Ayushman Bharat Yojana Govt starts to cover every people over 70 years of age

The central government has started work on expanding the scope of Ayushman Bharat, a government scheme that provides free treatment facilities to the poor. According to reports, after expanding the scope of the scheme, all elderly people above 70 years of age in the country will get the benefit of this scheme which provides free treatment, irrespective of their income.

Government started work on expansion

In a report by Live Mint, quoting two government sources related to the matter, it has been said that the government has started work on expanding the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Now preparations are being made to bring all citizens above 70 years of age under the ambit of this scheme. People above 70 years of age, irrespective of their income, are going to get the benefit of this scheme.

This much allocation in the interim budget

According to the report, when the government presents the full budget after the election results in June, an official announcement can be made to increase the scope of Ayushman Bharat scheme. This year, the interim budget was presented in February due to the Lok Sabha elections. Rs 7,500 crore was allocated for the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the interim budget. This was 10 percent more allocation than the previous financial year.

BJP has made election promise

If the news of the government's preparations as claimed in the Mint report is true, then it becomes important because the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has included it in its election promises. BJP has recently released its manifesto 'Sankalp Patra' for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. While releasing the manifesto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made an election promise to provide benefits of Ayushman Bharat Scheme to all the elderly above 75 years of age.

PM Modi had made this announcement

While announcing the expansion of the scope of Ayushman Bharat scheme launched to provide better treatment to the people, PM Modi had said – The elderly are most worried about how they will be able to afford the treatment of their diseases? This concern is more serious for middle class people. Our party has now resolved that all the elderly above 75 years of age will be given the benefit of Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Scheme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government had launched Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in its first term. This scheme was implemented in September 2018, a few months before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Ayushman Bharat Yojana was started to provide easy treatment to the poor population. Currently, under this, people with income less than Rs 2.4 lakh get the benefit of medical insurance of Rs 5 lakh annually.

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