Parliament Question: AB-PMJAY Benefits for Persons with Disabilities

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 4670 TOBE ANSWERED ON20TH MARCH, 2026 AB-PMJAYBENEFITS FORPERSONSWITH DISABILITIES

4670. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:

Will the Minister of HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate:

(a) whether the Government has made any provisions to extend the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) benefits to persons with disabilities in the country;

(b) if so, the number of persons with disabilities availing health insurance under the said scheme,disability/gender-wise andState/UT-wise;

(c) whether any guidelines have been issued by the Government to ensure universal health insurance coverage,including private andpublic sector schemes, for persons with benchmark disabilities, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the number of physically disabled persons currently covered under Ayushman Bharat or otherGovernment-sponsored healthinsurance schemesinthe country, State/UT-wise; and

(e) whether the Government has taken steps to simplify the enrolment process and documentation for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) under these schemes, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE

(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)

(a) to (e): Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides health coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 crore families constituting bottom 40% of India’s population.

Additionally, in March 2024, approximately 37 lakh families of Accredited Social Health Activists, Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers were includedunder the scheme.The scheme was further expanded to cover 6 crore senior citizens of age 70 years and above, belongingto4.5crore families, irrespective of theirsocio-economic status.The scheme’s beneficiary base includes poor and vulnerable families identified in the Socio- Economic Caste Census (SECC-2011). The SECC-2011 incorporates deprivation criteria for rural areas, one of which is family having “disabled member and no able-bodied adult member”.

As on 28.02.2026, a total of 43.52 crore Ayushman cards have been created, which includes eligiblebeneficiaries belongingtopersons with disabilitiesunderthe scheme.

The Beneficiary Identification System allows self-verification thereby eliminating unnecessary intermediaries. Ayushman Mobile Application enables on-the-go beneficiary verificationandcard creationusing face-authtechnology.

Under the scheme, a Centralized Grievance Redressal Management System (CGRMS) has beenestablished alongwith a 24×7 toll-free helpline (14555), through which the beneficiaries can register their grievances. Such grievances are monitored through a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism at the District, State and National level. At each level, designated nodal officers and Grievance Redressal Committees are in place to examine and resolve the grievances.

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