Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY marks eight years of operation in India

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has completed eight years since its launch on September 23, 2018. As of late 2026, the scheme covers approximately 33% of India’s population, with over 48.51 crore people holding Ayushman cards.

To date, the program has funded 13.25 crore hospital admissions, providing treatment support worth approximately Rs 2.03 lakh crore. The scheme operates through a network of more than 38,000 empanelled public and private hospitals, offering cashless coverage for 1,961 procedures across 27 medical specialties.

A significant recent expansion includes the coverage of all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income or socio-economic status. This initiative provides an annual cashless health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per person, benefiting roughly 6 crore elderly citizens. These beneficiaries can utilize the ‘Vay Vandana Card’ for easier service access. For families already enrolled in the scheme, this senior citizen coverage acts as an additional top-up to their existing benefits.