Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla praised the remarkable progress made in Ayushman card creation for senior citizens across Madhya Pradesh, commending all involved officials, ASHA workers, ANMs, and community health officials.

He stated that the state government is committed to reaching all eligible senior citizens with health security under this ambitious scheme. Madhya Pradesh currently leads the country in issuing Ayushman cards for senior citizens.

Dr Yogesh Bharsat, CEO of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, shared that over 2,00,667 Ayushman cards have been created for senior citizens aged 70 and above in Madhya Pradesh, compared to 1,76,167 cards in Kerala.

Dr Bharsat added that approximately 30,000 to 35,000 Ayushman cards are being generated daily for senior citizens in Madhya Pradesh. He mentioned that the target of 34,73,325 Ayushman cards is expected to be met by January 15.

An action plan has been formulated, with ASHA workers, ANMs, and CHOs conducting door-to-door outreach and organizing special camps.

Bharsat explained that under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), a new initiative has been introduced to provide accessible and high-quality healthcare services to senior citizens aged 70 and above. Launched on October 29, 2024, this scheme allows eligible senior citizens to register themselves on the National Health Authority’s portal https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in or the Ayushman app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beneficiaryapp, enabling them to create their card from home by choosing the self-registration option.

Dr Bharsat mentioned that a special “Vaya Vandana Card” is being issued to senior citizens. Eligible individuals aged 70 and above whose families are already covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme will receive an additional top-up coverage of ?5 lakh annually through this card. This top-up is exclusively for senior family members and cannot be shared with younger family members below 70.

Re-registration Mandatory for Existing Beneficiaries to Obtain Vaya Vandana Card

Dr Bharsat noted that existing Ayushman beneficiaries must re-register to obtain the “Vaya Vandana Card.” Upon receiving this card, senior citizens will gain an additional top-up of ?5 lakh, resulting in a total health coverage of ?10 lakh. This additional top-up will be exclusively for elderly members, while other family members will continue with the standard ?5 lakh coverage. All other senior citizens aged 70 and above will receive an annual family-based coverage of ?5 lakh.

Dr. Bharsat explained that senior citizens who are already benefiting from public health schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman CAPF must choose between their current plan and the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Senior citizens covered under private health insurance or the Employee State Insurance (ESI) scheme are also eligible to receive benefits under the Ayushman scheme.

Dr Bharsat emphasized that the Aadhaar card serves as the primary identification document for beneficiaries in the scheme. For those whose Aadhaar card only shows the birth year instead of the full date, January 1, 2025, will be considered as the eligibility date upon reaching 70 years of age. Three methods are available for easy identification: thumb impression, iris scan, and mobile OTP, ensuring a smooth registration process for beneficiaries.