Since its inception in September 2018, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) has dramatically expanded healthcare access for India’s economically vulnerable, with over ₹1.1 lakh crore spent on free hospitalization for eligible beneficiaries. Designed to cover 107 million low-income households, PM-JAY offers financial protection to approximately 40% of India’s population, ensuring vital healthcare services for those in need.

According to official data, over 79 million individuals have received treatment under PM-JAY, which provides an annual health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family. The scheme aims to reduce the financial strain associated with healthcare expenses, a pressing issue that has historically driven many Indian households into poverty. When PM-JAY launched, direct out-of-pocket healthcare payments accounted for nearly 62% of medical expenses, often placing a heavy burden on families.

Top states benefiting from PM-JAY’s extensive reach include Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. Beneficiaries under the scheme have access to nearly 2,000 procedures through a cashless model covering costs such as diagnostics, medication, surgical charges, ICU fees, and physician fees. The most commonly utilized services include treatments for general medicine, infectious diseases, medical oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, and general surgery. High-demand procedures include hemodialysis, Covid-19 screenings, acute febrile illness treatments, and various medical packages.

Since the program’s launch, more than 355 million Ayushman Cards have been distributed, empowering eligible citizens to access healthcare at any of the 30,672 empaneled hospitals nationwide, including both public and private facilities.

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Recognizing the heavy financial burden posed by healthcare costs, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance recently recommended extending PM-JAY to cover the “missing middle”—around 30% of the population lacking any health insurance—through a paid model. In a recent development, the scheme was expanded to include senior citizens above the age of 70, regardless of income, marking another milestone in PM-JAY’s mission to provide comprehensive healthcare access.

According to a Niti Aayog report from October 2021, roughly 400 million Indians, classified as the “missing middle,” still lack health insurance coverage, leaving them financially vulnerable to unexpected medical expenses. The government’s ongoing efforts to enhance PM-JAY’s coverage underscore a commitment to advancing inclusive healthcare and financial security for all Indian citizens.

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