AB PM-JAY and ABHA health cards

Context

Following the extension of the AB PM-JAY health insurance scheme to all senior citizens, there is some amount of confusion over which card to apply for (AB PM-JAY or ABHA health cards).

What is AB-PMJAY?

Launched in: 2018
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan MantriJan ArogyaYojana (AB PM-JAY) is Central Government’s flagship health insurance scheme.
The scheme (earlier called the National Health Protection Scheme) is touted as the largest health assurance scheme in the world, and offers Rs5 lakh insurance coverage to a family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation in any government hospital or at any empanelled private hospital across the country.
The scheme targeted over 12 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries) that form the bottom 40% of the Indian population.
Extension (Ayushman Bharat VayVandana):In September this year, the Centre announced that the scheme would now be extended to all senior citizensaged 70 and above, irrespective of their income status. This extended scheme is known as the Ayushman Bharat VayVandana, and is part of the PM-JAY scheme.
- This was to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families, with six crore senior citizens, with Rs5 lakh free health insurance cover on a family basis.
- All senior citizens of the age 70 and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, are eligible to avail of this.
- A separate beneficiary card (orange and white) is given to beneficiaries of AB-VayVandana.

What is the ABHA card?

The ABHA card (a blue and white card) is not a health insurance card but a digital health account to store medical records.
It includes a 14-digit Health ID linked to a digital account where health information is stored such medical history, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
Usage: It is used to access and share medical records digitally across various healthcare services in India.
The Correct Process:
- To avail health insurance coverage under the AB PM-JAY scheme, seniors must apply for the AB PM-JAY health insurance card, which provides up to Rs5 lakh coverage.
- The ABHA card, which is a digital medical account, is helpful for storing and sharing medical records but does not offer insurance or cashless treatment at hospitals.

The AB PM-JAY card is health insurance card (for cashless treatment).The ABHA card is digital health ID (to store and access medical records).

Parameters	AB PM-JAY Card	ABHA Card
Purpose	Health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh per year for a family.	A digital repository that provides access to all health records.
Eligibility	Designed initially as a scheme for poor and vulnerable families. Now extended to all senior citizens over 70 irrespective of income status	Available to all Indian citizens, irrespective of income status.
Benefits	Provides cashless hospitalisation and health insurance coverage to the extent of Rs. 5 lakh per year, per family	Provides a unique 14-digit identification number and a dedicated email address for access to digitally-stored medical records