Ayushman Bharat expands to cover all citizens aged 70 and above

The Ayushman Bharat scheme is set to broaden its reach by extending comprehensive health coverage to all citizens aged 70 and above, marking a significant expansion of the programme's scope. Previously, eligibility for the scheme was determined by income and employment status, but the new directive removes these criteria for senior citizens in this age group.

Under the revised framework, beneficiaries aged 70 and above will receive a health coverage of Rs 5 lakh annually, enabling access to cashless hospitalisation at empanelled hospitals across the country. The move addresses healthcare vulnerability among India's ageing population, a demographic segment that typically faces higher medical expenses and limited financial resources.

The expansion reflects the government's commitment to providing universal health protection to senior citizens through the public health scheme. Beneficiaries will be able to avail themselves of coverage for tertiary and secondary care across the network of participating hospitals without any out-of-pocket expenses during treatment.

The scheme, which has already provided health coverage to millions of families across India, now positions healthcare access as a universal right for the elderly. Officials indicated that the implementation would be rolled out systematically to ensure seamless integration with existing Ayushman Bharat infrastructure and hospital networks.