The elderly citizens of Uttar Pradesh, aged 70 and above, have received a special gift this Diwali with the launch of the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.
This card provides free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched the card on Dhanvantari Jayanti, with the first recipient being Panchanan Shukla from Deoria, UP.
Benefits of the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card
Registered seniors can now receive free treatment in 5,784 hospitals across Uttar Pradesh, which includes 2,948 government and 2,836 private hospitals.
Information on listed hospitals and available services can be found on the scheme’s portal, and assistance is also available through a toll-free helpline at 180018004444.
To join, people aged 70 and above simply need to register with their Aadhaar card, marking a significant step towards social security for seniors.
This scheme ensures that elderly citizens can access treatment without relying on others.
Those aged 70+ can benefit from the Ayushman Yojana without any discrimination based on social or economic status.
The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card also extends benefits to new families not yet part of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Ayushman Yojana.
How to Register and Access Benefits
To register, eligible seniors should visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in, enter their Aadhaar card information, and verify with an OTP sent to their linked mobile number.
After completing their e-KYC, they can download their Ayushman card. Once registered, cardholders can access up to Rs 5 lakh in free treatment at hospitals under the scheme.
It’s important to note that only admitted patients are eligible for these benefits.
Choosing Between Health Insurance Schemes
Beneficiaries already enrolled in other central or state health insurance schemes, like the Chief Minister Jan Arogya Abhiyan, will have a one-time choice to switch to the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Those aged 70 and above from families already registered will receive an additional top-up of up to Rs 5 lakh.
Although there have been some registration issues on the portal, officials assure that these will be resolved soon.
