New Delhi: The Union government has approved health coverage for all citizens aged 70 and above under the Ayushman Bharat national insurance scheme.

According to a statement from the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) will provide benefits to 4.5 crore families, including six crore senior citizens.

The coverage, worth Rs 5 lakh, will be provided on a family basis at no cost.

"With this approval, all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above irrespective of their socio- economic status would be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY. The eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under AB PM-JAY," the government said in the statement.

Senior citizens aged 70 and above from families already covered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) will receive an additional top-up health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year, which is exclusively for them and not shared with other family members below the age of 70, according to the government.

Those who are currently benefiting from other public health insurance schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) may choose to remain with their existing plan or opt for AB PM-JAY.

Meanwhile, senior citizens aged 70 and above with private health insurance or under the Employees' State Insurance Scheme will also be eligible for benefits under AB PM-JAY.

The AB PM-JAY is the world's largest publicly funded health assurance program, providing Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary hospital care to 55 crore people, or about 12.34 crore families.

All members of eligible families are covered regardless of age, and the scheme has so far facilitated 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with women beneficiaries making up 49 percent.

The public has benefited to the tune of over Rs 1 lakh crore through the scheme.

The expansion to cover senior citizens aged 70 and above was announced by Prime Minister Modi in April.

The government noted that the scheme has been progressively expanding its beneficiary base, initially covering 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, or the bottom 40 percent of India's population.

In January 2022, the base was expanded to 12 crore families, considering India's decadal population growth of 11.7 percent since 2011.

The scheme was later extended to cover 37 lakh ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), and their families for free healthcare.

Now, AB PM-JAY will provide free healthcare coverage of Rs 5 lakh to all citizens aged 70 and above nationwide.