What does the Ayushman Bharat Yojana provide to eligible citizens?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer: Health insurance coverage
Explanation
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a flagship national health insurance scheme launched by the Government of India in September 2018. It is recognized as one of the largest government-funded healthcare programs in the world, designed specifically to provide financial protection against catastrophic health expenditures for poor, vulnerable, and economically deprived families.
The scheme provides a health insurance coverage of ₹5 Lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. Beneficiaries can access these services through a completely cashless and paperless mechanism at all empaneled public and private hospitals across the country. It covers a vast range of medical expenses, including up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization costs, diagnostic procedures, medicines, and intensive care treatments.
Key Points
The identification of eligible beneficiaries for the scheme is primarily based on the deprivation and occupational criteria listed in the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC-2011) for both rural and urban areas.
There is no restriction on family size, age, or gender under the scheme, which ensures that senior citizens, women, and children are fully covered without exclusion.
The overarching Ayushman Bharat initiative is built on two interlinked pillars: the establishment of Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) to deliver comprehensive primary healthcare, and the PM-JAY health insurance cover for specialized hospital treatments.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which national nodal agency is responsible for the overall operational implementation and data management of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme across India?
Answer: The National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing the scheme.
Question: Are pre-existing medical diseases covered under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance policy from day one of enrollment?
Answer: Yes, all pre-existing conditions are covered from the very first day a beneficiary becomes part of the scheme, with no waiting period.