The newly launched Ayushman Vay Vandana Card has achieved a significant milestone by enrolling more than 10 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above.
This card enables elderly citizens to access free healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that this milestone was achieved within three weeks of its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29th of October.
Nearly 4 lakh of the enrolments under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card have been made by women. Since the launch, treatments worth over 9 crore rupees have been authorized, benefiting more than 4,800 senior citizens aged 70 and above, including over 1,400 women.
These treatments cover a range of conditions, including coronary angioplasty, hip fractures and replacement, gallbladder removal, cataract surgery, prostate resection, and stroke, among others.
A significant expansion of PM-JAY was approved by the Union Cabinet in September of this year, which promises transformative health insurance coverage for senior citizens aged 70 and above.
This move aims to extend benefits to approximately 6 crore senior citizens across 4.5 crore families. Under this expansion, it was announced that all senior citizens in this age group will receive a new, distinct card under AB PM-JAY to access the scheme’s benefits.
The Vay Vandana Card will grant eligible seniors exclusive access to free health treatment in hospitals. This card is universal, with no income limit-whether poor, middle class, or upper class. This card will also ensure that the out-of-pocket expenditure for the elderly at home is reduced to a great extent.
