The Union cabinet has approved health coverage for senior citizens under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
All senior citizens who are 70 and above are eligible under the scheme. They will get health coverage of Rs 5 lakh on family basis. And senior citizens who belong to families already under the ABPMJAY scheme will get an additional top up of rupees 5 lakh on their health insurance, which is entirely for themselves and does not need to be shared with their families. Senior citizens with private health insurance can also avail of the scheme.
However, senior citizens covered under other public health insurance schemes will have to make a choice between their existing insurance schemes or the Ayushman Bharat scheme. It is stated that all eligible beneficiaries will be issued a distinct card to avail the Centre’s new scheme.