Ayushman Card: Your Gateway to Affordable Healthcare in India

What is an Ayushman Card?

The Ayushman Bharat Health Card (PMJAY card) is the government issued card under the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY scheme, under the management of the National Health Authority (NHA). The card is one that can be used to avail cashless and paperless medical facilities from any hospital that is associated with the scheme in any part of India. One card can cater to the whole family and is pan-India. Until June 2026, the scheme has reached 100% full pan-India coverage across all States and Union Territories.

Ayushman Bharat Card- Key Highlights

Benefits of the Ayushman Card

The Ayushman Card delivers far more than just a monetary health cover. Here is what beneficiaries actually gain:

• Financial Security- With secondary and tertiary hospitalization risk protection of up to 5 lakh per family per year. This prevents the catastrophic out of pocket spending, which causes almost 70% of the poverty in poor families.
• No Premiums- Beneficiaries don’t have to pay even a single rupee of premium; the central and state government pays for you.
• Pre-hospitalization care- Up to 3 days before hospitalization for related treatments, medications, diagnostic tests.
• Post-hospitalization Care- Up to 15 days after hospitalization for follow-ups, medicines, diagnostic tests.
• All Pre-existing diseases covered- provided from the day one and no waiting periods.
• Portability- Ayushman card is portable across India, a Rajasthan card works in Tamil Nadu. No need to reapply on migration for work.
• 1900+ treatment packages- All major surgeries, and medical treatments, from cancer and cardiac surgeries to dialysis, organ transplantation, orthopedic care, mental health care and beyond.
• No Family size Cap- Unlike other plans, no restrictions on the number of family members.
• Ayushman Mitra Support- Dedicated on-site Ayushman Mitra (a patient assistant) to help in the admission process and discharge at the empanelled hospitals.

Ayushman Card vs Other Health Insurance- Key Differences

The Ayushman Card is not a replacement for private health insurance for those who can afford it, instead it is a safety net for those who cannot. Senior citizens and PMJAY beneficiaries who also hold private insurance can use both, as the schemes are not mutually exclusive.

Who is Eligible for the Ayushman Card?

Eligibility for Ayushman card is primarily through Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 database and the National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiary list. Furthermore, State governments are allowed to add other categories.

• Rural households:The households in a rural area that meet any of the following deprivation criteria, are eligible, namely no permanent shelter, scheduled caste/tribe households, households with a disabled member as the only breadwinner, households with no adult member aged 16-59.
• Urban occupational categories: Urban occupations included domestic workers, construction labourers, plumbers, painters, security guards, rag pickers, street vendors, sanitation workers and others in similar low-paid occupations.
• Senior Citizens: All Indian citizens aged 70 and above are universally eligible, regardless of income or socio-economic status, under the newly expanded Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.
  • Seniors in families already covered under PMJAY receive an exclusive, separate additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year just for themselves.
  • Seniors not part of an existing PMJAY family receive a standard ₹5 lakh cover on a family basis to share with other members aged 70+ in the household.

• Ayushman card income limit: Income is not the only eligibility criterion in the case of the general category, it is based on the deprivation parameters in the SECC. But, there's no income cap for senior citizens.

You can check the eligibility of the Ayushman card by visiting the PMJAY portal (pmjay.gov.in), tap on Am I Eligible and fill in your mobile number and Aadhaar information.

How to Apply for the Ayushman Card

Ayushman cards are both online and offline. Please keep in mind that if your name already exists on SECC/NFSA's database you do not have to “apply” in the traditional sense. To download a card, only e-KYC is required. Those who are not in the database for enrollment should attend State Health Agencies or local Ration Offices, and fill out their information manually.

Through CSC Centres

• Use the Common Service Centre (CSC) locator available at csc.gov.in to find the nearest CSC.
• Bring Aadhaar Card along with a cell phone number associated with Aadhaar.
• Request for Ayushman Bharat Card registration and then provide the required documents (Aadhaar Card, Ration Card or Family ID, Photograph).
• Authorised CSC operators will make sure that details provided by you are matched from the PMJAY database and e-KYC will be started.
• After the approval, pick up the printed Ayushman Card at the CSC within a few days or download the Ayushman Card from the CSC website.

