Healthcare is one of the biggest needs for every family in India, but the cost of treatment in private hospitals and even in advanced government facilities can be a heavy burden. To solve this, the Government of India launched the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), popularly called the Ayushman Bharat Yojana or Ayushman Card Yojana.

This scheme provides cashless health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year at empanelled hospitals across the country. In 2025, the scheme has expanded further with better coverage, an easy card-making process, and a wider list of hospitals.

1. What is Ayushman Bharat Yojana?

Ayushman Bharat Yojana is the world’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme. It is implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

• It provides cashless and paperless treatment to eligible families.
• Each family gets coverage of ₹5,00,000 per year.
• The card can be used in both government and private empanelled hospitals.
• Treatment is completely cashless – no advance deposit, no hidden charges.
• Beneficiaries are identified based on Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data and new state-level databases.

2. Eligibility for Ayushman Bharat Yojana 2025

There are two main categories of eligible people:

A) PM-JAY Core Beneficiaries

• Rural poor households identified by SECC 2011.
• Urban workers in specific occupations (domestic workers, street vendors, rickshaw pullers, etc.).
• Families already included in state government health schemes merged with PM-JAY.

B) New Expansion for 2025

• All senior citizens aged 70 years and above are now covered under the new Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme. They get ₹5 lakh free coverage even if not in the SECC list.

3. Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Yojana

• Coverage up to ₹5,00,000 per family per year for secondary and tertiary care.
• Covers over 1,500+ treatment packages including cardiology, cancer, kidney, neurosurgery, orthopedics, etc.
• Pre-hospitalization (3 days) and post-hospitalization (15 days) expenses are covered.
• Includes surgery, medicines, diagnostics, room charges, ICU care, implants, etc.
• No restriction on family size, age, or gender.
• National portability – use your card in any empanelled hospital across India.
• 100% cashless and paperless system through e-card and Aadhaar verification.

4. Documents Required

To make an Ayushman Card, you need:

• Aadhaar Card (mandatory for 70+ senior citizens under new scheme).
• Ration Card or Family ID (depending on state).
• Mobile Number (for OTP).
• Photo ID (if Aadhaar not available).
• Old health card or SECC ID (if applicable).

5. How to Make Ayushman Card (Golden Card)

There are three ways to create your Ayushman Card:

A) Online through Ayushman Bharat Portal

1. Visit the official website: https://mera.pmjay.gov.in
2. Click on Am I Eligible.
3. Enter your mobile number → verify with OTP.
4. Check eligibility using your ration card/household details.
5. Complete e-KYC with Aadhaar.
6. Generate and download your Ayushman e-card (PDF).

B) Using the Official Ayushman App

1. Download Ayushman App (by National Health Authority) from Google Play Store.
2. Register with your mobile number.
3. Do Aadhaar-based verification.
4. Generate and download your Ayushman Card.

C) Offline at Common Service Centres (CSC) or Hospitals

• Visit nearest CSC centre or Ayushman Help Desk (Arogya Mitra) at an empanelled hospital.
• Carry Aadhaar and ration card.
• Operator will complete e-KYC and issue your printed card.

6. How to Check Ayushman Hospital List 2025

The hospital list is updated frequently. Here are the methods:

A) Online on Official Portal

1. Visit: https://hospitals.pmjay.gov.in
2. Select State → District.
3. Apply filters (Government/Private, Speciality, Procedure).
4. View list of empanelled hospitals with address and contact.

B) On Ayushman App

• Open the app and use Find Hospital option.
• The app shows nearest empanelled hospitals based on location.

C) Via Helpline

• Call 14555 (toll-free) and ask for hospitals in your area.

D) Offline

• Visit your nearest government hospital or CSC to check printed list.
• Hospitals display Ayushman Bharat logo at entrance.

7. Step-by-Step: Using Your Ayushman Card at Hospital

1. Visit empanelled hospital.
2. Go to Arogya Mitra desk.
3. Show your Ayushman Card (e-card or PVC) and Aadhaar.
4. Hospital raises pre-authorization request.
5. After approval, treatment starts – completely cashless.
6. On discharge, you will get medicines and post-care as per package.

8. Important Tips

• Always carry Aadhaar + Ayushman Card.
• Check if your hospital is empanelled before visiting.
• Do not pay for covered services. If asked, call 14555 immediately.
• Keep a PDF copy of your Ayushman Card safe on your phone.
• For senior citizens 70+, apply under Ayushman Vay Vandana even if not in the SECC list.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is making Ayushman Card free?
Yes, making the card online or through CSC is free. Some centres may charge a small fee for PVC print.

Q2: Can I use my card outside my state?
Yes, it is valid all over India at empanelled hospitals.

Q3: How to check balance left in my card?
Use Ayushman App → Login → Check Utilization.

Q4: Are OPD and medicine expenses covered?
Only if linked to hospitalization or specific packages. Normal OPD is not covered.

Q5: I am not in SECC list, can I still apply?
If you are 70+ years, yes. Otherwise, eligibility depends on state databases.

10. Conclusion

Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a life-saving scheme for millions of Indian families. By 2025, it covers more categories including all senior citizens above 70 years. The Ayushman Card is your key to access free cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh.

Making the card is simple – either online, through the app, or at CSC/hospital desks. Checking the hospital list is equally easy through the official portal, mobile app, or helpline.

This scheme has made advanced healthcare accessible to the poor and vulnerable sections of society, ensuring that no family has to sell assets or borrow money for hospital treatment.

✅ Official Website: https://pmjay.gov.in
✅ Hospital Search: https://hospitals.pmjay.gov.in
✅ Helpline: 14555 (toll-free, 24×7)

📌 Disclaimer: Information is based on government notifications available till 2025. Benefits and eligibility may vary slightly by state. Always confirm latest updates on the official PM-JAY website or helpline before applying.