Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card: Eligibility, Benefits and How to Apply
Every Indian aged 70 or above can get free hospital treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh a year under Ayushman Bharat, whatever their income. To use it, they need the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card. The government launched the card on 29 October 2024. As of 21 September 2026, about 1.36 crore senior citizens had enrolled, according to the Press Information Bureau. This guide explains who is eligible, what it covers, and how to apply online or at a hospital.
What is the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card?
The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card is the health card for senior citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). Before October 2024, PM-JAY covered only families chosen on socio-economic criteria. The expansion opened it to all seniors aged 70 or above, regardless of income. The government estimated this would benefit about 6 crore senior citizens in about 4.5 crore families.
The card is run by the National Health Authority (NHA). It gives cashless and paperless treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals across the country.
Key benefits
- Cover of up to Rs 5 lakh a year on a family basis, for secondary and tertiary hospital care.
- No income test. Age is the only eligibility condition.
- Top-up for existing PM-JAY families. If a senior already belongs to a PM-JAY family, they get an additional top-up of up to Rs 5 lakh a year for themselves alone. They do not share it with younger family members.
- Cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals, with no premium to pay.
- Portable across India. The card can be used at empanelled hospitals in any participating state.
Who is eligible?
You are eligible if you are an Indian citizen aged 70 or above. Age is checked against your Aadhaar. There is no income limit, and having private health insurance does not disqualify you.
Seniors already covered by other public health schemes, such as CGHS, ECHS or CAPF schemes, have to choose. They can either stay with their existing scheme or opt for AB PM-JAY. They cannot use both together. Seniors with private insurance or ESIC cover can enrol in PM-JAY. Before switching from CGHS, compare the outpatient and medicine benefits you may lose. PM-JAY mainly covers hospitalisation.
How to apply for the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card
Option 1: Ayushman app or website
- Download the Ayushman app from the Play Store or App Store, or visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
- Log in with the senior citizen’s mobile number and OTP.
- Choose the option to enrol for Ayushman Vaya Vandana / 70+ and enter the Aadhaar number.
- Complete Aadhaar eKYC with an OTP or face authentication.
- Add a recent photograph and the required details, then submit.
- After approval, download the card from the app.
Option 2: In person
Go to a Common Service Centre (CSC) or an Ayushman Mitra desk at any empanelled hospital. Carry the senior citizen’s Aadhaar card and a mobile number linked to it. The operator completes eKYC and enrols you. Family members can help, but the senior’s Aadhaar authentication is needed.
Enrolment is free. For help, call the national helpline 14555.
What treatment is covered?
PM-JAY covers hospital stays and day-care procedures under a fixed list of health benefit packages. In February 2026, PIB reported 1,961 procedures across 27 specialities. They include cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology, neurosurgery, urology and general medicine. Pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses linked to a covered treatment, medicines, diagnostics and room charges are included under the package rates.
On 29 October 2026, the second anniversary of the scheme, PIB said that as of 20 October 2026 there had been about 23.46 lakh hospital admissions worth Rs 5,668.80 crore under the 70+ scheme. Cardiac treatment alone accounted for more than Rs 649 crore. As of 28 February 2026, there were 36,229 empanelled hospitals, made up of 19,483 public and 16,746 private hospitals.
Outpatient consultations and medicines bought outside a hospital stay are generally not covered. Not every hospital offers every speciality, so check before you go.
How to find an empanelled hospital
Use the hospital search on the Ayushman app or the PM-JAY website. Filter by state, district and speciality. At the hospital, ask for the Ayushman Mitra desk, show the card or give the Aadhaar number, and the hospital will check eligibility and pre-authorise treatment.
Tips for families
- Enrol before an emergency. eKYC takes a few minutes, but it is much easier when nobody is unwell.
- Keep the card and Aadhaar copy with the senior’s medical file.
- If a hospital asks for payment for a covered procedure, call 14555 or file a grievance through the Ayushman app.
- Remember that the Rs 5 lakh limit is per year. Plan large elective procedures with this in mind.
Seniors who draw a pension should also submit their life certificate for 2026 on time. Families supporting older relatives can read how the NSAP pension changes affect them, and our round-up of new government schemes for seniors and families in 2026 lists other benefits. Older people are also frequent targets of fraud, so read our guide to the digital arrest scam. Never share an OTP with a caller claiming to be from Ayushman Bharat.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card?
Any Indian citizen aged 70 or above, regardless of income.
How much cover does it give?
Up to Rs 5 lakh a year on a family basis. Seniors in existing PM-JAY families get an additional top-up of up to Rs 5 lakh for themselves.
Is there any fee to apply?
No. Enrolment and treatment for covered procedures at empanelled hospitals are free.
What documents are needed?
The senior citizen’s Aadhaar card, for eKYC. A mobile number helps with OTP verification.
Can CGHS pensioners get the card?
They must choose between continuing with CGHS or switching to AB PM-JAY. They cannot use both.
Where can I get help?
Call the toll-free helpline 14555 or visit a CSC or an empanelled hospital’s Ayushman Mitra desk.
Sources: PIB releases on the Ayushman Vaya Vandana scheme (29 October 2026, September 2026, empanelment data), and the NHA beneficiary portal.
Featured image: Ministry of Defence, Government of India / Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India.
