Ayushman Bharat Card: Eligibility, Benefits, Documents Required and How to Apply for PM-JAY

What Is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a flagship health insurance scheme of the Government of India designed to provide financial protection against major healthcare expenses.

The scheme offers cashless treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals across India.

Key Benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Card

Eligible beneficiaries receive:

• Health insurance coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year

• Cashless hospitalization

• Coverage for secondary and tertiary healthcare treatments

• No restriction on family size, age, or gender

• Access to thousands of empanelled hospitals across India

• Pre- and post-hospitalization benefits for specified treatments

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility is generally determined based on data from the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) and government-approved beneficiary lists.

Eligible categories typically include:

Rural Households

• Families living in one-room houses with kutcha walls and roof

• Landless households dependent on manual labor

• Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe households

• Destitute families

• Families without adult earning members

Urban Households

Workers in certain occupational categories such as:

• Domestic workers

• Street vendors

• Construction workers

• Sanitation workers

• Drivers

• Security guards

• Electricians and plumbers

• Other identified vulnerable workers

Documents Required

To obtain an Ayushman Bharat card, beneficiaries may need:

• Aadhaar Card

• Mobile number

• Ration Card (if applicable)

• Family identification documents

• Residence proof (where required)

• Other documents requested by local authorities

How to Check Eligibility

You can check your eligibility through the official PM-JAY beneficiary portal:

PM-JAY Beneficiary Portal

Users can verify eligibility using:

• Mobile number

• Aadhaar details

• Family ID (in applicable states)

How to Apply Online

Step 1

Visit:

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Official Website

Step 2

Check whether your family is included in the beneficiary database.

Step 3

Complete e-KYC using Aadhaar or other approved identification.

Step 4

Verify family details and required information.

Step 5

After successful verification, your Ayushman Bharat card can be generated and downloaded.

How to Download the Ayushman Card

Beneficiaries can download their card through:

Ayushman Card Portal

After logging in and completing authentication, users can view and download their digital card.

Coverage for Senior Citizens

Under recent expansions, eligible senior citizens can also receive benefits under the Ayushman Bharat framework, subject to applicable government guidelines and eligibility conditions.

How to Use the Card

Once issued, the Ayushman card can be presented at empanelled hospitals for cashless treatment.

Beneficiaries should:

• Carry their Ayushman card

• Carry a valid photo ID

• Verify hospital empanelment before admission

Looking Ahead

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY continues to be one of the world's largest publicly funded healthcare programs, aimed at reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses and improving access to quality healthcare for eligible Indian families.