Ayushman Bharat cards to be issued free of cost across 10 States and Union Territories from 1st March, 2021

New Delhi, February 26, 2021: National Health Authority has entered into an agreement with Common Service Centre (e-governance) to issue free PVC card Ayushman cards to eligible beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) starting from 1^st March 2021 in 10 States/UTs i.e. Bihar, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tripura, Nagaland, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.

As per the MOU between National Health Authority (NHA) and Common Service Centres (CSCs E-Governance) signed on 18^th Feb 2021, the abovementioned States/UTs are among the first to agree issue new PVC Ayushman cards free to all eligible beneficiaries free of cost. Until now it was required to pay Rs. 30 as fees at CSC. Ayushman cards generated at any of the PM-JAY empanelled hospitals, however, were issued for free and will continue to be issued free of charge.

Under the new arrangement, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY beneficiaries will receive a paper-based card on the spot post approval of the record. Subsequently, a printed PVC card would be provided to the beneficiary, free of cost. The PVC Ayushman Card can be collected from same CSC centre.

While the Ayushman card is not an essential requirement to avail healthcare benefits under the AB PM-JAY scheme, it is part of mechanism for the identification and verification of beneficiaries to enable seamless delivery of health services to the patients and prevent any kind of malpractice and fraud.

The date for issuance of free PVC Ayushman Cards in other States/UTs will be informed shortly.

About Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY):  

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is the flagship health protection scheme of Government of India that provides a cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families (about 53 crore beneficiaries). AB PM-JAY provides cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiaries at the point of care. Under this scheme, there are 937 health benefit packages with defined rates covering 1,682 procedures. Over 24,293 public and private hospitals have been empanelled across 32 implementing States and UTs. Since its launch on 23^rd September 2018, more than 1.67 crore hospital treatments worth Rs. 20,911 Cr have been provided under the scheme and nearly 14 crore Ayushman cards issued to the beneficiaries nation-wide. Website: http://pmjay.gov.in/

About the National Health Authority (NHA):  

The National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex agency of the Government of India responsible for the design, roll- out, implementation and management of Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) across the country. NHA functions as an attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family welfare and is governed by a Governing Board chaired by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and has 11 members. Inter-alia, its functions include formulation of PMJAY policies, development of operational guidelines, implementation mechanisms, coordination with State Governments, monitoring and oversight, among others.