health & medical insurance
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) - Health Insurance for All
Complete guide to Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme: ₹5 lakh annual coverage, eligibility, e-card process, and hospital empanelment for 2026.
Last Updated: 13 March 2026
Overview (Iske Baare Mein)
Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY): Your Essential Health Guide
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is a government-funded health insurance scheme designed to ensure that no family goes into debt due to medical emergencies. Think of it as a "Free ₹5 Lakh Health Wallet" provided by the government to help you pay for expensive hospital surgeries and treatments.
💫Key Benefits: What do you get?
₹5 Lakh Yearly Cover: Every year, your family gets up to ₹5 lakh to spend on hospital bills.
Cashless Treatment: You don’t need to pay cash at the hospital. The government pays the hospital directly.
No "Waiting Period": Unlike private insurance, if you already have a disease (like Diabetes or Heart issues) when you join, it is covered from Day 1.
Complete Coverage: It pays for the doctor's fee, surgeries, medicines, lab tests, and even your food while in the hospital.
Pre & Post Hospitalization: It covers costs from 3 days before you are admitted and up to 15 days after you are discharged.
💫 Major Treatments Covered
The scheme covers over 1,900+ procedures, including:
Heart Surgeries: Stents, bypass, and valve replacements.
Cancer Care: Chemotherapy and radiation.
Orthopedics: Knee or hip replacements and fracture surgeries.
Kidney Issues: Dialysis and related treatments.
Note: This scheme is completely free. You do not need to pay any "entry fee" or "monthly premium" to any agent to get this card.
Who is Eligible? (Kaun Apply Kar Sakta Hai?)
- Families in rural areas deprived per SECC 2011 (no adult member 16-59, or manual scavenger, etc.)
- Urban workers like ragpickers, construction laborers, domestic workers
- SC/ST households in rural areas
- No family member is income tax payer or govt employee
- Automatic inclusion for 10.74 crore families;
- others check via portal
Documents Required (Zaroori Dastavez)
- Aadhaar Card (mandatory)
- Ration Card or Voter ID
- Bank Account Passbook
- PM-JAY e-card (generated online)
- Hospital ID proof at admission
How to Apply (Form Kaise Bhare)
- 1Step 1: Visit pmjay.gov.in or call 14555/1800-111-565 to check eligibility by Aadhaar/mobile.
- 2Step 2: Generate e-card online or at PM-JAY kiosk/Common Service Center.
- 3Step 3: Visit nearest empaneled public/private hospital.
- 4Step 4: Show e-card/Aadhaar for verification.
- 5Step 5: Get cashless treatment; hospital handles claims.
- 6Step 6: Track claims/status via portal/app.