PM Jan Arogya Yojana Crosses INR 1.5 lakh Cr in Free Care, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka Lead Utilization

Nationwide, authorised hospital admissions under PM Jan Arogya Yojana have reached 106.2 Mn.

PM Jan Arogya Yojana has delivered more than Rs 1.51 lakh crore in free hospital care since its launch, with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka emerging as the top states in terms of admissions, highlighting stronger implementation compared to larger northern states.

Launched in September 2018, PM Jan Arogya Yojana was designed to provide annual health coverage of INR 5 lakh per family to nearly 40% of India’s most vulnerable population.

The scheme initially targeted around 107 million poor households and aimed to reduce the country’s heavy dependence on out-of-pocket healthcare spending, which once accounted for nearly 62% of total health expenses.

In terms of utilisation, Tamil Nadu has reported the highest number of hospital admissions at around 11 Mn, closely followed by Karnataka with 10.93 Mn.

Uttar Pradesh, despite leading in the number of Ayushman cards issued and having 6,213 empanelled hospitals, about 17% of the national total, ranks third with 9.3 Mn admissions.

Bihar, another large and relatively underserved state, stands much lower at 14th position with only 2.9 Mn admissions.

Nationwide, authorised hospital admissions under PM Jan Arogya Yojana have reached 106.2 Mn. The variation across states suggests that, beyond infrastructure, factors such as awareness, administrative efficiency, and digital health integration are influencing scheme uptake.

Southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, have historically invested in stronger public health systems and insurance integration, which appears to be translating into better utilisation outcomes.

The scheme covers nearly 2,000 medical procedures, offering cashless treatment that includes diagnostics, medicines, hospital stays, ICU services, and professional fees. Among the most availed specialities are general medicine, ophthalmology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and medical oncology.

Frequently performed procedures include chronic haemodialysis, cataract surgeries using phacoemulsification with foldable lenses, caesarean deliveries, and treatments for animal bites.

In a major expansion, the government extended PM Jan Arogya Yojana coverage in September 2024 to all senior citizens above 70 years, irrespective of income. This move is expected to benefit nearly 60 million elderly individuals, further widening the scheme’s reach.

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