Two years after it was launched, the Ayushman health cover for every Indian aged 70 and above has paid for 23.46 lakh hospital admissions worth ₹5,668.80 crore, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on 29 October.
Ayushman Vay Vandana was launched on 29 October 2024. It extends Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to all citizens aged 70 and above, whatever their income. The National Health Authority runs it.
Who is covered, and for how much
- Every senior citizen aged 70 or above can get cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospital care.
- Seniors in families already covered by AB PM-JAY get an extra top-up of up to ₹5 lakh a year for themselves alone, separate from the cover for younger family members.
- The ministry says the scheme can reach about 6 crore senior citizens in about 4.5 crore families.
What the money has been spent on
The figures are as of 20 October 2026:
- Cataract surgery is the most common treatment, with 4.71 lakh procedures, about 20.1% of all authorised treatments.
- Chronic haemodialysis comes next, with about 2.90 lakh treatments for kidney patients.
- Coronary angioplasty (PTCA) takes the largest share of money, about ₹649 crore.
Other common treatments include total knee replacement and care for flare-ups of chronic lung disease (COPD), fever and acute kidney illness.
Why it matters
Hospital bills are one of the biggest financial risks for elderly people. The ministry says the high number of cataract operations shows the scheme is meeting a long-standing gap in eye care for older people.
The release does not say how many of the eligible 6 crore seniors have enrolled so far.
Source: official release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (29 OCT 2026 3:33PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: Advancing Universal and Inclusive Senior Care: Ayushman Vay Vandana Marks Two Years of Transforming Healthcare for Elderly Citizens.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2330009) issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 29 OCT 2026 3:33PM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.Advancing Universal and Inclusive Senior Care: Ayushman Vay Vandana Marks Two Years of Transforming Healthcare for Elderly Citizens — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
