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The centre aims to double the scheme's beneficiary base over the next three years, with all those aged above 70 years to be given the program's benefits. In addition to this, the Rs 5 lakh health insurance coverage provided under the scheme is also set to be increased to Rs 10 lakh per year, news agency PTI reporter while citing sources.
As per the estimates prepared by the National Health Authority (NHA), the proposals, if approved, would cost the government an additional expenditure of Rs 12,076 crore per annum. These proposals are likely to be announced in the Union Budget to be presented on 23 July.
PTI quotes official sources as saying, “Discussions are happening to double the beneficiary base under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- PMJAY) over the next three years, which will cover more than the two-third population of the country. Deliberations are also underway over finalising a proposal to double the limit of coverage amount to Rs 10 lakh.”
Recently, the government increased the allocation for AB-PMJAY to Rs 7,200 crore in the interim budget 2024. Rs 646 crore was also assigned to Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (ABHIM). The AB-PMJAY covers 12 crore families in the country by providing a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
On 27 June 2024, President Droupadi Murmu also mentioned the expected inclusion of all the elderly above 70 years of age into the scheme during her address to the joint sitting of the parliament.
