Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY 2026
₹5 Lakh Free Health Cover — From Day One

How PM-JAY Works — Zero Payment at Admission

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) was launched in September 2018 under the National Health Protection Mission. It is the world's largest government-funded health insurance programme, covering over 55 crore individuals from India's most economically vulnerable families.

PM-JAY works like a cashless insurance card — but the government pays all premiums for you. When hospitalisation is needed at an empanelled hospital: show your Ayushman golden card at the Ayushman Mitra desk → identity verified against the database → treatment authorised → you receive full treatment without paying a single rupee → hospital bills the government directly after discharge.

What "Cashless From Day One" Actually Means

• No admission deposit — hospitals cannot ask for any advance or security deposit
• No pre-approval waiting — emergency treatment starts immediately; approval can follow
• No co-payment — you pay nothing, not even a token amount
• No claim forms to fill — hospital manages all paperwork directly with the government
• Medicines and tests included — all medicines, diagnostics, and consumables during hospitalisation are covered
• Follow-up covered — 3 days pre-hospitalisation + 15 days post-discharge expenses included

Who Is Eligible — SECC 2011 Criteria in Detail

Eligibility is determined by the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 database. You do not "apply" for eligibility — your name is either in the database or not. Check at pmjay.gov.in or call 14555.

Rural Families — Auto-Included Categories

Urban Poor — Eligible Occupation Categories

1,929+ Medical Procedures Covered — Complete Category List

How to Get Your Ayushman Golden Card — Free, Same Day

1. 1
   Check Eligibility at pmjay.gov.inClick "Am I Eligible" → Enter mobile → OTP → Search by name or ration card number. Confirm your PM-JAY family ID is shown.
2. 2
   Visit CSC, Government Hospital or Jan Seva KendraCarry your Aadhaar card and ration card. The Ayushman Mitra does biometric verification and prints your golden card — same day, completely free.
3. 3
   Or Download OnlineVisit beneficiary.nha.gov.in → Login with Aadhaar OTP → Download e-Ayushman card as PDF → Works at all hospitals, no physical card needed.
4. 4
   Or Use the AppDownload "Ayushman Bharat" app → Login with Aadhaar → Check eligibility and download cards for all family members. Available on Android and iOS.

Frequently Asked Questions — Verified 2026

• Can I use Ayushman card at any hospital or only government hospitals?+
  Both government and private hospitals can be empanelled under PM-JAY. Over 13,000 private hospitals are on the empanelled list. Always verify the hospital is currently empanelled at pmjay.gov.in → "Find Hospital" before going for planned treatment. For emergencies, ask the hospital's Ayushman Mitra desk at admission.
• What if treatment cost exceeds ₹5 lakh?+
  The ₹5 lakh annual limit applies per family. If treatment costs exceed this, you pay the remaining amount. However, many states have additional health schemes on top of PM-JAY — Andhra Pradesh (AAROGYASRI), Tamil Nadu (CMCHIS), Karnataka (AROGYA BHAGYA) — that extend coverage. Check your state health department for top-up schemes.
• Hospital is asking for money despite Ayushman card — what to do?+
  Empanelled hospitals cannot charge beneficiaries anything. Call 14555 immediately — available 24x7. File a grievance at pmjay.gov.in → "Grievances". Contact the State Health Agency (SHA). Hospitals face suspension from the scheme for charging patients. If denied emergency treatment, it is also a violation of the Clinical Establishments Act.
• I am not in the SECC database but I think I should be covered. What can I do?+
  Many states have extended PM-JAY coverage beyond SECC to include additional populations. Check your state Health Department or State Health Agency website for state-specific expansion. For example, J&K's AB-PMJAY SEHAT covers all residents. Some states cover all BPL ration card holders even if not in SECC. Additionally, you can verify through your state's SECC records whether your household was missed during enumeration.
• Does Ayushman Bharat cover dialysis for kidney patients?+
  Yes. Dialysis is one of PM-JAY's most important covered benefits. All dialysis sessions during a hospitalisation are covered. Additionally, under the PM National Dialysis Programme, free dialysis is available at district hospitals even for patients who may not have the Ayushman card. Ask your district hospital about the National Dialysis Programme specifically.

How Ayushman Bharat Works in Real Life — Step-by-Step Scenario

Consider Ramesh, a daily-wage construction worker from Patna, Bihar. He earns ₹350/day and has no savings. His wife Sunita needs a kidney stone surgery costing ₹85,000 at a private hospital.

Without Ayushman Bharat:

Ramesh would borrow ₹85,000 from a moneylender at 36% annual interest — spending the next 3 years repaying ₹1.17 lakh total. His children's education would be disrupted. This is the reality for crores of Indian families.

With Ayushman Bharat:

1. 1
   Check eligibility — Ramesh checks pmjay.gov.in. His name appears because he is a construction worker (urban poor category).
2. 2
   Get Ayushman card — Visits CSC with Aadhaar. Card printed same day. ₹0 cost.
3. 3
   Admission at empanelled hospital — Shows Aadhaar + Ayushman card at Ayushman Mitra desk. No deposit required.
4. 4
   Surgery done — Entire procedure, medicines, ICU stay, discharge — ₹0 paid by Ramesh. Government pays hospital directly.
5. 5
   Follow-up covered — Post-discharge medicines for 15 days also covered. No additional expense.

State-Wise Ayushman Bharat Extensions — You May Be Eligible for More

Many states have extended PM-JAY coverage beyond the central SECC 2011 list. If you are not in the central list, check your state's extension:

More Questions Answered — Real Problems, Exact Solutions

• My name is in the PM-JAY list but my family member's name is not — are they covered?+
  PM-JAY covers the entire family under one Family ID — not just the person whose name appears in the database. All family members living in the household are covered under the same ₹5 lakh annual limit. At the hospital, show your Family ID and Aadhaar cards of all members seeking treatment. The Ayushman Mitra will verify all family members from the household database.
• Can I get a second Ayushman card if I lost the first one?+
  Yes. You can download a fresh e-Ayushman card anytime at beneficiary.nha.gov.in using Aadhaar OTP. There is no limit on how many times you can download it. The digital version works at all hospitals — a physical card is not mandatory. If you need a physical card reprinted, visit any CSC or government hospital with Aadhaar — it is reprinted free of charge.
• How long does it take to get the Ayushman card after checking eligibility?+
  Same day at CSC or government hospital — bring Aadhaar and the Ayushman Mitra prints the card while you wait, usually within 15–30 minutes. Online download (e-card) is immediate — just login at beneficiary.nha.gov.in with Aadhaar OTP and download the PDF. There is zero waiting period. Once you confirm eligibility, the card is usable immediately at any empanelled hospital.

How This Guide Was Written

This guide was researched and written by the MeraHaq Editorial Team — a group of citizen-rights researchers, former government scheme facilitators, and legal aid volunteers dedicated to making India's entitlements accessible to every Indian in plain language.

All information in this guide is sourced exclusively from official government portals: pmjay.gov.in, nha.gov.in, and official Ministry of Health circulars. Every fact is cross-verified before publication.

Last verified: April 2026  |  Next review scheduled: July 2026  |  Source: Official NHA / PM-JAY portal data

If you find any outdated information, please contact us — we update within 48 hours. MeraHaq is not affiliated with any government department. We are an independent citizen information platform.

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