What is Ayushman Bharat?
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), also called Ayushman Bharat, is the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. It provides ₹5 lakh per year of completely free hospital treatment to the bottom 40% of Indian families — roughly 50 crore people.
There is no premium to pay, no enrollment fee, and no cash required at the hospital. You simply walk in with your Aadhaar card to any empanelled hospital and get treated for free.
The scheme covers 1,929 medical and surgical procedures including cancer treatment, heart surgery, kidney dialysis, joint replacement, and much more.
Who Qualifies?
Eligibility is based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data. You qualify if your family is in any of these categories:
- Families listed in the SECC 2011 database (automatic — no application needed)
- Former RSBY (Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana) beneficiaries
- Families with no adult member aged 16–59 years
- Families with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult
- SC/ST households
- Manual scavenger families
- Landless households earning mainly from manual labour
✅ No income limit is specified — eligibility is based purely on the SECC 2011 list. The best way to check is to call 14555 with your Aadhaar number.
❌ Not eligible: Government employees, income tax payers, families with 2-wheelers/cars/fishing boats, those with ₹10,000+ monthly income, and those with a refrigerator or landline phone (SECC exclusion criteria).
How to Check Your Eligibility
- Call 14555 (Free, 24/7)
Keep your Aadhaar number ready. The helpline will check instantly if your family is listed. - Visit pmjay.gov.in
Click "Am I Eligible?" → Enter your mobile number → Enter Aadhaar or Ration Card number → Check status. - Visit nearest Common Service Centre (CSC)
Bring your Aadhaar card. The operator will check your eligibility for free. - Visit any empanelled hospital
Go to the Ayushman Bharat helpdesk at any empanelled government or private hospital. They will check your eligibility on the spot.
How to Use the Scheme at a Hospital
- Find an empanelled hospital
Visit pmjay.gov.in → "Find Hospital" → Search by your district and treatment type. Look for the Ayushman Bharat logo at hospital entrances. - Go to the Ayushman Bharat helpdesk
Every empanelled hospital has a dedicated AB-PMJAY helpdesk. Ask for it at reception. - Carry your Aadhaar card
This is the only document needed. The helpdesk will verify your eligibility on the government portal. - Get your e-card issued
A digital Ayushman card will be issued — this is your identity for treatment. It is free. - Get treated — pay nothing
All covered procedures, medicines, tests, and food during hospitalisation are free. You pay zero.
✅ No hospital can ask you to pay for any covered procedure. If they do, call 14555 immediately and report it.
Documents Required
Only one document is needed at the hospital:
The hospital helpdesk will verify your eligibility online — you do not need to bring any proof of income or BPL card.
What is Covered?
The scheme covers 1,929 medical procedures across 27 specialties including:
- 🏥 Cancer treatment (chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy)
- ❤️ Heart surgery (bypass, valve replacement, angioplasty)
- 🫁 Lung and chest diseases
- 🦴 Orthopaedics (knee/hip replacement, fractures)
- 👁️ Eye surgeries (cataract, retina)
- 🧠 Brain and neurosurgery
- 🫀 Kidney dialysis and transplant
- 👶 Maternity and neonatal care
- 🦷 Dental surgery (limited procedures)
Covered costs include: surgery, doctor fees, medicines, ICU, post-surgery care, and food during hospital stay — up to ₹5 lakh per family per year.
Important Facts
- Coverage is per family — not per person. The entire family shares the ₹5 lakh limit.
- There is no restriction on family size — all members are covered.
- Pre-existing diseases are covered from Day 1 — no waiting period.
- The scheme is valid across all states — you can use it in any empanelled hospital in India, not just your home state.
- Over 29,000 hospitals are empanelled across India (public + private).
- If hospitalisation is needed after an OPD visit, the OPD costs are also covered (3 days pre and 15 days post).
Official Source
All information on this page is sourced from the official Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY portal. Always verify on the official site before applying.
This page is for informational purposes only. MeraHaq is not affiliated with the Government of India or any ministry.