Ayushman Card (PM-JAY): Eligibility, How to Apply, Download and Use at a Hospital

The Ayushman card is the card that lets you use Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, the Government of India’s health cover. If your family is eligible, the card helps you get free hospital treatment, up to ₹5 lakh per family in a year, without paying at the hospital for covered care. This guide explains who qualifies, how to get the card, and what to do on the day you need it.

The key points

• The cover is up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for treatment that needs a hospital stay.
• It is cashless: at an empanelled hospital the bill for covered treatment is settled between the hospital and the scheme.
• Eligibility is decided from government records, not from the card. You check if your family is listed, then create the card.
• People aged 70 and above can get the Ayushman Vay Vandana card whatever their income.
• The card is free. Nobody is allowed to charge you for it.

What the scheme covers

Feature	What it means for you
Cover amount	Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, shared by all members of the family.
What is treated	Care that needs admission to hospital: surgery, cancer care, heart treatment, dialysis and many more procedures at government and empanelled private hospitals.
Before and after hospital	Costs for a few days before admission and follow-up after discharge are included. The scheme lists about 3 days before and 15 days after.
Existing illnesses	Pre-existing conditions are covered from the first day.
Family size and age	There is no cap on family size or on the age of members.

What is not covered: outpatient (OPD) visits and consultations, cosmetic surgery, fertility treatment and drug rehabilitation are outside the scheme. It is a hospital-admission cover, not a cover for every doctor visit.

Who is eligible?

Eligibility is based on the government’s Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC 2011) lists and the state’s own additions, not on a form you fill today. Broadly, these families are included:

• Rural families living in one-room kutcha houses, families with no adult aged 16 to 59, SC/ST households, families with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult, and landless families who depend on casual manual labour.
• Urban families whose members work in jobs such as domestic work, street vending, construction, sanitation, rag-picking, driving, home-based work and similar occupations.
• Everyone aged 70 and above, through the Vay Vandana card, regardless of income (details below).

Some states add more groups or run their own health schemes next to PM-JAY, so the quickest check is to search your name on the official portal or call 14555.

Ayushman Vay Vandana card (age 70 and above)

• Every citizen aged 70 or above can enrol, whatever the family income.
• The senior gets cover of ₹5 lakh a year. If the family already has PM-JAY, the 70+ members get an additional top-up for themselves instead of sharing the family’s existing cover.
• People who are covered by CGHS, ECHS or the Central Armed Police Forces health schemes can keep that scheme or choose PM-JAY.
• People who have private health insurance or ESI can still enrol.

How to apply and download the card

You mainly need your Aadhaar number and the mobile number that receives OTPs. Some states also ask for extra proof, such as a ration card, to confirm the family.

1. Open beneficiary.nha.gov.in (or the Ayushman App) and log in with your mobile number and OTP.
2. Choose your state, scheme (PM-JAY) and district, then search by name, Aadhaar or family ID to see if you are listed.
3. If your family appears, start e-KYC for each member. This confirms identity with an Aadhaar OTP, fingerprint or face check.
4. For the Vay Vandana card, choose the senior-citizen enrolment option, enter the Aadhaar number, complete e-KYC and add a photo.
5. Once approved, download the card (PDF) from the same portal or app. Approval can take some time, so if it is not ready, try again later.

If you are not comfortable online, go to a nearby Common Service Centre (CSC) or the Ayushman Mitra desk at an empanelled hospital. They can create the card for you. The card should be free.

Using the card at a hospital

1. Choose an empanelled hospital. Find one on pmjay.gov.in (hospital search) or the Ayushman App. Private hospitals only accept the card if they are on the list.
2. Go to the Ayushman Mitra desk with the card (printed or on your phone) and a photo ID such as Aadhaar.
3. The hospital verifies your details, usually by scanning the QR code on the card.
4. For most procedures the hospital requests pre-authorisation from the scheme before treatment. In an emergency, treatment starts first and approval follows.
5. Treatment is cashless for covered care. Keep copies of discharge papers and bills.

Common problems and what to do

• Name not found on the portal. Try the Aadhaar or family ID search, check spelling in Hindi and English, or ask at a CSC. If your family truly is not listed, call 14555 and ask about your state’s own scheme.
• e-KYC fails. The name or date of birth on Aadhaar may differ from the record, or your mobile number may not be linked to Aadhaar. Fixing Aadhaar details first often solves it. See our Aadhaar guide.
• Hospital asks for money for covered treatment. Ask for the hospital’s Ayushman Mitra, then raise a complaint on 14555 if it continues.
• Card is not accepted. The hospital may not be empanelled for that procedure. Ask the Ayushman Mitra to check, or choose another listed hospital.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ayushman card the same as the ABHA health ID? No. The Ayushman card gives access to PM-JAY cover. The ABHA is a separate digital health ID used to link your health records. You do not need ABHA to get the Ayushman card.

Can I use the card in another state? PM-JAY is designed to be portable, so you can generally use it at empanelled hospitals across India. Confirm with the hospital before admission.

Do I have to pay anything to get the card? No. Be careful of anyone asking for a fee to “approve” your card.

Helpline: 14555. Official website: pmjay.gov.in.

Sources

• National Health Authority: Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY
• National Health Authority: beneficiary portal
• ClearTax: Ayushman card explained

Last checked: 27 October 2026. Eligibility lists, hospitals and state rules can change, so confirm with the official portal or the 14555 helpline before you act. This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice.