Ayushman Card - Download, Application, List and Status
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) provides free health coverage for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to India's bottom 40% of the population, which currently includes approximately 12.37 crore families (about 55 crore individuals).
Launched in September 2018, the scheme offers a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year. Cashless treatment is available at a network of more than 33,000 empanelled hospitals nationwide.
This government scheme issues an Ayushman Card to beneficiaries. In this article, I'll provide in-depth details and information on the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme.
Ayushman Card Download
If you've already applied for an Ayushman card and want to download it, just follow these steps:
- Step 1: Log in as a beneficiary on the Ayushman app or the National Health Authority' PMJAY - Beneficiary Portal - beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
- Step 2: After login, a search page opens for finding beneficiaries.
- Step 3: Search using details like state, scheme name (PMJAY), PMJAY ID, Family ID, Location, or your Aadhaar number.
- Step 4: Enter your Aadhaar number and click on the search button.
- Step 5: You'll see an Ayushman Card List associated with your Aadhaar.
- Step 7: For beneficiaries whose KYC is complete or whose card is ready, click on the download option next to their names.
- Step 8: To download the card, you need to authenticate yourself.
- Step 9: Select Aadhaar for authentication and use OTP to verify.
- Step 10: After verification, the download page will open.
Lastly, click 'download' to get your card in PDF format.
Ayushman Card Registration
It's essential for citizens to have their names in the Ayushman Card List to apply for a card. The detailed application process is provided below:
- Step 1: Visit the official website at beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
- Step 2: Log in with your mobile number and OTP.
- Step 3: Search by state, district, scheme name (PMJAY), PMJAY ID, Family ID, or Aadhaar number for ease.
- Step 4: You can find the names of eligible citizens on the Ayushman Card List. Those without an Ayushman Card will be labelled as "Not-Generated" in the Card Status column.
- Step 5: To apply for a card, simply click on the "Action" button.
- Step 6: On the new page, complete your KYC using Aadhaar OTP and upload a recent photo.
- Step 7: Enter additional details such as mobile number, religion, date of birth, PIN code, district, and village.
- Step 8: Once you've entered the details, click the "submit" button.
What is Ayushman Card?
The Ayushman card is provided to registered beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). This card provides economically weaker families with free medical treatment up to 5 lakh rupees per year.
Expanded Coverage and Beneficiaries
Originally designed to cover the bottom 40% of India's population based on 2011 SECC data, the scheme now supports approximately 12.37 crore families, totaling roughly 55 crore individuals. Key milestones in its expansion include:
- Ayushman Cards: Over 42.47 crore Ayushman cards have been created as of October 2025, facilitating seamless access to services.
- Universal Senior Citizen Coverage: Since October 2024, the scheme was extended to all citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income. This "Ayushman Vay Vandana" initiative covers approximately 6 crore seniors across 4.5 crore families with an additional/independent ₹5 lakh cover.
- Frontline Worker Inclusion: Eligibility was further widened in 2024 to include approximately 37 lakh frontline workers, such as ASHAs and Anganwadi workers, along with their families.
The official portal for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is pmjay.gov.in. Beneficiaries can access the portal at beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
Features available on the beneficiary portal include:
- Link Aadhaar: Beneficiaries or operators can now link Aadhaar numbers to cards issued without the Aadhaar eKYC process.
- Add Member: This function allows beneficiaries or operators to add new members to an existing family.
- Redo eKYC: Beneficiaries or operators have the option to redo the eKYC process to update the latest photo and address.
- Check Status: A feature for beneficiaries or operators to verify the status of the card.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria are as follows:
| Category | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Rural Beneficiaries | One-room houses with mud walls and roofs |
| Families without adult male members aged 16-59 | |
| Families with disabled members without able-bodied adults | |
| SC/ST families | |
| Landless families dependent on manual labor | |
| Urban Beneficiaries | Waste collectors |
| Beggars | |
| Domestic helpers | |
| Street vendors, cobblers, hawkers | |
| Construction workers (masons, plumbers, painters) | |
| Cleaners, sanitation workers, gardeners | |
| Home-based workers, craftsmen, tailors | |
| Transport workers (drivers, conductors, rickshaw pullers) | |
| Shop workers, assistants, waiters | |
| Electricians, mechanics, repair workers | |
| Laundry workers, watchmen |
Benefits
- Coverage up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family every year for hospital care.
- Over 12 crore families (about 50 crore people) can get this benefit.
- Cashless and paperless treatment at hospitals.
- Helps avoid the high cost of hospital stays.
- Families can get necessary health services without financial hardship.
Required Documents
The Aadhaar Card is a required and primary document for applying for an Ayushman card. Additionally, some states may require other documents, which are listed below.
- Family ID
- Ration Card
- Income Certificate
- Domicile Certificate, etc.
Ayushman Vay Vandana Card
The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card is a recent initiative by the Government of India, launched on October 29, 2024, to provide comprehensive health coverage for senior citizens aged 70 years and above.
Key Features:
- Health Coverage: Offers a health cover of ₹5 lakh per annum to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their socio-economic status.
- Additional Top-Up: Senior citizens already covered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) receive an additional top-up cover of ₹5 lakh per year.
- Choice of Schemes: Beneficiaries of other government health schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) can choose between their existing scheme or opt for AB PM-JAY.
- Private Insurance Eligibility: Individuals with private health insurance or members of the Employees' State Insurance scheme are also eligible to benefit from AB PM-JAY.
- Comprehensive Treatment: Covers approximately 2,000 medical procedures and includes all pre-existing diseases from day one without any waiting period.
Common Treatments Availed:
Beneficiaries have received treatments for various conditions, including:
- Coronary Angioplasty
- Hip Fracture/Replacement
- Gall Bladder Removal
- Cataract Surgery
- Prostate Resection
- Stroke Management
- Hemodialysis
- Treatment for Enteric Fever and Other Febrile Illnesses
This initiative aims to provide accessible and comprehensive healthcare to senior citizens, ensuring their well-being and financial security in their advanced years.
Helpline
The Ayushman Bharat helpline number is 14555. Alternatively, you can reach them at 1800-111-565 for assistance regarding eligibility, benefits, application status, and other inquiries related to the scheme.
ABHA Card
The ABHA card is a digital ID for health, given to people in India. It has a special 14-digit number that makes it easy to look at and share health information safely, helping to improve healthcare services.
The Ayushman Bharat scheme helps people get health insurance, and the ABHA card gives everyone digital health ID. This makes it easier to use healthcare services. Together, they help make healthcare better and more reachable for everyone in India.