Ayushman Bharat Yojana Good health is one of the most important aspects of life, and medical emergencies can come unannounced. Unfortunately, healthcare costs in India can often be a burden for poor and middle-class families. To reduce this stress and make quality healthcare accessible to all, the Government of India has introduced several health insurance and welfare schemes. Among them, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) stands out as the most ambitious initiative — offering free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year.
This article explains who is eligible, what benefits are available, and how to apply for the scheme so that you and your family can receive free treatment when you need it most.
🏥 What Is the Ayushman Bharat Yojana?
The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) was launched by the Government of India in 2018. It is the world’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme, designed to provide financial protection to economically weaker sections of society.
The scheme provides cashless and paperless treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary healthcare in both government and empanelled private hospitals across India.
The goal of the scheme is to ensure that no person is deprived of quality healthcare because of financial constraints.
👨👩👧👦 Who Is Eligible for Free Treatment?
Not everyone can apply for the scheme. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana primarily targets poor and vulnerable families identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
Here’s who can avail of this benefit:
1. Rural Area Beneficiaries
- Families living in kutcha houses (temporary shelters)
- Households with no adult members between 16–59 years
- Families with female-headed households and no adult male members
- Landless laborers depending on manual casual labor
- Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) households
- Homeless families
2. Urban Area Beneficiaries
Workers and families involved in:
- Street vending
- Domestic help
- Construction and sanitation work
- Drivers, mechanics, rickshaw pullers, or laborers
- Shop workers, tailors, or small-scale industry workers
If your name appears in the official PMJAY list, you are automatically eligible to receive free healthcare benefits.
💰 Benefits of the Scheme
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is not just an insurance plan — it is a complete healthcare safety net for the poor. Some of its key benefits include:
- Coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospitalization and treatment.
- Cashless and paperless treatment in over 25,000 empanelled hospitals (government + private).
- Covers 1,500+ medical packages, including surgeries, diagnostics, and medicines.
- No restriction on family size, age, or gender.
- Coverage for pre-existing diseases from day one.
- Free treatment includes heart surgery, cancer care, kidney dialysis, joint replacement, and many more.
- Nationwide portability – You can use your card anywhere in India.
📋 How to Check Eligibility
You can easily check whether your family is eligible for free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
Option 1: Online via Official Website
- Visit the official PMJAY website: https://pmjay.gov.in/
- Click on “Am I Eligible?”
- Enter your mobile number and OTP.
- Select your state and district.
- Search your name using family head name, mobile number, or ration card number.
- If your name appears in the list, congratulations — you are eligible!
Option 2: Through Ayushman Mitra or Common Service Centre (CSC)
You can also visit your nearest:
- Government hospital
- CSC center
- Ayushman Mitra helpdesk
Provide your Aadhaar Card or Ration Card, and the staff will verify your eligibility.
🩺 How to Apply for the ₹5 Lakh Free Treatment Scheme
If your family is eligible, follow these simple steps to apply and get your Ayushman Bharat Golden Card, which allows you to access free treatment.
Step 1: Visit Nearest CSC or Hospital
Go to the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or an empanelled hospital that provides PMJAY services.
Step 2: Verification
Submit the required documents such as:
- Aadhaar Card
- Ration Card
- Mobile Number
- Passport-size Photograph
Your details will be verified online using the government database.
Step 3: Biometric Verification
After verification, your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) will be captured.
Step 4: Issue of Ayushman Card
Once verified, you will receive your Ayushman Bharat Golden Card. This card allows you to avail of cashless treatment in any empanelled hospital.
📑 Documents Required
To apply for Ayushman Bharat Yojana, keep the following documents ready:
- Aadhaar Card (for all family members)
- Ration Card
- Income Certificate (if required)
- Passport-size Photographs
- Mobile Number
- Residence Proof
🏥 How to Get Free Treatment Using the Card
Once you receive your Ayushman Bharat Card, you can avail of free treatment in any listed hospital by following these steps:
- Visit any empanelled hospital (government or private).
- Show your Ayushman Bharat Card at the helpdesk.
- The hospital will verify your eligibility online.
- Receive cashless treatment for the required medical service.
You don’t need to pay even a single rupee — all expenses are borne by the government.
🌍 States Covered Under the Scheme
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is active in most Indian states and Union Territories. However, some states like Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal have their own similar state-run health insurance programs.
Residents of other states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, and Karnataka are covered under the central PMJAY scheme.
⚕️ Health Packages Covered
The scheme covers a wide range of illnesses and treatments, including:
- Cardiac Surgery
- Cancer Treatment
- Kidney Dialysis
- Neurological and Orthopedic Procedures
- Maternity and Child Health Care
- Eye and ENT Surgeries
- Burns and Plastic Surgery
All these treatments are available free of cost under the PMJAY plan.
📞 Helpline & Support
If you have any issues or doubts, contact:
- Toll-Free Number: 14555 / 1800-111-565
- Official Website: https://pmjay.gov.in/
- Email: pmjay@nic.in
🏁 Final Words
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana has been a lifesaver for millions of poor families in India. It has made quality healthcare accessible to those who could never afford it earlier. With coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, citizens can now get treated for critical diseases without worrying about hospital bills.
If your family is eligible, don’t wait — apply today and get your Ayushman Bharat Golden Card. It could save your life or that of a loved one during a medical emergency.
