Ayushman Card

Ayushman Card: The government has taken many big steps to make health services accessible to the common man in India, out of which 'Ayushman Bharat Yojana' is the most prominent among them. It is counted among the largest health insurance schemes in the world. Often this question arises in the minds of people that after making the Ayushman card, can they get free treatment throughout the year? This question is also important because due to incomplete information, many times the patient has to face problems at the last moment in the hospital. If you are also a beneficiary of this scheme, then it is very important for you to understand its rules and extent of treatment closely.

What is meant by the limit of Rs 5 lakh?

initiated by the government Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) The main objective of this is to provide security cover to the economically weaker sections. As far as the frequency of treatment is concerned, the answer is a bit complicated which is important to understand. Technically, there is no limit on the number of times you can go to the hospital in a year. You can enroll 'unlimited' times, but this facility is applicable only up to the annual limit of Rs 5 lakh.

This scheme works on 'Family Floater' basis. This means that the cover of Rs 5 lakh is for the entire family and not per individual. For example, if there are 6 members in your family, then this amount of Rs 5 lakh can be spent on the treatment of one sick member or can be distributed among all the members if needed. As soon as your card's wallet balance (limit of Rs 5 lakh) is exhausted, you will have to bear the subsequent expenses yourself. Therefore, it is wise to maintain balance while undergoing treatment.

The card will be useful only in serious diseases

Many times people go to the hospital with Ayushman card even for minor ailments and get disappointed. It is important to clarify here that this scheme is mainly for serious conditions requiring hospitalization. Its benefit is not available for OPD i.e. general doctor's advice, X-ray, blood test or minor medicines.

However, if the case is serious, like heart valve replacement, prostate cancer, kidney transplant, coronary angioplasty or neuro surgery, then this card is no less than a boon. In such situations, the patient does not have to pay the huge hospital bill from his own pocket and the entire process is cashless. This scheme has been designed to save the patient from the burden of debt.

Get your card made at home like this

Earlier, to avail the benefits of government schemes, one had to visit many offices, but now the government has made this process completely transparent and digital. You do not need to pay money to any middleman or agent to get the card made. You can do this work yourself by downloading the official 'Ayushman App' on your smartphone.

Mobile number and Aadhaar are used to login to the app. Here you can check the eligibility of the family by selecting your state and district. If a member's name is in the list but the card has not been generated, then the option of 'Authenticate' will appear next to their name. Here e-KYC can be completed through Aadhaar OTP and photo verification. You can download the card from the same app within a week of verification.