Budget 2024: Modi Government Eyes Doubling Ayushman Bharat Cover To Rs 10 Lakh, Targets 100 Crore Beneficiaries

The Union government is considering a proposal to double the insurance cover under the Ayushman Bharat health scheme from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per family per year.

The move aims to ensure comprehensive coverage for serious illnesses such as transplants and high-cost cancer treatments.

As per reports by Economic Times, the announcement of this proposal is anticipated in the upcoming interim Union Budget scheduled for 1 February.

In addition to expanding coverage, the Union Health Ministry is planning to double the beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) from the current 50 crore to 100 crore individuals.

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The expanded beneficiary base is expected to include recipients of Kisan Samman Nidhi, construction workers, non-coal mine workers, and ASHA workers over the next three years.

The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, launched in 2018, has proven successful with providing health coverage for 6.2 crore hospital admissions, with an expenditure exceeding Rs 79,157 crore.

The scheme offers health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore beneficiary families.

Also, the budget allocated for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY for the financial year 2023-24 is Rs 7,200 crore.

However, this allocation is expected to more than double to around Rs 15,000 crore in the financial year 2025 to accommodate the proposed enhancements.

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