Having issued four crore Ayushmaan cards, Uttar Pradesh has topped the list of states with the highest number of beneficiaries under the Centre’s health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh stand at number two and three positions with 3.69 crore and 2.04 crore Ayushman cards, respectively.
Overall, a total 26 crore Ayushman cards were issued across the country, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement. The Ministry further said in the statement 49 per cent Ayushman cards are held by female beneficiaries. The AB PM-JAY has successfully catered to 5.7 crore hospital admissions costing more than Rs 70,000 crore, the statement added.
The flagship scheme being implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) provides a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore beneficiary families.
Ayushman card generation is the “most fundamental activity” under the AB PM-JAY and concerted efforts are being continuously made to ensure every beneficiary under the scheme has an Ayushman card, the ministry said.