Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) 2026 Eligibility — ₹5 Lakh Free Health Cover

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. Launched in 2018, it provides ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation at over 27,000 empanelled hospitals across India. Coverage includes pre-existing diseases from day one with no cap on family size or age.

₹5 lakh cashless cover per family per year, 1,949 medical packages covered, no cap on age or family size, pre and post hospitalisation expenses (3 + 15 days), 27,000+ empanelled public and private hospitals, portability across all states. As of 2025, senior citizens 70+ get coverage regardless of income.

• ✓Family must be listed in the SECC 2011 database (rural/urban deprivation criteria)
• ✓Rural: one of D1–D7 deprivation criteria — kutcha house, no adult member 16–59, SC/ST, landless labour, etc.
• ✓Urban: 11 occupational categories — rag picker, beggar, domestic worker, street vendor, construction worker, etc.
• ✓All senior citizens aged 70 years and above are automatically eligible (since Oct 2024) regardless of income
• ✓No income cap for eligible categories — eligibility is based on SECC, not income
• ✓Existing State Health Scheme beneficiaries may be auto-included
• ✓Check name on pmjay.gov.in or call 14555

• ✓Aadhaar card of the beneficiary
• ✓Ration card (to map family)
• ✓Mobile number linked with Aadhaar for OTP
• ✓For senior citizens 70+: Aadhaar is enough
• ✓SECC reference (auto-fetched from database)

1. Visit pmjay.gov.in or download the Ayushman App from Play Store
2. Click 'Am I Eligible' and enter mobile number + OTP
3. Search by name, ration card, mobile, or RSBY URN
4. If eligible, visit nearest CSC, empanelled hospital, or Ayushman Mitra kiosk
5. Submit Aadhaar for e-KYC; biometric/face authentication done on the spot
6. Download e-Ayushman Card from the app immediately — no waiting

Open round the year — no application window. Cards can be made anytime at CSC, hospital, or via the Ayushman App. State-specific extensions (e.g., MP, Rajasthan) may have separate enrolment drives.

• ✓Assuming income alone decides eligibility — it's SECC-based, not income-based
• ✓Not linking Aadhaar with mobile — OTP-based eligibility check fails
• ✓Trying to make card at hospital during emergency — make it in advance
• ✓Confusing PMJAY with state schemes (e.g., MMJAY, Chiranjeevi) — coverage differs
• ✓Not adding all family members — each member needs separate KYC