Ayushman Card: 70+ Senior Citizens Can Now Get Rs 5 Lakh Free Medical Cover Via App; How To Apply?
The central government has simplified access to free medical treatment worth Rs 5 lakh per year for senior citizens aged 70 and above under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY.
In a significant step toward universal healthcare, the central government has simplified the process for senior citizens aged 70 years and above to access free medical treatment worth Rs 5 lakh per year. As part of the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card can now be applied for directly through the Ayushman App, making high-quality healthcare more accessible to India's elderly population.
What Is Ayushman Vay Vandana Card?
The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card is a special health ID card under the flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme. It aims to provide comprehensive free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh annually per family at empanelled public and private hospitals across India. This initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, is the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme, covering over 55 crore people, or nearly 40 per cent of India's vulnerable population.
'Senior citizens aged 70 and above can now get their Ayushman Vay Vandana Card through the Ayushman App and access Rs 5 lakh of free treatment. Watch this video to learn how to create Ayushman Vay Vandana Card and unlock essential healthcare benefits," the Ministry of Health said in a post on X on May 25, 2025.
From October 29, 2024, all citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income or social background, have become eligible for this benefit, marking a historic expansion of the scheme.
Why This Matters
Healthcare costs are a major burden for senior citizens, especially those without regular income or insurance. By simplifying the application process and expanding coverage, this move enhances Ease of Access, Affordability, and Assurance — the three pillars of Ayushman Bharat.
As per government data, a total of 65,97,096 applications have been received. Out of this, 64,96,101 have already been approved. While 96,203 are pending, a total of 4,792 applications have been rejected for various reasons. A total of 434 cards have been distributed.
States with the highest number of applications include Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh.
Who Can Apply?
Note: Income is not a barrier. Even if you are not from the Economically Weaker Section, you are still eligible as long as you are 70 or older.
Documents Needed
How to Apply for Ayushman Vay Vandana Card?
You can apply through two simple ways: via mobile app or the official website.
Apply via Ayushman App (Mobile Method)
Download the Ayushman App from Google Play Store.
Open the app and log in as Beneficiary.
Enter your mobile number and captcha, then verify via OTP.
Select 'Enrollment for 70+'.
Enter Aadhaar details, complete e-KYC.
Fill in the required details and upload a photo.
Submit the form.
Your Ayushman Card will be available for download within minutes.
Apply via Official Website
Visit the Ayushman Bharat website.
Enter your mobile number and captcha, log in via OTP.
Click the 'Enrollment for Senior Citizens (70+)' banner.
Enter Aadhaar number – complete e-KYC via OTP/biometrics.
Fill in details, give consent, upload a live photo.
Submit the form. Card will be ready to download in 15-20 minutes.
Need Help?
If you face issues while applying, call the toll-free helplines:
14555
1800-11-0770
Available 24×7 across India.
Why You Should Apply Now
This card can save lakhs in medical bills. Whether it's heart surgery, dialysis, cancer treatment, or any other critical care, being enrolled in PM-JAY ensures senior citizens receive timely treatment without financial stress.
Given the high number of pending applications and limited card distribution so far, it is recommended to apply early and secure your healthcare coverage.
Stay updated with all the latest business news, including market trends, stock updates, tax, IPO, banking finance, real estate, savings and investments. Get in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and real-time updates—only on News18. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!
tags :
Ayushman Bharat
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 26, 2025, 11:22 IST
News business » economy Ayushman Card: 70+ Senior Citizens Can Now Get Rs 5 Lakh Free Medical Cover Via App; How To Apply?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
17 minutes ago
- Indian Express
323 PGI staff houses lie vacant, causing Rs 5.5 crore annual loss
As many as 323 houses meant for faculty and non-faculty staff of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) in Sectors 12 and 24 have been lying vacant for years, causing an annual financial loss of around Rs 5.5 crore, information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed. According to the RTI reply, the losses are on account of forgone licence fees and the payment of 20% house rent allowance (HRA) to staff who could have been accommodated in these quarters. Over the last five to six years, the non-allotment of vacant houses has cost PGI more than Rs 20 crore. Applicant Ashwani Kumar Munjal, an honorary member of the PGI Employees' Union (Non-Faculty), said many of these houses have remained unoccupied from 2017 to 2025, even as several employees wait for official accommodation. 