Parliament Question: Ayushman Cards

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1097 TOBE ANSWERED ON24TH JULY,2026 AYUSHMANCARDS †1097.SHRIUJJWALRAMAN SINGH: Will the Minister of HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate: (a) whether it isa factthat the families having fewer thansix membersandno memberabove 70yearsof age are ineligible for Ayushmancard; (b) if so, the arrangementsmade for the treatmentof familieshavingless thansix members; (c)whether the Government proposes tomake Ayushman cardsfor families with less thansix members; and (d) if so, the timelinethereof andif not,the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV) (a) to (d): 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 economically vulnerable families, constituting the bottom 40% of India's population. In March 2024, the scheme was expanded to include approximately 37 lakh families of Accredited Social Health Activists, Anganwadi Workers, and Anganwadi Helpers. For above beneficiary categories, there is no cap on family size, age, or gender. All eligible members of a beneficiary family are entitled to health coverage under the scheme, irrespective of theirage or gender. In October 2024, the scheme was further expanded to cover 6 crore senior citizens of age 70 yearsandabove belongingto4.5 crore familiesirrespective of theirsocio-economic status. *****