If you benefit from the Ayushman Bharat scheme, there’s important news for you.
The NDA government is planning significant changes to benefit the 55 crore people covered by the scheme.
Increased Insurance Coverage
The government aims to raise the insurance cover from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (Ayushman Bharat Yojana).
For women, the coverage could go up to Rs 15 lakh. Additionally, there are plans to add 4 lakh more beds in private hospitals.
The Union Health Ministry’s goal for the third term of the NDA government is to expand the number of beneficiaries from 55 crore to 100 crore.
Ayushman Bharat: The World’s Largest Health Scheme
A government group is working on targets and timelines for the next five years. This group, which includes nine ministries such as health, AYUSH, sports, culture,
and education, will soon present their plan to the Cabinet Secretary. Ayushman Bharat is recognized as the world’s largest health insurance scheme.
Current Benefits and Future Targets
Currently, 12.34 crore families, comprising about 55 crore beneficiaries, receive annual health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.
These families are part of the bottom 40% of the population. As of June 30, 7.37 crore people have been approved for hospitalization, with Rs 1 lakh crore spent on their care.
The BJP claims this scheme’s success and promised to extend its benefits to all citizens over 70 years old in their election manifesto.
Enhanced Coverage for Women
Government officials are setting new targets based on the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’. One goal is to increase the annual insurance coverage limit to Rs 10 lakh per family.
For women, the coverage could be raised to Rs 15 lakh for specific diseases and conditions over the next five years.
Statistics and Future Plans
According to government data, about 49% of Ayushman cardholders are women, and 48% of those approved for hospitalization are also women.
The plan includes increasing the number of beneficiaries to 100 crore and gradually adding 4 lakh beds in private hospitals.
Currently, there are around 7.22 lakh beds under the scheme, with a target to increase this number to 9.32 lakh by 2026-27 and 11.12 lakh by 2028-29.
Additionally, the committee recommends increasing the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras from 10,000 to 25,000 by the end of the government’s tenure. These centers provide high-quality medicines at affordable prices.
