Now, Ayushman cards can be used for state schemes

• The beneficiary card for Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) can now be used to avail benefits for any existing state health insurance schemes.
• The National Health Authority (NHA) is also allowing co branding with logos and names of both schemes on the new cards.

State Response

• At least 31 states and union territories have already agreed to the scheme, with final concurrence awaited from Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Delhi, West Bengal, and Odisha have stayed away from the scheme.

Usage

• The same card can be used by beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat and the state scheme.
• If a state wants to provide more than Rs 5 lakh benefit, partial funding for upto Rs 5 lakh will be provided by the Centre as per the existing scheme.
• If states have additional beneficiaries (other than those identified under the 2011 socioeconomic and caste census), they will also be able to use the same card.

Prelims Take Away

• AB-PMJAY
• NHA