Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): Eligibility, Benefits, Application & Requirements

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the flagship health assurance scheme of the Government of India. It provides a health cover of ₹5,00,000 per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 12 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries). Key Features 1. Completely cashless and paperless access to services at public and empanelled private hospitals across India. 2. Covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses. 3. No restriction on family size, age, or gender. 4. Pre-existing conditions are covered from day one of enrollment. Administered under central statutory authority by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is designed to safeguard eligible families, low-income workers, and marginalized individuals from economic distress while promoting sustainable community wellbeing. The program operates with clear statutory entitlements: beneficiaries meeting all published criteria have an administrative right to receive designated services, cash allowances, or subsidies without arbitrary bias. Implementation varies between regional jurisdictions to address local living standards and cost-of-living differences.