**Summary:**
On October 29, 2024, the Government of India expanded the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) to include all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of socioeconomic status, through the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme. This initiative provides beneficiaries with free treatment benefits of up to ₹5 lakh per year via Ayushman Vay Vandana cards. The portability feature of ABPMJAY enables beneficiaries, including those under the Vay Vandana scheme, to access healthcare services at any of the 31,466 empanelled hospitals nationwide, including 14,194 private healthcare providers. The National Health Authority (NHA) has issued comprehensive Hospital Empanelment and Management (HEM) Guidelines to ensure quality and consistency in service delivery. As of July 29, 2025, over 1.06 lakh claims have been settled under the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme since its launch. The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, provided this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY): A health insurance scheme providing financial protection to eligible beneficiaries for healthcare services.
Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards: Cards issued under the Ayushman Bharat scheme to senior citizens for accessing free treatment benefits.
Vay Vandana scheme: A scheme integrated with ABPMJAY, specifically aimed at senior citizens, providing access to healthcare services.
National Health Authority (NHA): The apex body responsible for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY).
Hospital Empanelment and Management HEM Guidelines: Guidelines issued by the National Health Authority (NHA) for hospital empanelment under ABPMJAY.
Rajya Sabha: The Upper House of the Parliament of India, where a written reply regarding the scheme was presented.
Shri Prataprao Jadhav: The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana Cards
Under the portability feature of AB-PMJAY and Vay
Vandana, Beneficiaries can access treatment at
31,466 hospitals nationwide
NHA issued comprehensive Hospital Empanelment
and Management (HEM) guidelines for hospital
empanelment under AB-PMJAY
Over 1.06 lakh claims settled under Ayushman Vay
Vandana Scheme since its launch
Posted On: 29 JUL 2025 3:55PM by PIB Delhi
On 29th October 2024, the Government of India expanded the scope of the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to include all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective
of their socio-economic status. Under this initiative, beneficiaries will receive free treatment benefits of up to
₹5 lakh per year through Ayushman Vay Vandana cards.
In addition, the portability feature of AB-PMJAY allows eligible beneficiaries—including those under
the Vay Vandana scheme—to access healthcare services at any of the 31,466 empanelled
hospitals across the country, regardless of their place of residence. This ensures seamless and
equitable access to quality healthcare for the elderly population nationwide.
Vay Vandana scheme beneficiaries can also avail treatment through a vast network of 14,194
private healthcare providers empanelled under the scheme. To ensure quality and consistency in
service delivery, the National Health Authority (NHA) has issued comprehensive Hospital
Empanelment and Management (HEM) Guidelines for the empanelment of hospitals under the
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
As on date, over 1.06 lakh claims have been settled under Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme since
its launch.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a
written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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MV
HFW/ Update on Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana Cards /29 July, 2025/1(Release ID: 2149693)