How to Buy PM Insurance Scheme for Senior Citizens?

India has seen many phases in the development of its healthcare system. From the downfall to rapid development, it has seen it all. The unexpected health emergencies and the huge population made the country rethink its healthcare system. Several reforms for the benefit of the public were introduced at different times. The PM insurance scheme is one of these schemes that were launched with the motive of expanding the reach of medical care to the wide population that this country holds.

This blog will discuss the pm insurance scheme and how to buy a PM insurance scheme for senior citizens.

What is the PM Insurance Scheme?

Under the Ayushman Bharat flagship campaign, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(PM-JAY) was launched to provide more inclusive healthcare to the public. Ayushman Bharat aimed at achieving sustainable goals while also aiding the public to access medical care with ease.

The Ayushman Bharat has two components, namely

• Health and Wellness Centres
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ( PM-JAY)

The health and wellness centres are aimed at providing primary health care and also catering to the medical emergencies of the public.

The PM-JAY was a revolutionary step. It increased the healthcare standard in India at a manifold level. Here is why:

• Covers people belonging to all backgrounds
• Covers post and pre-hospitalisation expenses
• Expense coverage for examinations, diagnosis, medicines, food services, and room rent
• Coverage for specific pre-existing diseases as well

The PM-JAY paved the way for those people to get health insurance who could not afford expensive health policies provided by private insurers. It made something as vital as health insurance available to all.

Why is Getting Insurance for Senior Citizens More Important?

While health insurance is essential in any individual’s life, it is even more so for senior citizens. There are many reasons for this:

• They are more prone to medical emergencies.
• There are often more pre-existing diseases in senior citizens.
• Senior citizens have often had to face severe consequences due to not having coverage for their medical needs
• They require more treatments, regular health checkups, and medicines.

How to Buy PM Insurance For Senior Citizens?

PM insurance has made life easy for people of all ages and, most of all, senior citizens. The different features it offers have upgraded the health standards of the larger public.

A few salient features of the PM-JAY are:

• It offers a cashless expense coverage of about 5 lakhs per family. The coverage is provided for both secondary and tertiary care.
• The PM-JAY provides coverage for pre-existing illnesses from day one of the policy.
• The beneficiaries can avail of the scheme free of cost. The central and state governments share the premium cost in the ratio of 60%:40%
• The largest Universal health coverage scheme (UHC) and the largest government-funded medical scheme is PM-JAY.
• It has provided benefits to about 50 crore beneficiaries or 10.74 crore poor families.

Here’s how you can buy PM insurance for senior citizens:

• Firstly, you can call the common service centre to check if you are eligible for the scheme or not. You can access the helpline number 14555 or 1800111565. You could also visit their official PM-JAY website.
• The PM-JAY scheme is available for all those who are identified under the SECC 2011 list and also those who were enrolled under the RSBY scheme.
• You would need to go to the official website, and after checking that you are eligible, you need to enter all your details.
• You would need to submit the following documents for enrolling - A certified document for your identification, contact details, a caste certificate, an income certificate, and a document exhibiting the current family status.
• You can download your Ayushman Bharat Yojana card on the official website of Ayushman Bharat Yojana. It is offered to every family availing the service.
• For claiming PM-JAY, you need to be aware of the empanelled hospitals that you can approach in the case of an emergency and then present your Ayushman Bharat card to avail yourself of the services.

The PM-JAY scheme has proved to be beneficial for the country in many ways. In the devastating time of the pandemic, the facilities under Ayushman Bharat came to help many and save underprivileged people from the unprecedented financial burden.

FAQ

What is the PM-JAY scheme all about?

PM-JAY is a government health scheme that provides free hospitalisation cover of up to 5 lakhs per family per year. It helps economically weaker people access secondary and tertiary medical care.

How many families benefit from this scheme?

The scheme currently covers over 10 crore families across India. That includes nearly 50 crore individuals, making it the largest publicly funded healthcare scheme in the world.

Can everyone in India avail of the scheme?

No, PM-JAY benefits are available only to those listed in the SECC 2011 data or who have previously enrolled in the RSBY scheme. You must confirm your eligibility before submitting your application.

Is the scheme completely free for beneficiaries?

Yes, beneficiaries do not have to pay anything for the policy. The premium cost is shared by central and state governments in a fixed ratio, making it totally cashless for the public.

Does PM-JAY cover pre-existing illnesses?

Yes, from the day of policy activation, PM-JAY covers pre-existing illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, or heart conditions. This makes it ideal for elderly people with chronic health issues.

Are regular health check-ups included under this scheme?

Though not specifically listed, several empanelled hospitals under PM-JAY do offer follow-up consultations and tests after hospitalisation. These fall under post-hospitalisation benefits, depending on the condition and treatment.

Can senior citizens get Ayushman Bharat cards easily?

Yes, senior citizens can check their eligibility and enrol online. After submission of the required documents, the Ayushman Bharat card is generated and can be used at partner hospitals.