enter mobile number → Get OTP
3. Enter name, state, and other details
4. System checks against SECC database

Method 2: Helpline

Call 14555 (toll-free) — Check eligibility over phone

Method 3: Visit CSC

Go to nearest Common Service Center with Aadhaar card

How to Get Ayushman Bharat Health Card

Step 1: Check Eligibility (see above)

Step 2: Visit Nearest Point

• Empaneled hospital — Arogya Mitra desk
• Common Service Center (CSC)
• PMJAY Kiosk at government hospitals

Step 3: Carry Documents

• Aadhaar Card (mandatory)
• Ration Card (if available)
• SECC/RSBY card (if available)

Step 4: e-KYC Verification

• Aadhaar-based biometric verification (fingerprint)
• Family details verified against SECC database

Step 5: Card Generated

• Ayushman Card generated on the spot or within a few days
• Card has a unique PMJAY ID for each family member
• Download from beneficiary.nha.gov.in

How to Download Ayushman Card Online

1. Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in
2. Login with Aadhaar + OTP or PMJAY ID
3. Click "Download Card"
4. Verify via OTP
5. Download and print your Ayushman card

How to Use — Getting Cashless Treatment

Step 1: Find Empaneled Hospital

Visit pmjay.gov.in → "Find Hospital" → Search by state, district, and specialty

Step 2: Visit Hospital with Ayushman Card

• Go to the Ayushman Mitra / Help Desk at the hospital
• Show your Ayushman card or Aadhaar

Step 3: Pre-Authorization

• Hospital verifies your identity
• Submits treatment request to insurance company
• Pre-authorization approved (usually within hours)

Step 4: Cashless Treatment

• Receive treatment — no payment required
• Hospital bills the insurance company directly
• You sign discharge form after treatment

What's Covered?

• 1,949+ packages including:
  • Heart surgeries (bypass, angioplasty)
  • Joint replacements
  • Cancer treatment
  • Kidney dialysis
  • Cataract surgery
  • Maternity and newborn care
  • All medical, surgical, and day-care treatments

What's NOT Covered?

• OPD (outpatient consultations)
• Fertility treatment
• Cosmetic surgery
• Organ transplant

Fees

Important Tips

1. Get your card made before you need it — Don't wait for an emergency
2. Check hospital empanelment before going — Not all hospitals accept PMJAY
3. Senior citizens (70+) — Check if you're eligible under the expanded scheme even if not in SECC
4. Carry Aadhaar always — Hospitals verify identity through Aadhaar
5. Report fraud — Call 14555 if a hospital demands payment or denies treatment

FAQs

Q: How do I check if I'm eligible for Ayushman Bharat? A: Visit pmjay.gov.in → "Am I Eligible?" → Enter mobile number and details. Or call 14555.

Q: Is there any fee for Ayushman Bharat card? A: No. The card and all services are completely free.

Q: How much health cover does Ayushman Bharat provide? A: ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospitalization at empaneled hospitals.

Q: Can I use Ayushman card in a private hospital? A: Yes, if the private hospital is empaneled under PMJAY. Check the hospital list on pmjay.gov.in.

Q: Is Ayushman Bharat available for senior citizens? A: Yes. The scheme has been expanded to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income or SECC status.

Q: What if the hospital refuses to provide cashless treatment? A: Call the PMJAY helpline 14555 immediately. Hospitals empaneled under PMJAY cannot deny treatment to eligible beneficiaries.