## Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY Overview **Key Point:** AB-PMJAY is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2018 as the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. ### Primary Objective The scheme aims to provide **cashless and paperless access to health services** for vulnerable populations through health insurance coverage. ### Coverage Details - **Beneficiaries:** Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) households - **Coverage Amount:** ₹5 lakh per family per annum for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization - **Scope:** Covers approximately 50 crore beneficiaries (about 10.74 crore families) - **Mechanism:** Empaneled hospitals (public and private) provide services; government reimburses hospitals directly ### Key Features | Feature | Details | |---------|----------| | **Coverage Type** | Hospitalization expenses | | **Cashless** | Yes, at empaneled hospitals | | **Portability** | Pan-India coverage | | **Pre-existing Conditions** | Covered from day 1 | | **Waiting Period** | None for emergency services | **High-Yield:** AB-PMJAY is distinct from other health schemes because it focuses on **secondary and tertiary care hospitalization** rather than primary health care, which is addressed through AB's other pillar (Health and Wellness Centers). **Clinical Pearl:** The scheme has reduced out-of-pocket expenditure for vulnerable populations and improved access to specialized care in empaneled hospitals.
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