India’s Largest Health Scheme – Ayushman Bharat Scheme 2025

June 13, 2025 admin

Launched in 2018, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is India’s most ambitious healthcare initiative, providing free health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year to over 10 crore economically vulnerable households.

Designed to bridge the gap between affordability and quality healthcare, the scheme covers secondary and tertiary hospital treatments, ensuring financial protection against catastrophic medical expenses.

But how does it work? Who is eligible? And how can beneficiaries make the most of it? Let’s break it down.

How to Apply for Ayushman Bharat Yojana

Applying for the Ayushman Bharat scheme is a paperless, cashless process, ensuring ease for beneficiaries. Here’s how you can check eligibility and apply:

Online Registration Process

Visit the Official Portal – Go to https://pmjay.gov.in and click on “Am I Eligible?”.
Enter Details – Provide your mobile number, state, and other required information.
Check Eligibility – The system verifies if your family is listed under the SECC-2011 database (Socio-Economic Caste Census).
Generate Ayushman Card – If eligible, you can download your e-card or collect a physical card from a Common Service Centre (CSC).

Offline Application

Visit an Ayushman Bharat empanelled hospital or a CSC with your Aadhaar card, ration card, or income certificate.
The authorities will verify your details and issue your Ayushman card.

Pro Tip: Senior citizens (70+) can now avail additional coverage under the scheme, even if they already have private insurance.

Ayushman Bharat Covered Diseases List

The scheme covers 1,949 treatments across 27 specialties, including life-saving surgeries, cancer care, and organ transplants. Some key treatments include:

Cardiac Surgeries – Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), pacemaker implantation

Cancer Treatments – Chemotherapy, radiation, pediatric oncology

Organ Transplants – Kidney, liver, and corneal transplants

Orthopedic Procedures – Hip and knee replacements, spinal surgeries

Neurological & Burns Care – Skull base surgery, severe burn treatment

Exclusions: Cosmetic surgeries, dental treatments, and fertility procedures (like IVF) are not covered.

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Ayushman Bharat Claim Process

The scheme ensures cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals. Here’s how the claim process works:

Locate an Empanelled Hospital – Check the PMJAY hospital list (available on the official website).
Carry Your Ayushman Card & ID Proof – Aadhaar or ration card is mandatory.
Avail Treatment – No upfront payment is needed; the hospital directly bills the government.
Post-Treatment Follow-Up – The scheme covers 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses, including medicines.

Did You Know? Over 32 crore Ayushman cards have been issued so far, making it the world’s largest health assurance scheme.

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Ayushman Bharat Hospital List

Overview of Empanelled Hospitals

Total Hospitals: 29,870+ (as of October 2024), including 13,173 private hospitals.
Coverage: All public hospitals in implementing states are automatically empanelled; private hospitals require state approval.
Specialties Covered: 27 specialties with 1,949 treatments, including cardiac surgeries, cancer care, and organ transplants

How to Search for Empanelled Hospitals

Option 1: Official PM-JAY Portal

Visit: https://hospitals.pmjay.gov.in/Search.
Select: State to District to Hospital Type (Public/Private).
Filter: By specialty (e.g., cardiology, oncology) or services (e.g., diagnostics).
Result: List with hospital names, addresses, contact details, and services covered.

Option 2: Health Facility Registry (HFR)

Portal: https://facility.abdm.gov.in/searchV2.
Features: Search by facility name, location, or ownership type (Government/Private/PPP).

Option 3: Download PDF Lists

State-wise PDFs available on PMJAY’s official website (e.g., Banda, Moradabad districts)

Note: Some private hospitals have been found overcharging patients, so always confirm the cashless facility before admission.

How to Verify Hospital Authenticity

Check the “Suspended Hospitals” list on the PMJAY portal using:
- Hospital ID/State/District filters.
Contact the Ayushman Bharat helpline (14555) for disputes.

Notable Hospitals (Examples)

Hospital Name	Location	Type	Specialty
AIIMS Bilaspur	Himachal Pradesh	Government	Multispecialty
Dr. Khunger Eye Care	Ajmer, Rajasthan	Private	Ophthalmology
Save Life Hospital	Jharkhand	Private	Emergency Care
24×7 Hi-Tech Life Line	Karnataka	Private	Critical Care

While the scheme has expanded healthcare access, studies reveal mixed outcomes. A 2024 evaluation in Chhattisgarh found that 78% of private hospital patients still faced catastrophic health expenses, indicating gaps in enforcement.

Yet, for millions, Ayushman Bharat remains a lifeline—like Ramesh, a daily wage worker who received free heart surgery, or Meena, a cancer survivor who accessed chemotherapy without financial ruin.

Is Ayushman Bharat Truly Transformative?

The scheme has undoubtedly expanded coverage, but challenges like private hospital malpractices and delayed reimbursements persist. For it to truly succeed, stronger regulation and awareness campaigns are needed.

Free Courses on Ayushman Bharat are available on SWAYAM (https://swayam.gov.in) under “Public Health Policies.“

YouTube Tutorials by the National Health Authority (NHA) explain the scheme in regional languages.

Ayushman Bharat stands as a testament to India’s commitment to universal health coverage, striving to bridge the gap between quality healthcare and affordability.

By empowering citizens with financial protection against medical expenses, the scheme not only enhances health outcomes but also contributes to the nation’s socio-economic development.

Ayushman Bharat isn’t just a policy—it’s hope for millions. If you qualify, don’t wait—secure your health today!

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