NEWS

• The Karnataka government has extended the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (ABArK) scheme benefits to all citizens aged 70 years and above.
• The move aligns with the Government of India’s Vayo Vandana Yojana guidelines.
• Beneficiaries under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) are also covered.

HIGHLIGHTS

Coverage Scope

• Benefits apply irrespective of economic status, provided the senior citizen is not availing free healthcare from other government schemes (except ESIS).
• Karnataka has 25 lakh families (33.4 lakh individuals) in the 70+ age group.
  • Of these, 8.24 lakh families (9.13 lakh individuals) are already listed in the PM-JAY database.

Categorisation of Beneficiaries

1. Existing Families (Already in AB PM-JAY)
   • Senior citizens get an additional shared top-up of ₹5 lakh per year.
   • If the original ₹5 lakh family wallet is exhausted, seniors can still avail treatment.
   • If seniors use the family wallet, other members get a ₹5 lakh top-up.
2. New Families (Not in AB PM-JAY)
   • Senior citizens get a shared annual cover of ₹5 lakh.
   • This benefit is exclusive to seniors and not extended to other family members.

Eligibility Criteria

• Aadhaar-based e-KYC mandatory.
• A formal declaration required confirming the senior citizen is not availing free healthcare under any other central/state scheme.
• The state of eligibility will be determined from the Aadhaar record.

Registration Process

• A separate section has been created on the Ayushman mobile app and the beneficiary.nha.gov.in portal.
• Eligible citizens will receive an Ayushman card under both existing and new family categories.

Significance

• The scheme ensures financial protection and healthcare access for senior citizens, addressing one of the most vulnerable population segments.