“President Announces Ayushman Bharat Health Scheme for Free Treatment Above Age 70”

New Delhi, June 27 : President Droupadi Murmu announced on Thursday that all citizens aged above 70 years will receive free healthcare treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme.
Addressing Parliament’s joint sitting, she highlighted the rapid establishment of 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras nationwide.
Murmu underscored the scope of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), noting its coverage of free healthcare services for 55 crore beneficiaries.
She added, “Additionally, the government will extend this initiative further. Now, all elderly citizens above 70 years of age will also benefit from free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.”
AB-PMJAY, recognized as the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, aims to provide Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 crore families.
The guidelines for Hospital Empanelment and Management (HEM) under AB-PMJAY mandate State Health Agencies (SHAs) to empanel hospitals for the scheme’s implementation.