PM Modi to launch health cover for senior citizens above 70 years on October 29

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 27, 2024: The health coverage for all citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of their income status under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is likely to be rolled out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 29, an official source said.

The U-WIN portal developed for maintaining an electronic registry of routine immunisations, which is currently operational on a pilot basis, will also be launched by the Prime Minister on the same day. Besides the two, some other projects will also be launched on Tuesday, the source said.

The U-Win platform, which is a replication of the Covid-19 vaccine management system Co-WIN, has been developed to keep a permanent digital record of vaccination of pregnant women as well as children from birth up to the age of 17 under the Universal Immunization Programme.

"The PM is likely to launch the expanded scheme under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme for those aged 70 years and above. It will benefit an estimated six crore citizens in about 4.5 crore households," the source said.

Be it poor, middle class, upper middle class or rich, every individual who is 70 years and above is eligible for getting Ayushman card and will receive free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh at any of the AB PMJAY empanelled hospitals once the expanded scheme gets launched. Till September 1, 2024, a total of 29,648 hospitals, including 12,696 private hospitals, have been empanelled under the PMJAY.

The scheme is being implemented in 33 states and Union territories currently except for Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal. Anyone aged 70 or above as per Aadhar card, will be eligible for applying for the scheme, the source said.

"Those already having the Ayushman card will need to again apply for a new card and complete their eKYC again," the source said.