Ayushman Bharat Scheme, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), is a flagship healthcare scheme launched by the Government of India in September 2018. The project aims to provide health insurance coverage to economically disadvantaged families and improve the accessibility and affordability of quality healthcare services in urban and rural areas.
Under the scheme, eligible families are provided health insurance coverage of up to INR 5 lakh per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation expenses. The system also offers cashless and paperless access to healthcare services at empanelled public and private hospitals nationwide.
Additionally, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme aims to strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure by setting up Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) in rural and remote areas, providing comprehensive primary healthcare services, including screening, prevention, and treatment of common illnesses.
Overall, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme is a crucial step towards achieving universal health coverage and ensuring that every Indian has access to quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship. This article will discuss the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, so keep looking forward.
History Of The Ayushman Bharat Scheme:
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), also known as Ayushman Bharat Scheme, was launched by the Government of India on September 23, 2018. The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2018-19 by the Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley.
The scheme was launched to provide health insurance coverage to economically disadvantaged families in India, who often face financial hardship due to high healthcare costs. The project aims to cover over 10 million families or approximately 50 million beneficiaries nationwide.
The PMJAY scheme is an integral part of the Ayushman Bharat program, which has two components: the first is the creation of 1.5 lacs Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) across the country, which provide comprehensive primary healthcare services, and the second is the provision of health insurance coverage to economically disadvantaged families.
The Government of India funds the scheme, and the cost of implementation is shared between the central and state governments in the ratio of 60:40. The scheme is being implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA). It has been widely hailed as a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage in India.
Overall, the PMJAY scheme is a crucial initiative that aims to improve the accessibility and affordability of quality healthcare services for millions of families in India and provide financial protection against catastrophic health expenses.
Objectives Of The Ayushman Bharat Scheme:
The Ayushman Bharat Scheme, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), was launched to provide financial protection and quality healthcare services to economically disadvantaged families in India. Here are the key objectives of the scheme:
- Providing Health Insurance Coverage: The scheme’s primary objective is to provide health insurance coverage to over 10 crore families or approximately 50 crore beneficiaries nationwide. The scheme aims to cover secondary and tertiary hospitalisation expenses up to INR 5 lakh per year for eligible families.
- Improving Accessibility and Affordability of Healthcare Services: The Ayushman Bharat Scheme aims to improve the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services in urban and rural areas. The scheme provides cashless and paperless access to healthcare services at empanelled public and private hospitals nationwide.
- Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure: The scheme aims to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure of the country by setting up 1.5 lacs Health and WelllacksCenters (HWCs) across the country, which will provide comprehensive primary healthcare services, including screening, prevention, and treatment of common illnesses.
- Creating Employment Opportunities: The Ayushman Bharat Scheme has also created employment opportunities for healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff, by setting up new healthcare facilities and expanding the existing ones.
Moreover, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme is a crucial initiative that aims to provide financial protection and quality healthcare services to millions of families in India and improve the overall healthcare infrastructure of the country.
Application Procedure For Ayushman Bharat Scheme:
To apply for the Ayushman Bharat Scheme or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), eligible beneficiaries can follow the steps given below:
- Check Eligibility: To avail of the scheme’s benefits, the beneficiary must check their eligibility. Eligibility can be limited online by visiting the official website of PMJAY or the nearest empanelled hospital.
- Register: If the beneficiary is eligible, they can register for the scheme through any of the following modes.
1. Online: The beneficiary can visit the official website of PMJAY and click on the ‘Am I Eligible’ option to enter their mobile number and verify their identity. If the beneficiary is eligible, they can click the ‘Apply for PMJAY’ opportunity to register.
2. Offline: The beneficiary can visit the nearest Common Service Center (CSC) or empanelled hospital to register for the scheme.
- Provide Details: The beneficiary must provide personal and family details, including name, age, gender, address, Aadhaar number, and bank account details.
- Get Authorization: The beneficiary needs to provide authorisation to use their Aadhaar number and other personal details for verification purposes.
- Get PMJAY Card: Once the application is processed and approved, the beneficiary will receive a PMJAY card, which can be used to avail of cashless healthcare services at empanelled hospitals nationwide.
Ayushman Bharat Scheme-Eligibility Criteria:
The eligibility criteria for the Ayushman Bharat Scheme or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) are as follows:
- Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) Data: The beneficiary should be identified per the SECC database of 2011.
- Deprivation Criteria: The beneficiaries will be selected based on their deprivation parameters, such as households without shelter, destitute, living on alms, manual scavenger families, primitive tribal groups, etc.
- Family Size: The scheme covers all eligible families without family size or age restriction.
- Annual Income: The beneficiary should have a yearly income below INR 1.5 lakh.
- Citizenship: The scheme is available for Indian citizens only.
- Residential Status: The beneficiary should be a resident of a rural or urban area.
Overall, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme aims to provide financial protection and quality healthcare services to economically disadvantaged families in India. The eligibility criteria are designed to ensure that the scheme benefits the most vulnerable sections of society.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A: Eligibility can be checked online by visiting the official website of PMJAY or the nearest empanelled hospital.
A: The scheme covers a range of secondary and tertiary healthcare services, including hospitalisation, daycare surgeries, and critical illnesses, among others.
A: The beneficiary can choose any empanelled public or private hospital to avail of cashless healthcare services under the scheme.
PAN and Aadhaar Cards serve as valid proof of age and identity. An income certificate is required to establish eligibility for certain benefits, indicating a maximum annual income of up to Rs. 5 lakhs. Additionally, the family’s current status (joint or nuclear) must be documented, along with supporting documents.
Wrapping Up:
Conclusively, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme is a significant initiative by the Indian government to provide financial protection and quality healthcare services to millions of families in India.
The scheme offers cashless and paperless access to healthcare services at empanelled public and private hospitals and aims to strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure. It is a crucial step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in India and improving the overall health outcomes of the population.