Introduced in the year 2018, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, fondly named as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), is widely acclaimed as the world’s largest state-led health insurance scheme. This ambitious health reform policy vision seeks to make medical care and treatment accessible to all, safeguarding especially the underprivileged section of Indian society.
Eligibility for Ayushman Bharat Yojana
The critical factor for being a beneficiary under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is to meet the predetermined eligibility criteria. The government has clear-cut guidelines to decide who can be a part of this program. The key factors determining eligibility for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana are as follows:
- Residential Status: The scheme is available only to Indian citizens. Non-resident Indians and foreigners residing in India are not eligible to enroll in the scheme.
- Family Structure: The prospective beneficiary under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana has to belong to one of the identified 10.74 crore families as per Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data. There is no cap on the size of the family, age or gender.
- Economic Status: With an aim to benefit the economically disadvantaged communities, Ayushman Bharat Yojana specifically targets poor and vulnerable families as defined by the SECC database. This includes families with no adult members aged 16-59 years, household without shelter, SC/ST households, landless households earning a major part of their income from manual labour, according to rural database, or households without a male adult, beggars and others living on alms, rag pickers, domestic workers, street vendors, cobblers, or other service providers working on the streets among others, according to urban database.
- Pre-existing Conditions: In an unprecedented move, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana does not exclude those individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions. This means that individuals will not be denied coverage for high blood pressure, diabetes, or any other chronic condition.
- No Coverage by Other Schemes: Families that are covered under any other state or central government health insurance schemes are not eligible for PMJAY.
Once it is clear that an individual meets these eligibility criteria, they can apply for Ayushman Bharat Yojana and receive their Ayushman Bharat card.
Procedure for Ayushman Bharat Card Download
The application process for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is designed to be as simple and accessible as possible. A step-by-step guide on ayushman bharat card download is provided below:
- Access the PMJAY portal: Visit the official website of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and click on the Am I Eligible option.
- Enter Information: Enter your mobile number first, followed by the OTP. Then enter your State and search by name/HHD number/ration card number/mobile number.
- Confirm Your Identity: If your name is on the list, it means you are eligible.
- Apply for the Ayushman Bharat card: Eligible beneficiaries can go to the nearest empanelled hospital along with the required documents such as Aadhar card to complete formalities.
Once the process completes successfully, the applicant will receive an Ayushman Bharat card call or SMS informing them about activation of the Ayushman Bharat card.
In essence, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana takes a significant step towards the path of universal health coverage. It is a sterling example of the commitment of the Indian government towards raising the health status of its people. This groundbreaking initiative is likely to transform the health sector and provide equitable health services at the doorstep of every Indian citizen.