As per PTI report, President Droupadi Murmu announced that citizens aged above 70 will now get free medical treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. She made this announcement during her speech to Parliament. Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) already provides free healthcare to 55 crore people, giving extensive coverage across the country.

Ayushman Bharat Scheme: The Largest Publicly Funded Health Insurance Program

The Ayushman Bharat scheme, known as the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance program, aims to provide Rs 5 lakh annually per family for hospital care. Now, it will also offer free treatment to all citizens above 70 years old. This was promised by BJP in their 2024 election manifesto and recently announced by President Droupadi Murmu.

Addressing the healthcare needs of older adults

The decision to include citizens aged 70 and above in the scheme aims to fill a big gap in healthcare coverage for older people. A study found that only 20% of those over 60 years old had health insurance from various government and non government schemes.

Common problem

Most medical insurance companies do not provide coverage to people aged 70 and older because they expect many claims from this age group. The few insurers that do offer medical insurance to those above 70 charge very high annual premiums, which are often too expensive for middle-class families to afford.

Some insurance policies have clauses that don’t cover existing health issues for two to three years. This means even after paying high premiums, the policy may not cover existing ailments during the initial years.

Many people over 70 who have serious health problems need expensive medical care. However, middle-class families often can’t afford to pay for it out of pocket or handle the high insurance premiums that strain their budget.

This age group above 70 is the one that needs medical insurance the most as they are prone to falling sick or already suffering from serious ailments like heart disease, kidney ailments and lung or brain diseases.

Conclusion

The expansion of the Ayushman Bharat scheme to include free treatment for all citizens above 70 years marks a significant step in India’s healthcare journey. As per sources, Over six crore people in India are above 70 years of age. They will be appreciative of this move, plus their families will be thankful for such a big step. This initiative, along with the promotion of AYUSH and the establishment of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, underscores the government’s commitment to providing accessible and affordable healthcare to all its citizens.

Source: https://www.news18.com/elections/how-pm-modis-health-insurance-for-70-scheme-will-cushion-middle-class-benefit-bjp-in-battle-2024-8851774.html