Ayushman Bharat, the premier health insurance program of the Narendra Modi administration, is expected to formally include those aged 70 and beyond in the budget, which is much anticipated.
Originally detailed in PM Modi's election manifesto, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) was later proclaimed by President Droupadi Murmu to cover those who are seventy-years of age and above.
Now, the National Health Authority, a branch of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is in charge of formally announcing and carrying out the program.
Praised to be the largest publicly supported health insurance program globally, PM-JAY provides coverage to around 55 crore low-income people, or over 40% of India's total population. The program provides coverage for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization at both public and private healthcare providers up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year.
Even though the program was heavily used as a political weapon, its core ideas found it difficult to hold up. As a result, the Union government established a group in March to assess the plan, look into its creation and execution, and recommend changes. Two government sources who are aware of the process said that the panel has submitted its findings to NHA and that states are currently debating it.
"The plan could not support the weight of growth in its existing configuration. The study makes a number of changes and recommendations. One of the executives told News18, "We have talked about about a dozen models to include the additional elderly base."
At least on paper, the Modi government's program is expected to cover 50% of the population with the addition of a new group of beneficiaries, who together account for around 10% of India's entire population.
Additionally, the Center oversees a number of other health insurance programs, which together insure 10% more of the population. These programs include the Employee State Insurance (ESI), the Ex-Serviceman Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). The extension of health insurance coverage to three-fifths, or 60%, of the country's population is the result of the Modi government's efforts.
