Ayushman expanded: Over 2 lakh elderly join in week after rollout

• Over 2.16 lakh new beneficiaries above the age of 70 received cards under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) within the first week of Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolling out the expanded version of the flagship health insurance scheme to cover all elderly.

Highlights:

• The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) recently expanded to cover all citizens over 70 years, regardless of income. In the first week of its rollout, over 2.16 lakh elderly beneficiaries received cards under this new provision, offering Rs 5 lakh health insurance annually.

Key Data Points from the Rollout:

• New Beneficiaries: Over 2.16 lakh elderly individuals, above 70, received cards in the first week.
• Re-Registrations: 32,000 elderly individuals, previously enrolled under income criteria, re-registered to avail of the extended cover.

State-Wise Beneficiary Distribution

Top States:

• Kerala: Highest number of new beneficiaries, with nearly 89,800 cards issued.
• Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh: Follow with 53,000 and 47,000 new cards, respectively.
• Slower Registrations: States with traditionally high utilization like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh saw slower registration rates.

States Opting Out and Partial Rollout:

• Opt-Out States: Delhi and West Bengal chose not to participate in the expanded scheme.
  • Partial Implementation:
  • Punjab: Issued 5,697 new cards within the first week.
  • Jharkhand and Maharashtra: Facing delays due to upcoming elections and administrative preparations.

Expanded Coverage Details:

• Scope of the Scheme: Aims to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families with 6 crore elderly members.
• Coverage Features: Each family with an elderly member is entitled to Rs 5 lakh annual health cover, shared among family members.
• Top-Up for Existing Beneficiaries: Elderly members of already covered families receive an additional Rs 5 lakh, requiring re-registration.

Implementation Challenges in Certain States:

• UP and Funding Needs: High registration despite pending full rollout in districts with by-elections. Initial funds will come from existing resources until the supplementary budget is approved.
• Himachal Pradesh: Conducted trial registrations, awaiting budget approval and broader rollout.
• Jammu & Kashmir: Already has universal coverage; the top-up option is expected to have minimal additional financial impact.

Prelims Takeaways

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
• National Health Authority