Ayushman Bharat Completes Eight Years

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) completed eight years on 23 September 2026. The scheme was launched on 23 September 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and provides cashless health coverage for eligible families in India.

Scheme Coverage and Benefits

AB PM-JAY covers more than 60 crore people as of 23 September 2026. It is the world’s largest government-funded health insurance programme. The scheme provides ₹5 lakh cashless health cover per family every year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation. It covers 1,961 procedures across 27 medical specialties.

Implementation and Hospital Network

More than 48.54 crore Ayushman cards had been created by 23 September 2026. These cards are used for cashless access to treatment under the scheme. The programme has funded over 13.25 crore hospital admissions worth ₹2.03 lakh crore through more than 38,000 empanelled public and private hospitals as of 31 August 2026.

Primary Healthcare and Senior Citizens

Ayushman Bharat also includes Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, earlier known as Health and Wellness Centres. These centres recorded over 500 crore visits as of 23 September 2026. In September 2024, the scheme was expanded to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income. More than 1.36 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards had been issued to senior citizens by 21 September 2026.

Important Facts for Exams

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was launched on 23 September 2018.
• AB PM-JAY provides ₹5 lakh annual cashless cover per eligible family for hospitalisation.
• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are the renamed Health and Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat.
• The scheme covers secondary and tertiary care across 27 medical specialties.

Budgetary Provision

The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹9,500 crore for PM-JAY. The scheme remains a central government health insurance programme implemented through empanelled hospitals and digital beneficiary cards.