Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY gives every eligible family free cashless hospital treatment worth ₹5 lakh per year at empanelled government and private hospitals across India. If your name is on the list, you can create and download your Ayushman Card online in a few minutes from the official portal beneficiary.nha.gov.in or pmjay.gov.in. This step-by-step guide explains who is eligible in 2026, how to check your name, how to complete e-KYC, and how to download the card PDF — based on official National Health Authority sources.
Key facts at a glance
| Scheme | Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) |
| Health cover | ₹5 lakh per family per year (secondary & tertiary hospitalisation) |
| Run by | National Health Authority (NHA), Government of India |
| Official portals | pmjay.gov.in, beneficiary.nha.gov.in |
| Who is eligible | SECC-2011 identified families + all senior citizens aged 70+ (Ayushman Vay Vandana) |
| Documents | Aadhaar + Aadhaar-linked mobile (for OTP e-KYC) |
| Cost to make the card | Free — no charge |
| Helpline | 14555 / 1800-111-565 |
What is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?
PM-JAY is the world’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme. It provides a family cover of ₹5 lakh per year for a wide range of secondary and tertiary treatments — covering roughly 1,900+ medical procedures — completely cashless and paperless at any empanelled hospital in India. There is no cap on family size or age, and pre-existing conditions are covered from day one. The scheme is portable, so an eligible beneficiary from one state can be treated at an empanelled hospital in another state.
Who is eligible in 2026?
There are two main eligibility routes:
- SECC-2011 families: Poor and vulnerable families identified under the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 deprivation criteria (rural and urban occupational categories).
- Senior citizens aged 70 and above: Under Ayushman Vay Vandana, all citizens aged 70+ are now eligible regardless of income and receive a dedicated ₹5 lakh cover. If the family already has a PM-JAY card, seniors get an additional top-up.
The list also includes categories such as construction workers registered under welfare boards and certain frontline workers. The only reliable way to confirm your status is to check your name on the official portal, as described below.
Documents you need
- Aadhaar card of the person for whom the card is being made
- Aadhaar-linked mobile number (the e-KYC OTP is sent to it)
- Ration card / family ID can help locate your family in the database
How to check if you are eligible
- Open pmjay.gov.in and click “Am I Eligible”.
- Enter your mobile number, solve the captcha and verify the OTP.
- Select your state and search by ration card number, mobile number, name or PM-JAY family ID.
- If your family appears in the results, you are eligible and can proceed to create the card.
How to create & download your Ayushman Card online
- Go to beneficiary.nha.gov.in and choose the Beneficiary login. Enter your mobile number and verify the OTP.
- Select your state and scheme (PMJAY), then search and find your name in the family list.
- If the card is not yet made, click the e-KYC icon and complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC using OTP or face authentication.
- Upload/capture a photo if asked and submit. Your request goes for verification/approval.
- Once approved, return to the same portal, open your record and click “Download Card” to save the PDF. You can print it or show the QR at the hospital.
If your card is already generated, simply log in and use Download Card / Print — you do not need to make a new one.
Finding an empanelled hospital
Use the “Find Hospital” option on the PM-JAY portal (hospital.pmjay.gov.in) to search empanelled government and private hospitals by state, district and speciality. Treatment must be taken at an empanelled hospital to be cashless — carry your Ayushman Card and a photo ID to the hospital’s Ayushman/PMJAY help desk.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying a middleman. Making the Ayushman Card is completely free on official portals — never pay anyone to “get you approved”.
- Using look-alike websites. Enter your Aadhaar details only on
pmjay.gov.inorbeneficiary.nha.gov.in. - Confusing PM-JAY with ABHA. ABHA is a digital health ID; PM-JAY is the ₹5 lakh treatment cover. They are different — see our guide to creating an ABHA number.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any fee to make the Ayushman Card?
No. Creating and downloading the card is free on the official portals and at empanelled hospital help desks.
My parents are above 70 — do they need a ration card to qualify?
No. Under Ayushman Vay Vandana, all senior citizens aged 70+ are eligible regardless of income; they register with Aadhaar-based e-KYC.
Can the whole family use one ₹5 lakh cover?
Yes. The ₹5 lakh is a family floater available to all members whose names are in the beneficiary list.
Information last verified: 16 July 2026. Scheme rules, eligibility and covered procedures can change — always confirm the latest details on the official portal before acting.