In this article, we delve into the details of Ayushman Vay Vandana, a healthcare initiative launched by the Government of India two years ago on October 29, 2024. The initiative aims to provide health coverage to approximately 6 crore senior citizens across the country.
Two years since its launch by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 29 October 2024, Ayushman Vay Vandana, an extension of the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), has successfully served approximately 6 crore senior citizens in India. This initiative, implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, aims to provide health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to every citizen aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
Under Ayushman Vay Vandana, senior citizens aged 70 years and above who are already covered under AB PM-JAY receive an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year for themselves, separate from the cover available to other family members below 70 years of age. This provision extends the scheme’s financial protection to eligible senior citizens aged 70 years and above while preserving coverage for other family members.
As on 20 October 2026, Ayushman Vay Vandana has recorded 23.46 lakh authorised hospital admissions, reflecting the utilisation of hospital services by eligible senior citizens aged 70 years and above under the scheme. Cataract surgery is the most frequently availed procedure, with 4.71 lakh treatments constituting approximately 20.1% of all authorised treatments.
In terms of authorised value, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) accounts for the largest share, at approximately ₹649 crore. This underlines the role of the initiative in safeguarding beneficiaries against the high cost of specialised cardiac care.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, National Health Authority, said, ‘Ayushman Vay Vandana embodies our commitment to ensuring that senior citizens aged 70 years and above, can access healthcare with dignity, security and peace of mind.’
Source:
Press Information Bureau
