Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a healthcare initiative taken by the Indian Government to support the wellbeing of the poor. It comprises two major health initiatives: Health and Wellness Centre (HWC) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).
Under the PMJAY scheme, over 10 crore families are covered with health insurance of ₹5 Lakhs. The scheme promises cashless treatment at public hospitals as well as empanelled private hospitals. Moreover, expensive surgeries like knee replacements, coronary bypass, and others are also covered. The prime benefit of the PMJAY scheme is to provide financial protection during unforeseen events.
If you’re unsure of whether you’re eligible to apply online for an Ayushman card registration, you can do a quick check to find out. The steps that you would have to follow for the same are outlined below.
Step 1: Visit the PMJAY official website
Step 2: Click on the PMJAY ‘Am I Eligible’ option present near the search bar
Step 3: Enter your mobile number and generate an OTP
Step 4: Enter the generated OTP in the respective field to log in
Step 5: Select your state of residence
Step 6: You can choose to either search by name or by HouseHold (HHD) Number
Step 7: Depending on what you choose, you will be required to fill in certain fields. Once you’ve filled all of the relevant boxes, click on the ‘Search’ button
Step 8: A list of names will be displayed. Look for your name in the list
If you find that you’re eligible for the PMJAY Card, you can proceed to the Ayushman Bharat registration and application process. However, in case you are not eligible, you may choose to explore other affordable health insurance plans on the market to safeguard yourself and your family in case of medical emergencies.
Now that you’ve seen how to perform an eligibility check for an Ayushman card, let’s take a quick look at how you can do the same offline.
You can get to know if you’re eligible to apply for an Ayushman card by calling any one of the following toll-free numbers - 14555 or 1800-111-565. Once you’ve ascertained your eligibility for the scheme, you can then proceed to register yourself and your family members.
You can quickly complete the Ayushman Bharat registration online by following the steps mentioned below.
Step 1: Visit the PMJAY official website and complete the eligibility check
Step 2: If you’re eligible, your name will be displayed on the right side of the webpage
Step 3: Proceed with the Ayushman card registration online by filling up the application form
Step 4: You will be asked to attach scanned copies of supporting documents
Step 5: Submit the form along with the attached documents
Step 6: Your application will be processed by the relevant authorities
Step 7: Once your application is approved, an online Ayushman card will be issued to you in the form of a PDF, which you can download
Since the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a scheme for the poor, the benefits that it offers may not match up to a private health insurance plan. In fact, there are plenty of differences between the Yojana and a typical private health insurance plan. Check out the table below for more information.
Particulars |
Private Health Insurance |
Ayushman Bharat Yojana |
Sum insured |
Up to a maximum of ₹3 Crores |
Up to a maximum of ₹5 Lakhs |
Health check-ups |
Free periodic health check-ups |
No free health check-ups |
Pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation coverage |
Pre-hospitalisation coverage up to 60 days and post-hospitalisation coverage up to 180 days |
Pre-hospitalisation coverage up to 3 days and post-hospitalisation coverage up to 15 days |
Critical illness coverage |
Covers Over 20 critical illnesses |
Covers only 9 specified critical illnesses |
OPD expenses and home treatment |
Provides coverage for OPD expenses and home treatment |
Neither OPD expenses, nor home treatment is covered |
Premiums |
Premiums tend to be very nominal |
Premiums are paid by the government on your behalf |
No Claim Bonus (NCB) |
For every claim-free year, you get NCB |
NCB benefits are not available |
Tax benefits |
Health insurance premiums can be claimed as deductions under section 80D |
Tax benefits are not available |
The eligibility criteria is divided into two broad categories:
Rural sector
Urban sector
Bonded labourers
Scheduled caste and Scheduled tribes
Landless households
Manual scavengers
Households with no male between 16 years and 59 years of age
Families with no one between 16 years and 59 years of age
Households with at least one physically challenged member and no healthy adult
Ragpickers
Washerman/Chowkidars
Sanitation workers, gardeners, and sweepers
Home-based artisans and handicraft workers
Tailors
Mechanics, electricians, and repair workers
Domestic help
Plumbers, masons, construction workers, porters, welders, painters, and security guards
Assistants, peons of a small organisation, delivery men, shopkeepers and waiters
Transport workers such as drivers, conductors, helpers, cart, or rickshaw pullers
Cobblers, hawkers, and people providing services by working on streets or pavements.
Submission of essential documents plays a vital role. Providing all the necessary paperwork quickens the procedure. Here’s a closer look at all the required documents for availing the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. You need to keep the below-mentioned documents ready to complete your Ayushman Bharat registration online.
Identity proof and age proof
Income certificate
Caste certificate
Contact details such as phone number, address, email ID, etc.
Documents stating your family’s current status
Note: When you apply online for an Ayushman card, remember to double-check all of the details to ensure that they’re accurate. Providing incorrect information can lead to problems in the future.
One must submit two different certificates while opting for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The required certificates are as follows.
Income certificate
Caste certificate
Family structure
When you apply online for the PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), you must specify your family structure. For instance, you must mention whether you’re part of a nuclear family or a joint family.
There are three methods to check if your name is mentioned in the PMJAY scheme list, here’s a quick overview of each one.
To check if your name is present in the PMJAY scheme list online, you can visit the official website and check your eligibility.
You can also visit the nearest CSC or an empanelled hospital to know if you are eligible under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
Know more about the List of Hospitals Under Ayushman Bharat
Another method to check Ayushman Bharat eligibility is by simply contacting the helpline number 14555 or 1800-111-565.
Follow the below steps to successfully complete the Ayushman Bharat card online application process and to download it:
Step 1: Go to the official PMJAY website.
Step 2: Log in with your registered phone number.
Step 3: Input the captcha code and generate the OTP (one-time password).
Step 4: Opt for the Household Id number (HHD) code.
Step 5: Provide the accurate HHD code to the PMJAY Common Service Centre (CSC).
Step 6: The CSC will check and verify the information provided.
Step 7: The PMJAY CSC representative will complete the remaining process.
Step 8: Pay ₹30 to get the Ayushman Bharat card.
With the Ayushman Bharat card by your side, you get to enjoy several benefits. Here’s a quick look at a few of the key ones.
Coverage of up to ₹5 Lakhs per family per year
Cashless hospitalisation
Covers both pre and post hospitalisation expenses
Covers complications that arise during the course of the treatment or post surgery
Covers pre-existing conditions and diseases right away with no waiting period
Benefits are applicable for all the members of a family
No caps on the size of the family or the age of the family members
The PMJAY scheme is an entitlement based health insurance plan. There are no specific procedures for enrollment. Households that are identified under the PMJAY scheme are based on deprivation and occupational criteria. It utilises the socio-economic and caste census data (for rural and urban) to determine the beneficiaries.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana benefits include health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 Lakhs per family, annually. Here, all the pre-existing illnesses are covered without any waiting period.
You can avail health services like hospitalisation, daycare surgeries, follow-up care and newborn childcare services under the PMJAY scheme. A detailed list of the services under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is available on the official website.
No. All the individuals who are eligible for the PMJAY Scheme can avail the benefits offered under it, including cashless health services, without having to make any payment.
At the time of hospitalisation, you need to carry a ration card or any other government recognized photo identity document like an Aadhaar card.
After you get a discharge from the hospital, the claim submission process is initiated. You have to raise a request on the online portal with your treatment summary and all the necessary documents. The hospital will then submit the requested documents within 24 hours of your discharge.
PMJAY benefits are applicable across the country. You can access their services by simply calling toll-free helpline number 14555.