Ayushman Vay Vandana Completes Two Years: 23.46 Lakh Hospital Admissions Worth ₹5,668.80 Crore for Senior Citizens Aged 70+

Key facts

• Ayushman Vay Vandana, extending Ayushman Bharat-PM Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) benefits to all citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of socio-economic status, was launched by the Prime Minister on 29 October 2024 and completed two years on 29 October 2026.
• The scheme is implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and covers approximately 6 crore senior citizens from around 4.5 crore families.
• All senior citizens aged 70 years and above are eligible for health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
• Senior citizens aged 70 and above in families already covered under AB PM-JAY get an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year exclusively for themselves, separate from coverage of family members below 70 years.
• As on 20 October 2026, the scheme recorded 23.46 lakh authorised hospital admissions valued at ₹5,668.80 crore.
• Cataract surgery was the most frequently availed procedure with 4.71 lakh treatments (about 20.1% of authorised treatments), followed by chronic haemodialysis with about 2.90 lakh treatments.
• In authorised value, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) accounts for the largest share at approximately ₹649 crore.
• Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority.