PM Modi extends Ayushman Bharat coverage to senior citizens above 70

PM Modi extends Ayushman Bharat coverage to senior citizens above 70

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, October 29, 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched health insurance coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income, under his government’s flagship initiative Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

During an event at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi, coinciding with Dhanvantari Jayanti and the 9th Ayurveda Day, PM Modi handed over the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card to the beneficiaries. The launch of the Ayushman Bharat scheme for senior citizens above 70 years was announced last month.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hands over Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card to the beneficiaries pic.twitter.com/hWdrtCD0G4

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2024

“Prime Minister @narendramodi launches the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to extend healthcare coverage to all citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of socio-economic status. This ensures accessible and affordable care for all senior citizens,” read a post by the Press Information Bureau on X.

Setting new standards in healthcare accessibility and inclusivity, the scheme offers exclusive coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually for free treatment.

West Bengal, Delhi excluded: Here’s why

Addressing the public event in New Delhi, PM Modi said that the governments of Delhi and West Bengal are not joining the Ayushman Yojana.

“I apologize to all the elderly people above 70 years of age in Delhi and West Bengal that I will not be able to serve you. The tendency to oppress the sick people of your state for your political interests is against any humane attitude and hence I apologize to the elderly people of West Bengal and Delhi,” said PM Modi.

“I can serve the people of the country, but the walls of the political profession are preventing me from serving the elderly people of Delhi, and West Bengal,” he added.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "I apologize to all the elderly people above 70 years of age in Delhi and all the elderly people above 70 years of age in West Bengal that I will not be able to serve you. I apologize to them that I will know how you are, I will get the… pic.twitter.com/zUsP0ktl0B

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2024

Senior citizens aged 70 and above from families already covered under AB PM-JAY will receive an additional top-up cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves, which will not be shared with other family members under the age of 70.

Major boost to health sector

Apart from the health coverage scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday also launched development projects worth nearly Rs 12,850 crore.

He inaugurated phase II of India’s first All India Institute of Ayurveda in the national capital which includes a Panchakarma hospital, an Ayurvedic pharmacy for drug manufacturing, a sports medicine unit, a central library, an IT and startup incubation centre, and a 500-seat auditorium among others.

In an innovative usage of drone technology to enhance service delivery and make healthcare more accessible, Modi launched drone services at 11 tertiary healthcare institutions.

These are AIIMS-Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, AIIMS-Bibinagar in Telangana, AIIMS-Guwahati in Assam, AIIMS-Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, AIIMS-Jodhpur in Rajasthan, AIIMS-Patna in Bihar, AIIMS-Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh, AIIMS-Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh, AIIMS-Raipur in Chhattisgarh, AIIMS-Mangalagiri in Andhra Pradesh and RIMS-Imphal in Manipur.

The prime minister also launched a helicopter emergency medical service from AIIMS Rishikesh, which will help deliver medical care speedily.