Ayushman Vay Vandana Card Eligibility — Free ₹5 Lakh Cover for 70+ Seniors
Every Indian aged 70 and above qualifies for a ₹5 lakh family health cover under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, regardless of income. Here is the exact eligibility, document list and application path.
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The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card is a senior-citizen extension of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. It gives every person aged 70 years or above a health cover for cashless hospital treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals. Unlike the base PM-JAY scheme, this extension is not linked to income, caste or SECC data — age and identity are the deciding factors. Seniors in a family that already holds a PM-JAY card get an additional top-up cover reserved only for them, so the younger members of the household do not consume the senior's balance.
Benefits
A family cover of ₹5 lakh per year for hospitalisation, shared between eligible seniors of the same household. Cashless admission at empanelled hospitals with no upfront payment for covered procedures. No medical test, no waiting period and no premium. Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and kidney illness are covered from day one. Seniors who already hold private health insurance or a state scheme can still take this cover and use it alongside, and central government health scheme beneficiaries may choose between their existing cover and this one.
Eligibility criteria
- ✓The applicant must be 70 years of age or above as per the date of birth printed on the Aadhaar card
- ✓Indian citizenship with a valid Aadhaar number is mandatory — the card is issued after Aadhaar e-KYC
- ✓There is no income limit, no caste condition and no SECC or ration-card requirement for this age-based cover
- ✓Seniors already covered under a family PM-JAY card receive a separate top-up of up to ₹5 lakh instead of sharing the family limit
- ✓Holders of private health insurance or employer insurance remain eligible and can use both covers
- ✓Beneficiaries of CGHS, ECHS or Ayushman CAPF must choose between their existing scheme and this card; both cannot run together
- ✓Multiple seniors in one household each get a card, and the ₹5 lakh senior cover is shared between them for the year
Documents required
- ✓Aadhaar card showing the age as 70 years or above
- ✓Mobile number linked with Aadhaar for OTP-based e-KYC
- ✓A recent passport-size photograph or a live selfie taken during the application
- ✓Ration card or family identification document, where the state asks for family mapping
- ✓Existing PM-JAY card number, if the family already holds one
How to apply — step by step
- Open the official PM-JAY beneficiary portal or install the Ayushman app from the official app store listing
- Choose the beneficiary login option and enter the Aadhaar-linked mobile number to receive an OTP
- Select the state and search by Aadhaar number to confirm the senior's record
- Complete Aadhaar e-KYC using OTP or face authentication, then capture the live photo
- Fill in the family and address details exactly as they appear in official records
- Submit the request and note the reference number shown on screen
- Wait for approval, then download and print the Vay Vandana Card from the same portal
- Carry the printed card and Aadhaar to the Ayushman Mitra desk of an empanelled hospital at the time of admission
Important dates
There is no last date. The card is an open, continuous entitlement — a person becomes eligible on the day they turn 70 and can apply any time after that. Approval is usually completed within a few days of a successful e-KYC. Treatment is covered from the date the card is activated, so applying before a planned hospitalisation avoids cash payment at admission.
Common mistakes to avoid
- ✓Paying an agent or a cyber café to make the card — the application and the card are completely free
- ✓Applying with an Aadhaar whose date of birth is wrong or shows only a birth year, which can push the calculated age below 70
- ✓Using a mobile number that is not linked to Aadhaar, so the e-KYC OTP never arrives
- ✓Going to a hospital that is not empanelled under PM-JAY and then expecting reimbursement, which this scheme does not offer
- ✓Assuming OPD consultations, medicines and routine tests are covered — the cover applies to hospitalisation packages
- ✓Not informing the hospital's Ayushman Mitra desk at the time of admission and paying the bill first
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card free for everyone above 70?
Yes. Every Indian citizen aged 70 or above qualifies irrespective of income, and neither the card nor the treatment packages carry any charge.
I already have a private mediclaim policy. Can I still get this card?
Yes. Private or employer health insurance does not block eligibility, and you can use the Vay Vandana cover alongside your own policy.
Our family already has a PM-JAY card. Does the senior share the same ₹5 lakh?
No. Seniors aged 70 and above receive a separate top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh reserved for them, so the family's own limit is not reduced.
What if two elderly members live in the same household?
Both get their own card, and the ₹5 lakh senior cover for that year is shared between them.
Does the card cover treatment in private hospitals?
Yes, provided the private hospital is empanelled under PM-JAY. Always confirm empanelment on the official hospital list before admission.
Can a CGHS pensioner take this card?
A CGHS, ECHS or Ayushman CAPF beneficiary must choose one scheme. You can switch to the Vay Vandana Card, but you cannot claim under both at once.
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