Union Health Minister JP Nadda officially unveiled the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) at the Bali Jatra Ground in Cuttack, Odisha, earlier today.
The healthcare initiative aims to provide health insurance coverage to 1.3 crore families, equivalent to over 3.5 crore individuals.
Under AB PM-JAY, each family will be eligible for Rs 5 lakh annual health coverage, with an additional Rs 5 lakh earmarked exclusively for women beneficiaries, thereby offering households with female members a potential cumulative coverage of Rs 10 lakh annually.
Odisha will transition from the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) to a more comprehensive scheme. The new integrated health cards will facilitate cashless treatments across 29,000 empanelled hospitals nationwide, with portability enabling interstate healthcare access. Pre-existing conditions will be covered from day one.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and senior state officials emphasized the scheme’s potential to revolutionize healthcare for migrant workers and vulnerable populations. Special provisions include automatic eligibility for citizens aged 70+ irrespective of income levels. Odisha has allocated Rs 3,500 crore to roll out this initiative, seamlessly integrating AB-PMJAY with state health schemes like Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (G-JAY) and Ayushman Vaya-Vandana Yojana.
Union Minister JP Nadda applauded Odisha’s proactive steps in empowering healthcare systems, asserting that AB PM-JAY would transform the state’s healthcare landscape by providing equitable and accessible medical solutions.
