List of 10 Major Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Yojana Health Card

The lower section of the country will no longer get deprived of essential medical care with the presence of government healthcare schemes like the Ayushman Bharat Yojana Scheme. Also, known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana or PMJAY, PM Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a flagship scheme introduced by the Government of India. This government health scheme was launched by the PM of India, Mr. Narendra Modi in the year 2018. With an Ayushman Bharat Health Card, the beneficiary can avail monetary aid to meet the expenses of medical emergencies. Let us acquaint you first with what is Ayushman Bharat Yojana Scheme is and then about its health card benefits.

What is PM Ayushman Bharat Yojana?

Soon after its launch, the PM Ayushman Bharat Yojana soon gained the status of the world’s biggest healthcare scheme. This scheme was designed to cater to the financial needs of weaker sections of society during medical emergencies. The scheme offers a maximum sum insured of Rs. 5 lakhs. One can avail numerous facilities like cashless and paperless hospitalization through Ayushman Bharat Health Card at any of the empanelled hospitals anywhere in the country.

Top Key Features of PM Ayushman Bharat Yojana

Mentioned below are some key features of the PMJAY scheme:

1. Sum insured of Rs. 5 lakh per family per annum
2. Offers eligibility to over 50 crore beneficiaries 
3. Offers cashless hospitalization
4. Pre- and post-hospitalization expenses coverage
5. Offers over 1,350 medical procedures
6. No capping on family size, age, and gender
7. All pre-existing conditions are covered
8. Covers costs for diagnosis, medicines, physician fees, room charges, ICU, and OT 

List of Ayushman Card Benefits:

In the near future, the government of India aims to distribute the PMJAY scheme through various national insurance companies. To ensure affordable healthcare services to one and all irrespective of the financial status, the government of India offers various benefits with the Ayushman Bharat Health Card. Here is a detailed list of benefits of Ayushman Card:

1. Cashless and Paperless Registration: The first prime benefit of Ayushman Bharat Health Card is that it saves the beneficiary from the hassles of paperwork and arranging for cash to get medical treatment. Registration for this plan is done in a completely cashless as well as paperless way. 
2. Covers Families Listed in the SECC Database: Second major benefit of holding an Ayushman Bharat Health Card is that it allows all the ten crore families listed in the SECC or Socio-Economic Caste Census of 2011 to get coverage of this scheme. 
3. Special Regards to Girl Child, Women, and Senior Citizens: One of the best Ayushman Card benefits is that it gives priority to a girl child, women, and senior citizens. There are no restrictions or cap on the family size as well as age under this health plan. 
4. Covers All Pre-Existing Diseases: Another reason for which one must consider PM Ayushman Bharat Yojana is that it has no bar on coverage of pre-existing diseases. It allows coverage on sorts of PED or pre-existing diseases and no beneficiary can be turned away for any medical care need. 
5. Covers Critical Illnesses: Besides, PED, the PMJDY scheme also offers coverage for various critical illnesses like COVID-19, prostate cancer, skull base surgery, anterior spine fixation, double valve replacement, coronary artery bypass graft, tissue expander after burn injuries for disfigurement, and so on.
6. Pocket-Friendly Health Scheme: One of the key health card benefits of Ayushman Yojana is that it is an affordable scheme that helps people from rural areas to get healthcare treatments without extra out-of-pocket expenses. The chances for delay or corruption in this scheme are close to negligible. 
7. Pre- and Post-Hospitalization Coverage: The Ayushman scheme also offers pre-hospitalization expenses for up to 3 days before the hospitalization, and up to 15 days after the hospitalization for a follow-up treatment. 
8. Offers Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Care: You must also note that this government health scheme is beneficial for those who need secondary healthcare advantages offered by the urologists, and cardiologists. Besides, even cardiac surgery and treatment for cancer are also appropriately covered under this scheme. 
9. Over 1,350 Medical Packages: At present, there are about 1,350 medical packages under the PMJAY scheme. These medical packages aim to cover the expenses of various surgical procedures, diagnoses, medicines costs, and even daycare treatments. 
10. Widens the Health Insurance Network: Not to forget with so many above-mentioned Ayushman Health Card benefits, this scheme from the government has improved the healthcare insurance network even in the rural areas of the country. 

Eligibility Criteria for Ayushman Bharat Yojana Scheme

The Government of India offers benefits of Ayushman card to both rural as well as urban populations. The eligibility criteria, however, for both rural and urban populations differ from each other.

Eligibility for Rural Population

Following are the eligible families in the rural areas that can avail all the above-mentioned Ayushman card benefits: 

• Families without any earning adult member
• Families with a single room house
• Families headed by a female member
• Families of SC/ST categories
• Families with disabled members
• Families without a proper shelter
• Families of bonded labor
• Families of manual scavengers

Eligibility for Urban Population

People belonging to any of the following occupations in the urban areas are eligible to get this scheme:

• Electricians
• Artisans
• Peons
• Coolies
• Domestic Workers
• Street Vendors
• Construction Site Workers
• Watchmen
• Washermen
• Mechanics
• Rag Pickers
• Hawkers
• Cobblers
• Gardeners
• Drivers
• Sweepers

The Conclusion

All the above-mentioned Ayushman health card benefits can be availed by all the eligible people covered under the PMJAY scheme. They can avail medical treatments in case of emergencies with the help of cashless hospitalization offered by this scheme. Moreover, with this plan, the rural population of India can get prompt medical care even for any type of pre-existing disease and some of the common critical illnesses. Benefits for up to Rs. 5 lakhs can be easily availed under this government scheme just like any family floater health plan. By far, it is not just the weaker section of the society living in the rural areas, even the poor people living in the urban areas can avail this beneficial government health scheme.