The Government has decided to extend its popular health insurance scheme – ‘Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’ (AB PMJAY) to cover the non-poor population of India. It will also incorporate all other health insurance schemes under AB PMJAY.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana
It must be noted that Centre’s flagship scheme provides a cashless cover of up to Rs. 5,00,000 /family per year for secondary as well as tertiary care hospitalization to more than 107.4 million poor & vulnerable families (around 530 million beneficiaries).
The governing board of National Health Authority (NHA) that is the implementing body of the scheme, on 13th August 2020 gave a go-ahead to carry-out insurance pilots for covering the non-poor population of India or ‘the missing middle’ comprising varied sections like informal sector workers, professionals, self-employed, employees in micro, small & medium enterprises.
Harsh Vardhan, Union minister of health & family welfare chaired the meeting aimed at reviewing the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Centre said that the insurance pilots for ‘the missing middle’ would help in understanding what works and what does not, the difficulties of self-pay covers on voluntary basis particularly for people engaged in informal sector - issues concerning adverse selection, health-seeking behavior, affordability, reach & distribution, economies & efficiencies, consumer feedback and other mechanisms.
Among the important agenda items discussed during the meeting was the impact of novel Coronavirus on Ayushman Bharat Yojana, ways to resolve the problems that arose out of the pandemic in healthcare delivery & performance of empaneled private healthcare providers in various states.
NHA governing board approved the recommendation to integrate existing health schemes of central ministries with Ayushman Bharat Yojana to employees including government & contractual staff and other beneficiary groups like workers, road accident victims, manual scavengers and central armed police force personnel.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana: How to Apply
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Go to official government website - https://www.pmjay.gov.in/
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Then click on ‘Am I Eligible’
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Now enter your mobile number along with CAPTCHA code
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Click on ‘Generate OTP’
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Choose your state & search by name/ HHD number/ mobile number/ ration card number
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Based on your search results you can verify if your family is covered under Ayushman Bharat yojana
On the other hand, to know whether you are eligible for PMJAY you can contact any Empaneled Health Care Provider or dial Ayushman Bharat Yojana call centre - 14555 or 1800-111-565
