Ayushman Bharat Card Benefits & Hospital List for Easy Access
Launched in 2018, Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a health insurance scheme launched by the Government of India with the “Vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the underlying commitment to "leave no one behind."
Simply, the motive is to make high-quality healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status.
To avail of all the benefits under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the beneficiaries need an Ayushman Bharat Card (also known as the PM-JAY card).
Key Highlights
- 5 Lakh Coverage Per Family: Annual health insurance coverage for secondary and tertiary hospitalization for eligible families.
- Pan-India Hospital Network: Cashless treatment at over 25,000 empanelled public and private hospitals across India.
- Covers 1,500+ Treatments: Includes surgeries, cancer care, maternity, ICU, diagnostics, and post-hospitalisation expenses.
- No Premium or Registration Fee: Entirely government-funded; beneficiaries don’t pay anything to enroll or avail services.
- Portable Across India: Beneficiaries can access treatment in any empanelled hospital nationwide, not just in their home state.
Table of Contents
What is Ayushman Bharat Yojana & Ayushman Bharat Card?
Also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a national health insurance scheme introduced to provide health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year.
The yojana aims to support over 12 crores poor and vulnerable families with secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
What is the Ayushman Bharat Card?
The Ayushman Bharat Card is a unique identification card issued to eligible beneficiaries of the PM-JAY scheme. It allows cardholders to access cashless medical treatment at any empanelled public or private hospital in India.
Overview of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana
Ayushman Bharat Yojana has two components.
- Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs): These centres provide comprehensive primary health care, including maternal and child health services, non-communicable diseases, essential drugs and diagnostics free of cost closer to the communities, to promote preventive care and health promotion.
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): This component provides access to financial protection for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation, with coverage up to ₹5 lakhs per family per year.
Key Benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Card
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Financial Coverage and Limits
One of the most attractive features of the Ayushman Bharat Card is the extensive financial coverage it provides. Every eligible family receives health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year.
The coverage provided is all-encompassing, including numerous medical procedures & treatments and ensures that beneficiaries aren't burdened with exorbitant medical bills.
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Coverage of Medical Procedures and Treatments
The scheme covers a wide range of medical procedures and treatments. Whether for ordinary diseases or serious illnesses, the Ayushman Bharat Card ensures that the beneficiaries have access to the required medical interventions.
This includes not only surgeries and therapies but also pre and post-hospitalization expenses, thereby providing a complete healthcare package.
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Eligibility Criteria for Beneficiaries
- For Rural Areas: Families that belong to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe categories, families with no adult members between 16 and 59 years, and landless families deriving a substantial income from manual casual labour.
- For Urban Areas: Eligibility is determined based on occupation and it mainly covers workers in the informal sector like street vendors, domestic workers, construction workers, etc.
A Large Network of Empanelled Hospitals
To ensure that beneficiaries receive quality healthcare services, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana has a network of empanelled hospitals. Empanelled hospitals are registered hospitals that provide medical services to beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The empanelled hospital is supposed to provide authorised rates and up-to-the-standard treatments in a cashless manner.
Empanelled Hospitals in Bengaluru
- Apollo Hospitals: A well-known private hospital that has many specialities.
- NIMHANS: A public hospital with a speciality centre for mental health and neurosciences.
Empanelled Hospitals in Delhi
- AIIMS: India's one of the best Government public hospitals.
- Fortis Healthcare: A private hospital known for its state-of-the-art facilities.
Empanelled Hospitals in Mumbai.
- Tata Memorial Hospital: A government hospital that deals only with Cancer treatment.
- Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackerey Trauma Care: A private hospital providing multi-speciality.
Empanelled Hospitals in Chennai
- Chennai Port Trust Hospital: Hospital that provides all types of medical services.
- Apollo Hospitals: A private hospital known for its advanced medical facilities.
Note: Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and you can check the official Ayushman Bharat portal for a complete and updated list.
Hospital empanelment for PM-JAY should meet the following criteria:
- Infrastructure: Proper facilities to deliver the medical services that they claim to provide.
- Staffing: Qualified medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and support staff.
- Equipment: Essential medical equipment required to conduct treatments and procedures in line with the package.
- Compliance: Compliance with the protocols and guidelines issued by National Health Authority (NHA).
The program is inclusive in nature as it covers the public as well as private hospitals. Thus, the beneficiaries are given a wide array of choices to select for their medical needs.
How to Find the Ayushman Bharat Hospital List
The National Health Authority has launched an official online portal that PM-Jay beneficiaries can use to find empanelled hospitals. It’s user-friendly and provides the latest information on all the hospitals registered under the scheme.
Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Empanelled Hospitals
- Visit the Official website hospitals.pmjay.gov.in.
- Find Hospitals: Go to the 'Find Hospital’ tab.
- Enter Details: Enter your state, district and other required details.
- View Results: The portal will display a list of empanelled hospitals matching your criteria.
How to Avail Treatment at Empanelled Hospitals
Availing treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is designed to be hassle-free:
Steps to Avail Cashless Treatment
- Identify an Empanelled Hospital: You can use the above-mentioned methods to find a hospital that caters to your requirements.
- Show Your Ayushman Bharat Card: Show your card at the hospital help desk for identification and verification.
- Get the Treatment: Once your card is identified and verified, you can avail the medical treatment without having to pay anything upfront.
Required Documents and Verification Process
Please make sure to carry with you the following documents:
- Ayushman Bharat Card: Your main identity for the scheme.
- Government ID Proof: Aadhaar card or voter ID.
The hospital staff will verify these documents to confirm your eligibility.
Healthcare is a basic right, and with the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the government aims to make sure no Indian is deprived of quality medical care due to financial constraints. With benefits like ₹5 lakh coverage, access to top hospitals and cashless treatments, this scheme will likely be a game-changer for millions.
