Govt Schemes May 12, 2026 10 min read

Ayushman Bharat Card Apply Online 2026 – Eligibility, Benefits & Step-by-Step PMJAY Guide

Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is the world's largest publicly funded health insurance scheme. With over 35 crore Ayushman cards issued and a free hospitalisation cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year, the scheme has saved lakhs of Indian families from crushing medical bills. In 2024-25 the scheme was extended to all senior citizens above 70 years, and the digital application has become extremely simple. Here's the complete 2026 guide to applying online, checking eligibility, downloading your card and using it at hospitals.

What is Ayushman Bharat PMJAY?

Launched on 23 September 2018, AB-PMJAY provides cashless and paperless treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year at empanelled public and private hospitals across India. The scheme covers pre-hospitalisation up to 3 days, hospitalisation (1,949 medical procedures including surgery, ICU, cancer, cardiac care), and post-hospitalisation up to 15 days including medicines and diagnostics.

₹5 Lakh Cover – What's Included & Excluded

Included	Not Covered
1,949 medical & surgical packages	OPD (only inpatient is covered)
ICU, ventilator, post-op care	Cosmetic surgery
Cardiac, oncology, neurology, urology	Drug rehabilitation
Maternity, newborn care	Fertility treatments
Diagnostics within 3 days pre + 15 days post	Organ transplant (some states allow)
Mental health treatment (inpatient)	Personal comforts in deluxe rooms
Pre-existing conditions from day 1	Treatment outside India

There is no waiting period, no age limit and no premium. The entire cost is paid by the government.

Who Is Eligible for Ayushman Bharat in 2026?

Eligibility is based on the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 database for rural and urban deprivation criteria. Categories include:

Households living in kutcha houses (one room with kutcha walls and roof)
Families with no adult between 16-59 years
Female-headed households with no adult male earner
SC/ST households, manual scavengers, primitive tribal groups
Landless labourers who earn a major part of income from manual casual labour
Beggars, destitute, transgender persons
Urban workers in 11 specified occupations — ragpickers, domestic workers, street vendors, construction workers, sanitation workers, washermen, drivers, electricians, etc.

2024 expansion: All citizens aged 70+ years are now covered under Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana, irrespective of income, with a top-up of ₹5 lakh.

Documents Required

Aadhaar card (mandatory)
Ration card
Mobile number linked to Aadhaar
Address proof
For 70+ scheme: Aadhaar of senior citizen only

How to Check Eligibility (3 Methods)

Online: Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in → Enter mobile number → OTP → Choose scheme → State → Search by Aadhaar / ration card / family ID.
Call: 14555 toll-free PMJAY helpline.
Visit: Nearest CSC (Common Service Centre) or empanelled hospital's Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitra desk.

Step-by-Step Online Application

Open beneficiary.nha.gov.in on browser or download "Ayushman App" from Play Store.
Login as "Beneficiary" using mobile number → OTP.
Select State, Scheme (PMJAY) and search method (Aadhaar / family ID / location).
Click "e-KYC" against your name → choose Aadhaar OTP / fingerprint / face authentication.
Upload live photo, confirm details, submit consent.
Wait for approval (instant in most cases; within 24 hours in others).
Download your Ayushman Card PDF once approved.

How to Download Your Ayushman Card

Login at beneficiary.nha.gov.in with mobile + OTP.
Choose State and Scheme.
Find your name → click "Download Card" icon.
Verify with Aadhaar OTP → save PDF or print.

Carry the card (digital or physical) along with Aadhaar when visiting an empanelled hospital.

How to Find Empanelled Hospitals

Visit hospitals.pmjay.gov.in → Select state, district, hospital type (public/private), specialty. The portal lists over 30,000 empanelled hospitals with addresses and contact details. Look for the green Ayushman Bharat logo at the hospital entrance.

Ayushman Bharat Card vs ABHA Health ID — Don't Confuse Them

Feature	Ayushman Bharat Card (PMJAY)	ABHA Health ID
Purpose	Free ₹5L hospitalisation cover	Digital health record locker
Eligibility	SECC list / 70+ seniors	Any Indian citizen
Cost	Free	Free
Issued by	NHA under PMJAY	ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission)
Use	Show at hospitals for cashless treatment	Share health records securely with doctors

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ayushman Bharat card free?▼

Yes — applying for and using the Ayushman Bharat card is completely free. There is no application fee, no premium, no annual renewal cost. The entire ₹5 lakh per family per year cover is funded by the Government of India and state governments (60:40 ratio in most states). Do not pay anyone who claims to "process" or "fast-track" your card — this is a scam. The only legitimate channels are beneficiary.nha.gov.in, the Ayushman App, the 14555 helpline, and CSC centres.

Can I get an Ayushman Bharat card if my name is not in SECC 2011?▼

For the main PMJAY scheme, eligibility is strictly based on SECC 2011 data and additional state-specific schemes (e.g., Chiranjeevi Yojana in Rajasthan, KASP in Karnataka). If your name is not in the list, you usually cannot get PMJAY. But the 2024 expansion now covers all senior citizens above 70 years irrespective of income — they automatically qualify for a separate ₹5 lakh cover under Ayushman Vay Vandana. Some states like Delhi, Punjab, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have not implemented PMJAY fully; they have their own state schemes.

Can I use the Ayushman card in a different state?▼

Yes. The Ayushman Bharat card is portable across India — you can use it in any empanelled hospital in any state, regardless of your home state. This is especially useful for migrant workers and for patients who travel to bigger cities for specialised treatment (oncology, cardiac surgery). The hospital will verify your card via the BIS portal using Aadhaar OTP/biometric authentication and provide cashless treatment under your eligible cover.

Can I add new family members later?▼

Yes. The Ayushman Bharat scheme has no cap on family size. If a new child is born or a new spouse joins through marriage, you can add them by visiting a CSC centre or the local PMAM (Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitra) with proof of relationship (birth certificate / marriage certificate) and the parent/spouse's existing Ayushman card. Upload Aadhaar of the new member and a recent photo. Approval is typically given within 7-15 days. Newly added members get the full ₹5 lakh family cover with no waiting period.

What is the toll-free helpline if my card application is stuck?▼

Call the official PMJAY helpline at 14555 or 1800-111-565, available 24x7 in Hindi, English and major regional languages. You can also email at webmaster-pmjay@nha.gov.in. For grievances, register a complaint on the Centralised Grievance Redressal Management System (CGRMS) at cgrms.pmjay.gov.in. Most stuck applications are resolved within 48 hours. Keep your application reference number and registered mobile number ready when calling.