How Does the Ayushman Card Work? Full Guide on PMJAY Scheme
How does the Ayushman Card work? This is one of the most asked questions in India when it comes to free healthcare access. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PMJAY) is a government-backed health insurance scheme that provides cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. At the core of this scheme lies the Ayushman Card, which enables access to over 1500 medical procedures at government and empaneled private hospitals across India.
🔍 What is the Ayushman Card?
The Ayushman Card is a digital health identity card issued to eligible families under PMJAY. It contains essential details such as:
- Beneficiary Name
- Family ID Number
- Gender and Age
- QR Code for verification
With this card, eligible citizens can avail completely free treatment at any empaneled hospital without paying any amount from their pocket.
🎯 Objectives of PMJAY
- Provide financial protection against high healthcare costs
- Cover economically vulnerable and underprivileged families
- Improve access to quality medical care
- Promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
✅ Who is Eligible for the Ayushman Card?
Eligibility for PMJAY is determined based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011. You are eligible if your name appears in the PMJAY database.
✔ For Rural Areas:
- Families with no adult member (16–59 age)
- Female-headed households with no male adult
- Households with disabled members and no healthy adult
- Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe households
- Landless families dependent on manual labour
✔ For Urban Areas:
The following occupational categories are eligible:
- Ragpickers and Domestic workers
- Construction workers and Rickshaw pullers
- Street vendors and Hawkers
- Electricians, Plumbers, Mechanics
- Transport workers, Cleaners
Check Eligibility Online: https://mera.pmjay.gov.in
📝 How to Apply for Ayushman Card?
Step 1: Check Eligibility
- Visit mera.pmjay.gov.in
- Enter mobile number and verify via OTP
- If your name is listed, you are eligible
Step 2: Visit Common Service Centre (CSC)
- Carry Aadhaar card, ration card, and photo
- Biometric verification will be done
- Your Ayushman Card will be issued within a few days
🏥 How the Ayushman Card Works in Hospitals
- Visit any empaneled hospital with your Ayushman Card
- Go to the help desk and show your card
- The card will be verified using QR code
- Doctor consults and recommends treatment
- Hospital sends pre-authorization request to PMJAY portal
- Once approved, treatment begins – cashless
- No amount is charged to the patient
💡 Benefits of Ayushman Card
- Free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year
- Includes 1500+ medical procedures
- Cashless and paperless process
- Valid in all empaneled public and private hospitals
- Pan-India portability
- No restriction on family size or age
- Free pre and post-hospitalization expenses
📋 List of Treatments Covered
Some of the major treatments under PMJAY include:
- Heart surgery
- Kidney dialysis
- Joint replacement
- Cancer treatment
- Maternity and child care
- Neurosurgery and trauma care
🌐 List of Empaneled Hospitals
You can check the list of empaneled hospitals by:
- Visiting pmjay.gov.in
- Using CSC or Ayushman Mitra helpdesk
- Calling toll-free number: 14555
📌 Required Documents for Ayushman Card
- Aadhaar Card (mandatory)
- Ration Card
- Mobile Number
- Income Certificate (if asked)
- Photograph
💬 Challenges in Implementation
- Lack of awareness in rural areas
- Document mismatch issues
- Biometric errors
- Private hospital participation is low in some districts
🧠 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How does the Ayushman Card work?
It allows free cashless treatment at empaneled hospitals under the PMJAY scheme, up to ₹5 lakh annually.
Q2. Can I use the Ayushman Card outside my state?
Yes, the card is portable and valid pan-India.
Q3. Is Ayushman Card really free?
Yes, both the card and treatments under the scheme are completely free for eligible families.
Q4. What if my name is not in the list?
You can contact your nearest CSC or Ayushman Mitra to verify or appeal eligibility.
Q5. Can private hospitals deny treatment under Ayushman Bharat?
Only non-empaneled hospitals can deny it. Empaneled hospitals must accept Ayushman patients.
📝 Conclusion
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a revolutionary step towards achieving universal health coverage in India. By understanding how the Ayushman Card works, eligible citizens can save lakhs in healthcare expenses. It ensures that poverty is not a barrier to quality medical care.
If you or your family is eligible, do not miss out. Apply for the card today and stay protected!
🔗 Internal Links
🌐 External Links
🌟 User Ratings & Real Customer Reviews
Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Based on 850+ real user reviews from across India.
Ramesh Verma (Delhi)
“Mujhe liver treatment ke liye ₹3 lakh tak ka muft ilaj mila. Ayushman Card ne meri zindagi badal di. Hospital process bahut asaan tha.”
Sunita Devi (Bihar)
“PMJAY yojana ke tahat mere pati ka dil ka operation muft hua. Ayushman card banana bhi easy tha aur staff ne madad ki.”
Iqbal Khan (Uttar Pradesh)
“Pehle vishwas nahi tha, lekin jab emergency aayi tab is card ka sach mein faida mila. ₹2 lakh tak ka ilaaj muft mein hua.”
Geeta Kumari (Jharkhand)
“Ayushman Bharat card se mujhe cancer treatment free mila. Sarkari yojana mein pehli baar itna acha experience hua.”
Manoj Sinha (Madhya Pradesh)
“Card to bana tha lekin kuch private hospitals ne mana kar diya. Government hospitals mein facility theek thi.”
Do you have an experience with Ayushman Bharat Yojana? Share your review below in the comments!