The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card Scheme, an extension of the 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. Effective October 29, 2024, the Vay Vandana Card extends this coverage to 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above (representing 4.5 crore families), irrespective of their socioeconomic status. As of August 1, 2025, 75.41 lakh Ayushman Vay Vandana cards have been created. Implementation measures include detailed operational guidelines for states/UTs, a dedicated Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign, a real-time monitoring dashboard, regular reviews with State Health Agencies (SHAs), and enrollment options through the Ayushman App, web portal (beneficiary.nha.gov.in), and empanelled hospitals. A national helpline number (14555) is available for assistance and queries. The government continuously expands treatment options by including new procedures, empanelling new hospitals, and incorporating new beneficiaries based on evolving needs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ayushman Vay Vandana Card Scheme: A scheme to provide healthcare benefits to senior citizens, initially targeting those aged 70 years and above.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The government ministry responsible for health and family welfare policies and programs.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding the scheme was raised.
Dr. Anand Kumar: The member of parliament who raised the question about the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card Scheme.
Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda: The Minister of Health and Family Welfare who provided the answer to the question.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY): A flagship scheme providing health cover to economically vulnerable families for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
States/UTs: Refers to States and Union Territories of India, which are involved in the implementation of the scheme.
State Health Agencies (SHAs): Organizations at the state level responsible for implementing health schemes like ABPMJAY.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARREDQUESTION NO. 185
TO BE ANSWERED ON1STAUGUST,2025.
AYUSHMAN VAYVANDANACARDSCHEME
†*185. Dr. ANAND KUMAR:
Will the Minister of HEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken any special measures for the implementation of
Ayushman Vay Vandana Card Scheme to provide healthcare benefits to senior citizens
aged 70 years and above;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of such Cards issued till date;
(c) whether the Government proposes to reduce the age limit for beneficiaries of the said
scheme from 70 to 60 years in the near future so as to extend the said benefits to all senior
citizens in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIJAGATPRAKASH NADDA)
(a)to(d): Astatement islaid onthe Tableof the HouseSTATEMENTREFERRED TOIN REPLYTO LOK SABHASTARREDQUESTION
NO.†*185FOR1STAUGUST,2025
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Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a flagship
scheme of the Government which provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for
secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 crore families constituting economically
vulnerable bottom 40% of India’s population. On 29.10.2024, the scheme was further
extended to cover 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, representing 4.5 crore
families, through VayVandana Card, irrespective of theirsocio-economic status.
The Government has taken several measures for the implementation of the scheme
such as:
Issuance of the detailed operational guidelines to all States/UTs to streamline
beneficiaryidentification, cardgeneration,andhospitalization protocols.
A dedicated IEC campaign was launched to raise awareness among senior citizens
andtheircaregiversabout the benefitsandeligibilityunderVayVandana Card.
A real-time dashboard has been developed for monitoring card issuance and
hospitalization.
Regular reviews and convergence meetings are held with State Health Agencies
(SHAs).
In addition to this, enrollment can also be done through mobile phone application
(AyushmanApp),andwebportal(beneficiary.nha.gov.in)oratthenearbyempanelled hospital.
A national helpline number 14555 also provides assistance and addresses all the queries
related to the scheme. As on date, a total of 75.41 lakh Ayushman Vay Vandana cards have
beencreatedunderthe scheme.
Further, expansion intreatment isdone byinclusion of newprocedures, empanelment
of new hospitals, inclusion of new beneficiaries and other improvements as per requirements
from time totime.
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