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Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme expansion

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2026-09-24 20:07 UTC → 2026-09-25 06:34 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has reached its eighth anniversary of operation in India. As of late September 2026, the program has expanded to cover more than 60 crore beneficiaries, providing an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh per person. Key milestones of the scheme include the funding of 13.25 crore hospital admissions and providing treatment support worth approximately Rs 2 lakh crore. The program utilizes a network of over 39,000 empanelled public and private hospitals to offer cashless coverage for nearly 2,000 procedures. Official data indicates that over 48.54 crore Ayushman cards have been issued to date. A recent major expansion includes providing coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of socio-economic status. This initiative benefits roughly 6 crore elderly citizens through the ‘Vay Vandana Card’, which offers an annual cashless health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh. Additionally, the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have recorded over 500 crore visits, supporting primary healthcare at the grassroots level. Union Health Minister JP Nadda emphasized that the program has acted as a “financial safety net,” protecting families from medical debt and significant healthcare expenses. To ensure program integrity, the National Health Authority is utilizing AI-based fraud detection and digital health platforms. The scheme's scope was also expanded in March 2024 to include approximately 37 lakh families of ASHAs and Anganwadi workers. To mark the eight-year milestone, Union Health Minister JP Nadda is set to lead the Arogya Manthan 2026 event in New Delhi. The event will focus on health assurance and digital health, including the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and the implementation of ~~technology, such as AI-based fraud detection,~~ technology to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the program as the “world’s largest healthcare scheme.”

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