'Staff have to rent homes in far-off areas at high rates. This puts a heavy financial burden on them and delays their arrival for duty due to traffic congestion, ultimately affecting patient services,' he said. The RTI reply also shows that many of these houses have been locked up for years, rendering them uninhabitable. While PGI suffers rental losses running into several lakh rupees annually, it continues to incur expenses on the upkeep and security of these properties. Residential accommodation at PGI is primarily meant for faculty, resident doctors, nurses, and other staff. However, due to various reasons — from long-pending repairs to unsuitable location or size — 323 houses remain unallotted. A recent 'fitness report' of the vacant quarters flagged severe issues, including wall cracks, leaking roofs, faulty sewage and plumbing systems, unsafe electrical wiring, and dilapidated doors and windows. These problems have delayed allotment and driven up annual maintenance costs. Meanwhile, demand for on-campus housing remains high, with new doctors and employees often forced to rent costly accommodation outside. Staff representatives say timely repair and maintenance could prevent further financial losses and ease the housing crunch. Proposals under consideration include earmarking a separate repair budget and launching large-scale renovations to bring the locked quarters back into use.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Indian-origin US doctor fined $2M for false surgery billing fraud
A 63-year-old Indian-origin pain medicine doctor based in Houston, Texas, has agreed to pay more than $2 million (approximately Rs 17.4 crore) to settle allegations of healthcare fraud, according to the US Ajay Aggarwal agreed to pay $2,053,515 to resolve claims that he submitted false billing to Medicare and to the Department of Labor's Workers' Compensation Programs between November 2021 and March 2023, for surgical procedures that were never actually is an anesthesiologist and pain medicine doctor who also practices in Texas' Bellaire city, Lake Jackson city and Van Vleck (in Matagorda County). He runs his medical practice, called The Pain Relief & Wellness Center, through his own business and a company named PRWCSWTX LLC, according to the statement issued on Monday (August 11) by the US Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas. Aggarwal billed federally funded healthcare programmes for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, according to the statement. These are invasive procedures usually requiring use of an operating room. As a result, Medicare and other federally funded healthcare programmes pay thousands of dollars per procedure, the statement neither Aggarwal nor his staff performed these surgical procedures, according to the allegations, the statement further investigators said Aggarwal instead used electro-acupuncture devices on his patients, which involved inserting thin wires into the ear and taping a small neurostimulator behind the ear – none of which required surgery or treatments were done at Aggarwal's clinic, not a hospital or surgical centre, and no incision was made on a patient, according to the VOWS TO RECOVER LOSSES FROM FRAUDULENT MEDICARE BILLINGUS attorney Nicholas J Ganjei slammed the "fraudulent billing" by the doctor and vowed to recover the losses."A doctor who uses simple medical devices on his patients, yet bills Medicare for a sophisticated spinal surgery, is bilking the American taxpayer, plain and simple," said Ganjei."The Southern District of Texas will ensure that losses to federally funded healthcare programs from fraudulent billing, like what happened here, are recouped and that wrongdoers are held accountable," the attorney month, a doctor of Indian-origin admitted guilt to federal charges related to illegally prescribing strong opioids, resulting in the overdose deaths of two part of his plea, Sanjay Mehta admitted to writing unjustified prescriptions for oxycodone, methadone, and Roxicodone (a branded form of oxycodone hydrochloride) to three different patients in Virginia."Two of the three customers died of opioid intoxication within days of receiving their unlawful prescriptions," US Attorney's Office said in a quantum of Mehta's punishment will be announced on October 31.- Ends
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
This rare animal from Bihar is sold for Rs 30000 per kg in China, scientists say its 'medicinal use' is a dangerous myth
The world's most hunted animal, the pangolin, quietly roams the forest of Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve, yet few know of its presence. This scaly, nocturnal creature is the target of relentless poaching, driven by staggering demand in China, where its meat is considered a luxury delicacy and its scales are used in traditional medicine. Let's find out which animal this is. With prices soaring from Rs 27,000 to Rs 30,000 per kilogram, pangolins have become the centrepiece of a brutal black market trade. In China, pangolin meat is considered both a delicacy and a vital component in traditional medicine. Pangolin: Nature's pest controller now a poaching target Wildlife expert Abhishek, with nearly 30 years of experience in animal conservation, highlighted the vital role pangolins play in maintaining ecological balance by keeping termite and ant populations in check. However, their soft meat and keratin scales, made of the same material as human nails, have sadly turned them into high-value targets for poachers. According to News18 Hindi, across much of Asia, particularly in China, , while its scales and bones are widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat everything from arthritis to fertility issues. False medicinal beliefs drive pangolin trafficking Despite these long-held beliefs, scientists across the globe have debunked such claims, stating there is no scientific evidence supporting any medicinal value in pangolin parts. Nonetheless, the demand continues to thrive, driven by cultural tradition and misinformation. This persistent belief has become a key driver of illegal poaching and international smuggling, pushing the already endangered pangolin close to extinction. Where are pangolins found in India? Pangolins, which vary in size from 45 inches to 4.5 feet, exist in eight different species globally. Among them, the Indian pangolin and Chinese pangolin can be found in Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve. In India, these creatures are often referred to as anteaters, thanks to their diet consisting mainly of ants and termites.
