Expanding Health Coverage for Elderly Citizens with Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card
Key Points:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, offering free annual health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh for citizens aged 70 and above.
- The initiative will benefit approximately 6 crore seniors, providing relief from high medical costs and supporting dignified, accessible healthcare.
- Concurrently, the U-WIN portal was launched to streamline vaccinations for pregnant women and children, aiming to improve immunization across India.
Story Content:
In a landmark initiative to extend healthcare access, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This new card, announced on 30 October 2024, offers senior citizens aged 70 and above free annual healthcare coverage of up to ₹5 lakh. This expanded coverage is available to all seniors, regardless of income, with the goal of easing financial burdens associated with healthcare.
Launching the scheme, PM Modi highlighted the government’s commitment to universal health access, saying, “This card ensures that elderly people no longer need to live with the anxiety of high healthcare expenses. They can now live with swabhimaan [self-respect].” So far, AB PM-JAY has assisted over 4 crore individuals, and the new extension focuses on ensuring that elderly citizens also benefit from this coverage.
Key Benefits and Structure of the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card
Under this scheme, each family with senior citizens will receive annual health coverage up to ₹5 lakh, specifically for members aged 70 and older. If multiple eligible seniors reside in the same household, the cover will be shared among them. To access the benefits, seniors must register through the PM-JAY portal or Ayushman Bharat app, completing an eKYC process to activate their Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.
The government estimates that this expanded coverage will cost ₹3,437 crore for the current and upcoming fiscal year. Although insuring all seniors above 70 poses a significant financial undertaking, experts emphasize the urgency given India’s rapidly aging population.
Addressing the Needs of India’s Aging Population
India’s elderly demographic is expected to grow rapidly. Data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) indicates that while only 8.6% of the population was over 60 in 2011, this figure could rise to 19.5% by 2050. By that time, an estimated 319 million Indians will be over 60—nearly three times the 103 million recorded in 2011. The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card is India’s first initiative to provide a specific age group with extensive health coverage, addressing the healthcare needs of this growing population.
Who Stands to Benefit?
The scheme will cover close to 6 crore individuals across 4.5 crore families. Out of these, 1.78 crore seniors are already beneficiaries of the original Ayushman Bharat scheme, while 80 lakh more are covered by other government schemes, such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). Beneficiaries of these programs may opt to retain their existing coverage or transition to Ayushman Bharat’s new provision.
In a unique move, seniors enrolled in the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will also be eligible for both ESIC and Ayushman Bharat coverage, as their premiums are employer-funded. Seniors with private health insurance may also access Ayushman Bharat benefits, adding an extra layer of health security.
Nationwide Rollout of U-WIN Portal
At the same event, PM Modi announced the national launch of the U-WIN portal, a digital platform designed to streamline vaccinations for pregnant women and children. This platform, supporting the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), is expected to serve 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants annually, simplifying vaccination tracking for protection against 12 preventable diseases.
The U-WIN portal, part of the “Made-in-India” initiative, will generate secure digital identities for beneficiaries, facilitating easier access to vaccination records and assisting healthcare providers in managing schedules. Emphasizing the platform’s role, PM Modi stated, “This platform will ensure that life-saving vaccines reach every mother and child, empowering the next generation.”
In a bid to further bolster public health, PM Modi also launched a nationwide health awareness campaign called “Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan,” which includes 470,000 volunteers and aims to set multiple Guinness World Records. These efforts collectively reinforce the government’s commitment to improving healthcare access and public health across India.