Through Empanelled Hospitals

• Go to any hospital which is enrolled in PMJAY. The list can be obtained from the official website.
• Go to the help desk of Ayushman Mitra at the hospital entrance.
• Provide your Aadhaar Card and beneficiary information (PMJAY ID, Family ID or Ration Card).
• On-the-spot 100% authentication with Aadhaar is done.
• The card will be issued by the Ayushman Mitra for the eligible beneficiaries. This is particularly helpful to the patient if immediate treatment is necessary.

How to Apply for an Ayushman Card Online?

If you have already been registered in the PMJAY beneficiaries database, you don't need to register online. The online process is different for both new users and existing users in the database.

In case you are a new user (not registered on the PMJAY system):

• Go to the national portal of SETU at setu.pmjay.gov.in.
• To register for a new user account, click the 'Register' button.
• Enter all the required information (State, District, Mobile Number, Name, Gender, and Date of Birth) and press 'Submit'.
• Provide the Aadhaar OTP received on your registered mobile number to verify.
• After registration, look up your name in the PMJAY beneficiary database using your Aadhaar number, Family ID or Ration Card information.
• Fill e-KYC with Aadhaar OTP, fingerprint, face or Iris scan.
• Make the request and await approval from the competent authority.
• Once approved, click on ‘Download Ayushman Card’ and enter the details such as state, aadhaar number, verify with OTP, then click ‘Download’ to download your Ayushman Card.

If your name is already in the PMJAY/SECC database:

• Go to the beneficiary portal on nha.gov.in.
• Use the mobile number registered with the firm and OTP received to log in.
• Choose your State, Sub-scheme (PMJAY) and District.
• Search your name by using Aadhaar number, PMJAY ID, Family ID or by name.
• Click on ‘Do e-KYC’ beside your name.
• Choose ‘Aadhaar OTP' to sign and click ‘Verify'.
• Fill in Aadhaar OTP and Mobile OTP.
• Once verified successfully click on 'Download Card' to save your Ayushman Card.

Don't know what flow applies to you? Go to pmjay.gov.in, click on Am I Eligible and fill in the mobile number and Aadhaar numbers. If your name does not appear, use the beneficiary delivery flow. If it doesn't, use the SETU registration flow.

How to Apply for an Ayushman Card for Senior Citizens?

Senior citizens of age 70 and above are given a single enrollment procedure under Ayushman Vay Vandana Card scheme:

• Go to the website pmjay.gov.in and click on ‘Am I Eligible' from the main menu.
• Enter your mobile number, captcha and OTP to login.
• Click on 'Click Here to Enroll'.
• Fill in the Aadhaar number and captcha code and click on ‘Search’.
• Click on ‘Click Here for fresh enrollment of 70+’ link.
• Select 'Aadhaar OTP' for e-KYC and click ‘Verify’.
• Enter Aadhaar OTP and mobile OTP.Fill in Aadhaar OTP and mobile OTP.
• If you are already a beneficiary of another plan, specify this and click 'Proceed'.
• When asked, take a photo of a live entity.
• If applicable, enter family member information, and click 'Submit'. The card will be downloaded once it has been processed and the enrollment is complete.

Call 1800-110-770 (Ayushman Vay Vandana Support) for support for senior citizens.

Documents Required for Ayushman Card

Document requirements may vary by state and beneficiary category. Typically, the following may be needed:

• Aadhaar Card (mandatory for e-KYC)
• Aadhaar-linked mobile number for OTP
• Ration Card or Family ID for beneficiary verification
• Passport-size photograph
• Income certificate (state-specific cases)
• Caste certificate (where applicable)
• PAN Card or alternate ID proof
• Family relationship proof for family-based registration
• RSBY URN or state-specific beneficiary documents (if applicable)

Practical tip: Ensure your mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar before visiting. If it is not, visit the nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra to update it, otherwise OTP-based verification will fail.

How to Check Ayushman Card Status Online?

Follow these steps to perform an Ayushman card check online:

• Go to pmjay.gov.in and click 'Am I Eligible'.
• Enter your mobile number, captcha, and OTP to log in.
• Select your State, Sub-scheme (PMJAY), District, and preferred search method (Aadhaar, PMJAY ID, name, etc.).
• Click 'Search'.
• If your name appears, the card status will be displayed:
• 'Do e-KYC' button- e-KYC pending; complete authentication to download the card.
• 'Download Card' button- e-KYC complete; card is ready to download.
• Name not found- You may not be in the eligible database. Contact your local Ration Office or State Health Agency.

