In the last three weeks since the launch of the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card at the end of October, approximately 4 lakh elderly women aged 70 and above have signed up for the scheme, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday.
So far, over 1,400 women have received various medical treatments under this initiative, the ministry said.
The Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme, an extension of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 29. This new scheme aims to expand free healthcare coverage specifically for senior citizens, in addition to the benefits already offered to families under AB PM-JAY.
Every individual aged 70 and above will receive a separate annual health coverage of Rs,5 lakh.
In the three weeks following the scheme's rollout, over 10 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above have enrolled, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
"Of the 10 lakh enrolments, about 4 lakh are elderly women. Since the introduction of the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, treatments amounting to over Rs,9 crore have been approved, benefitting more than 4,800 senior citizens aged 70 and above, including over 1,400 women," the ministry added.
The treatments covered under this scheme range from coronary angioplasty, hip replacements, gallbladder removal, cataract surgeries, prostate procedures, to stroke management, among others.
The AB PM-JAY program, considered the world's largest health assurance scheme, provides comprehensive medical coverage of up to Rs,5 lakh annually per family for secondary and tertiary care. It aims to assist the bottom 40% of India’s population, benefitting approximately 55 crore individuals.
Since its inception in 2018, over Rs,1.1 lakh crore has been spent to offer free hospitalization under the AB PM-JAY scheme.
The program covers a wide array of services, including medical examinations, treatments, consultations, pre-hospitalization costs, medications, and medical supplies. It also extends to non-intensive and intensive care, diagnostic tests, medical implants, lodging and meals, treatment complications, and follow-up care up to 15 days post-hospitalization.
A significant aspect of PM-JAY is that it imposes no restrictions on family size or age, and it covers pre-existing conditions from the first day of enrolment, allowing patients to access necessary treatments without delay.
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