New Delhi, Dec 9 (LatestNewsX) – The government informed Parliament that by the end of October, 2.02 crore claims under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, worth Rs 28,732.18 crore, had already been settled for the current financial year.
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB‑PMJAY) is the flagship programme that offers Rs 5 lakh of health coverage per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospital stays to 12 crore families, representing India’s bottom 40 percent of the population.
According to Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, “more than 42.31 crore Ayushman cards have been created under the scheme,” as of 31 October. He added that “Till October 31, a total of 2.02 crore claims amounting to Rs 28,732.18 crore have been settled in the last financial year.”
The eligibility rules were broadened in March 2024 to include 37 lakh Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Anganwadi Workers (AWW), Anganwadi Helpers (AWH) and their families. The programme was also extended to cover 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 and above, belonging to 4.5 crore families, through the Ayushman Vay Vandana card.
Jadhav noted that “More than 41.34 lakh Ayushman cards have been created for the ASHA/AWW/AWH categories, and 89.51 lakh cards have been issued under the Ayushman Vay Vandana category for senior citizens.”
In addition, 1,80,906 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), formerly known as Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB‑HWCs), have become operational nationwide as of October. These centres deliver comprehensive screening for five major non‑communicable diseases – hypertension, diabetes, oral cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer.
Jadhav cited the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non‑Communicable Diseases (NP‑NCD) portal, stating “As per the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non‑Communicable Diseases (NP‑NCD) portal, 38.79 crore screenings for hypertension, 36.05 crore screenings for diabetes, 31.88 crore screenings for oral cancer, 14.98 crore screenings for breast cancer, and 8.15 crore screenings for cervical cancer have been conducted at Sub‑Health Centres (SHC), Primary Health Centres (PHC) in rural and urban areas, including AAMs, till October 31.”
Teleconsultation services are also operational at all active AAMs, allowing patients to receive specialist care closer to home and ensuring continuity of care, especially in regions facing shortfalls of providers.
He added that “Total teleconsultations conducted at AAM are 41.14 crore as on October 31.”
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