AB-PMJAY Marks 8 Years with 13.25 Cr Hospital Admissions Worth INR 2.03 Lakh Cr

Ayushman cards under the scheme covered about 33% of India’s population, while more than 38,000 public and private hospitals were empanelled.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has completed eight years, with the government reporting more than 48.51 crore Ayushman cards and 13.25 crore hospital admissions worth INR 2.03 lakh crore as the scheme continues to expand financial protection for eligible beneficiaries.

The AB-PMJAY journey has reached its eighth year since the scheme was launched on September 23, 2018, to extend financial protection for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.

As of September 21, 2026, Ayushman cards under the scheme covered about 33% of India’s population, while more than 38,000 public and private hospitals were empanelled as of August 31, 2026.

“What began 8 years ago as the Sankalp for Seva of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has transformed healthcare access for millions, with Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY — the world’s largest Health Assurance Scheme — now covering more than half a billion people across the country.” Union Health Minister JP Nadda said.

AB-PMJAY provides cashless hospitalisation cover of up to INR 5 lakh per family annually. The scheme covers 1,961 procedures across 27 medical specialties and is designed to reduce the financial burden associated with major medical treatment.

Government data has also shown a decline in out-of-pocket expenditure, with household out-of-pocket spending falling from 62.6% of total health expenditure in 2014-15 to 43.4% in 2022-23.

The beneficiary base has expanded beyond the original eligible population in recent years. In March 2024, AB-PMJAY was extended to around 37 lakh families of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), anganwadi workers, and anganwadi helpers.

More than 44.81 lakh Ayushman cards had been created for these groups as of September 21, 2026. The scheme was subsequently expanded to cover all citizens aged 70 years and above, with more than 1.36 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards issued as of September 21, 2026.

AB-PMJAY forms one part of the wider Ayushman Bharat framework. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs provide comprehensive primary healthcare, while the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is building digital health infrastructure through ABHA IDs, health records and connected healthcare facilities.

The fourth component, PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), focuses on strengthening health infrastructure, disease surveillance and critical-care capacity.

Together, these initiatives are intended to connect financial protection under AB-PMJAY with primary care, digital health services and healthcare infrastructure.

AB-PMJAY is a centrally sponsored scheme, with Centre-State funding generally shared at 60:40, while a 90:10 ratio applies to specified states and Union Territories.

For 2026-27, the Union Budget has estimated INR 9,500 Cr for the scheme.

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