How to Download Ayushman Card 2026

The process of downloading the Ayushman card is fast after completing e-KYC:

• Go to the beneficiary.nha.gov.in website and enter your mobile OTP.
• Use Aadhaar number, PMJAY ID or Family ID to search for your name.
• Click on the 'Download Card' link beside your name.
• If asked to complete Aadhaar OTP authentication, please do it.
• Save the Ayushman Card PDF to your device.

Download the Ayushman App from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, log in, complete e-KYC and download the Ayushman card PDF right from the app directly by mobile number. This card is a digitally signed PDF, and will be just as accepted as a physical card at any hospital that has been empanelled. It can even be shared as a PDF or displayed on a mobile screen.

Ayushman Card Helpline Numbers

Helplines are available for queries related to registration, card download, hospital treatment, claim status, and grievance redressal.

How to Use the Ayushman Card

The procedure of using the Ayushman Card in hospital is very simple:

• Locate an empanelled hospital: Visit the list of hospitals on hospitals pmjay.gov.in or dial 14555. Thousands of public and private hospitals across the country are part of the hospital list in the Ayushman card.
• Drop the card at the Ayushman Mitra help desk: Present the Ayushman Card (digital or print) with an ID proof preferably Aadhaar at the help desk.
• Biometric verification: Identity will be verified by Ayushman Mitra with the help of PMJAY system through fingerprint or OTP.
• On admission, cashless treatment: It means that treatment begins with cashless admission when it is verified. No direct cost to the hospital for covered procedures.
• Treatment completion: All bills are paid directly from insurance company/government to hospital. There may be documents to sign when you are discharged.
• Cover for medicines and follow-up consultations: Covered for up to 15 days after discharge.

Important: Always demand treatment under PMJAY and make sure that the hospital raises a PMJAY claim. Never pay cash and ask for a refund later, the idea is that this isn't a scheme that requires cash payment and later reimbursement.

What Treatment & Diseases are Covered Under Ayushman Card

The Ayushman Card covers over 1,929 treatment packages across secondary and tertiary care. Key categories include:

• Cardiac care: Bypass surgery, valve replacement, angioplasty.
• Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation, surgical oncology.
• Orthopaedics: Joint replacement, fracture management, spine surgeries.
• Neurology: Brain surgeries, stroke management.
• Renal care: Dialysis, kidney transplant.
• Maternity & newborn care: Normal and caesarean delivery, neonatal ICU.
• Ophthalmology: Cataract surgery, retinal procedures.
• Mental health: Inpatient psychiatric care packages.
• Burns & trauma: Emergency and reconstructive procedures.
• Oral health: Selected dental procedures under specific packages.

The treatment process is cashless while availing Ayushman card treatment, the hospital directly bills the insurer/govt. All pre-existing diseases, day care procedures and ICU stays are covered. Usually not covered by insurance are cosmetic surgery, OPD consultations, and medicine purchases without hospitalisation.

Ayushman Card Hospital List Near Me- Empanelled Hospital List

The Ayushman card hospital list includes over 29,000 empanelled public and private hospitals across India. To find a hospital near you, visit hospitals.pmjay.gov.in or call 14555.

Some well-known empanelled hospitals include:

• AIIMS New Delhi
• Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
• Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
• Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai
• NIMHANS, Bengaluru
• PGIMER, Chandigarh
• King George's Medical University, Lucknow
• Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad
• SSKM Hospital, Kolkata
• Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur

Apart from these there are thousand other hospitals across all states and Union Territories of India. Always confirm empanelment status on the official portal before visiting, as the list is updated periodically.

Ayushman Card Renewal – Do You Need to Renew

No. There is no expiry date or an annual renewal of the Ayushman Card. After issuance and e-KYC completion, the card will be valid for as long as the beneficiary is enrolled in the eligible database.

If there is a change in the family composition (such as new members added to your family, change in address etc.) or if your Aadhaar details are updated, it is recommended to visit the CSC or PMJAY portal to update beneficiary records. The senior citizens who are enrolled under Ayushman Vay Vandana Card also get lifetime validity without paying any renewal fees.