The Ayushman Vay Vandana initiative, which provides health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of their socio-economic status, completed two years on Thursday, recording 23.46 lakh authorised hospital admissions worth ₹5,668.80 crore.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 29, 2024, the initiative extends the benefits of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to elderly citizens, aiming to improve access to healthcare and reduce the financial burden of hospitalisation.
Implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the scheme is designed to provide financial protection to approximately six crore senior citizens belonging to around 4.5 crore families across the country.
Under the initiative, all citizens aged 70 years and above are eligible for health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation, regardless of their income or socio-economic background.
Senior citizens belonging to families already covered under AB PM-JAY receive an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh annually, exclusively for themselves. This coverage is separate from the existing family cover available to members below 70 years of age.
According to official data, as of October 20, 2026, the scheme had recorded 23.46 lakh authorised hospital admissions, with the total value of approved hospital care reaching ₹5,668.80 crore.
Cataract surgery emerged as the most frequently availed procedure, accounting for 4.71 lakh treatments, or approximately 20.1 per cent of all authorised treatments under the initiative.
The high number of cataract procedures highlights the demand for eye care services among elderly beneficiaries.
Chronic haemodialysis was the second most frequently availed treatment, with approximately 2.90 lakh procedures, reflecting the scheme’s role in supporting senior citizens requiring regular hospital-based care for kidney-related conditions.
In terms of treatment expenditure, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), a procedure used to treat narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, accounted for the highest authorised value at approximately ₹649 crore.
The figures highlight the financial support provided under the scheme for specialised cardiac procedures, which can involve substantial hospitalisation costs.
Other commonly availed treatments included total knee replacement, management of acute exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), acute febrile illness, acute kidney injury and renal failure.
These procedures reflect the range of healthcare services accessed by elderly beneficiaries, from routine surgical interventions to the treatment of complex and critical medical conditions.
Marking the initiative’s second anniversary, National Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal said Ayushman Vay Vandana was aimed at ensuring that senior citizens could access essential healthcare without facing financial barriers.
“Ayushman Vay Vandana embodies our commitment to ensuring that senior citizens aged 70 years and above, can access healthcare with dignity, security and peace of mind. By extending AB PM-JAY coverage to all eligible citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of socio-economic status, the initiative strengthens financial protection for the elderly families,” Barnwal said.
“It is an important step towards building a more inclusive healthcare system that recognises the needs of our senior citizens and ensures that financial constraints do not stand in the way of essential hospital care,” he added.
The initiative forms part of the government’s efforts to expand publicly funded healthcare coverage and improve access to hospital services for the elderly.
As Ayushman Vay Vandana enters its third year, the government aims to further expand its reach and strengthen financial protection for senior citizens and their families against hospitalisation expenses.
-PIB
