The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), is an Indian government’s scheme launched in 2018 to provide affordable healthcare to low-income families in India.

Highlights of Ayushman Bharat Yojana

Financial compensation

Eligible families under Ayushman Bharat Yojana get an annual health insurance of ₹5 lakh. This includes hospitalization, pre- and post-hospital costs, and approximately 1,400 treatments.

Extensive hospital network

More than 23,000 hospitals (as of September 2020), both private and government, have been placed under the scheme that enables beneficiaries to receive quality medical care in hospitals.

COVID-19 Coverage

The scheme of Ayushman Bharat also includes COVID-19 testing and treatment for beneficiaries at public and private hospitals.

Ayushman Mitra

Ayushman Mitra is a healthcare professional selected as the first point of contact for Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries in empanelled hospitals. These professionals help beneficiaries understand the benefits of the programme and avail of the health care facilities. The programme will also create job opportunities for Indian youth.

Ask Ayushman – your AI assistant from Ayushman Bharat

The government has launched an AI-powered chatbot called “Ask Ayushman” on WhatsApp. The chatbot provides beneficiaries with information about the scheme in Hindi and English, including benefits, searching for nearby hospitals and applying for an e-card. It also sends text messages to beneficiaries of the scheme.

Ayushman Bharat Yojana or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is a commendable initiative by the Government of India to provide affordable healthcare to the economically weaker sections of our society. However, if you do not qualify under this plan, you should ensure that you purchase a comprehensive health insurance plan for you and your loved ones.