Ayushman Bharat PMJAY would provide free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for senior citizens aged 70 and above
- In Reports
- 10:38 PM, Sep 12, 2024
- Myind Staff
In its recent move to benefit citizens aged 70 or above with health coverage irrespective of their income, the central government is likely to expand the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY). This move will provide health coverage to individuals aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their income, public healthcare is poised for a significant transformation. This move also alleviates the concerns of India's rapidly growing elderly population, who struggle to manage their disease burden due to the high costs of medical care, drugs, and therapies in the absence of a social security net.
The health coverage in the expanded form will be divided amongst the covered family members, according to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw. He said, “If there are two senior citizens (70 years+) in a family, then the Rs 5 lakh coverage will be shared between them. This is a big step towards ensuring the social security of senior citizens, especially as India transitions to nuclear families”.
As per reports, the initial outlay of the scheme will be Rs 3,437 crore. Sharing information on what it would take the government to roll out this policy, he further stated, “This is a demand-based scheme; as the demand goes up, the coverage will also be increased”. Sources indicated that while most states will cover 40 percent of the cost, the Centre is expected to cover 90 percent of the expenses for states in hilly regions and the Northeast.
“The nitty-gritty will be worked out later. It will happen at the stage of implementation, once the decision has been taken,” said a senior official. According to some estimates measured by the experts, covering every person over 70 would actually cost more than covering the poorest 40% of the population across all age groups.
According to the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), India’s population over the age of 60 years is estimated to increase from 8.6 per cent in 2011 to 19.5 per cent by 2050. Indeed, it refers to a tripling of the 60-plus population-from 103 million in 2011 up to 319 million in 2050. Currently, health coverage is around 20 percent in this age group according to the India Ageing Report 2023.
Image source: The Indian Express
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