Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has completed eight years since its launch, marking another major milestone in India’s publicly funded healthcare programme. Launched on September 23, 2018, the scheme was introduced to provide financial protection to eligible families against the cost of secondary and tertiary hospitalization.
According to the latest government figures, more than 60 crore people are covered under AB PM-JAY. The scheme provides health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for eligible hospitalization expenses.
Over 13 Crore Hospital Admissions Recorded
The programme has expanded significantly since its launch. As of August 31, 2026, AB PM-JAY had facilitated around 13.25 crore hospital admissions, with treatment worth approximately ₹2.03 lakh crore. These services are available through a network of more than 38,000 empaneled public and private hospitals across the country.
The scheme is designed to reduce the financial burden associated with major medical treatment, particularly for economically vulnerable households.
Coverage Expanded for Senior Citizens
One of the significant changes to Ayushman Bharat came in October 2024, when the government expanded AB PM-JAY to include all citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
The expansion is expected to bring approximately 6 crore senior citizens under the health assurance programme.
The scheme has also been expanded to include certain groups of frontline workers, including Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers.
Part of a Wider Ayushman Bharat Health Framework
AB PM-JAY is one of the major components of the broader Ayushman Bharat initiative. Other pillars include Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).
The government says Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have recorded more than 500 crore visits, strengthening access to primary healthcare at the community level.
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is also expanding India’s digital health infrastructure. As of September 1, 2026, more than 97.8 crore ABHA health accounts had been created and over 121 crore health records had been linked to the digital health ecosystem.
Eight Years of Ayushman Bharat
The eight-year milestone comes as India continues to focus on expanding healthcare access and reducing the financial pressure of medical treatment. With its wider beneficiary base, increased hospital network and expanded eligibility for senior citizens, AB PM-JAY remains an important part of India’s public health coverage system.
As the programme enters its ninth year, its implementation and continued expansion will remain closely linked to India’s broader efforts toward accessible and affordable healthcare.
