As Odisha joins Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, know key benefits of the scheme

On Monday, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Health Authority (NHA) to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

With this, Odisha became the 34th state to adopt the scheme, aimed at providing comprehensive healthcare coverage to its residents.

Incidentally, the Ayushman Bharat scheme will be integrated with the existing Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY) scheme in the state to provide accessible and complete healthcare insurance to over 3.5 crore families. 

Benefits of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

• Beneficiaries receive Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization at public and private empanelled hospitals across India.
• Women in Odisha will receive an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh.
• Cashless access to healthcare services, covering up to three days of pre-hospitalization expenses and 15 days of post-hospitalization costs, including diagnostics and medications.
• All pre-existing conditions are covered without any restrictions on family size, age, or gender.
• AB PM-JAY covers nearly 2,000 medical procedures across 27 specialties, major surgeries like bypass surgeries, and knee replacements, including medications, supplies, diagnostic services, physician fees, room charges, and surgery costs
• The scheme will ensure continuous medical care for senior citizens above 70 years and provide treatment at over 29,000 hospitals nationwide.

Speaking on these lines, CM Majhi announced on Tuesday that each panchayat will have an 'Ayushman Arogya Mandir,' equipped with necessary infrastructure, health workers, and yoga instructors.

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Meanwhile, since its inception, AB PM-JAY has seen 8.19 crore hospital admissions and spent Rs 1.13 lakh crore on healthcare for marginalized sections. The scheme has increased access to healthcare for cancer patients by 33% and improved early cancer diagnoses, particularly among women.