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Government Services

Ayushman Card: How to Check Eligibility, Apply and Download

Log in to beneficiary.nha.gov.in with your mobile OTP, find your name, finish Aadhaar e-KYC and download the free Ayushman card once approved.

PN

Written by Priya Nair

Published 20 September 2026·6 min read

On this page8 sections
Credsir Government Services guide cover with a id card icon

To get an Ayushman card, log in to beneficiary.nha.gov.in with your mobile number and OTP, search for your name, and complete Aadhaar e-KYC. You can download the card once it is approved. The card is free and gives your family cashless hospital cover of up to ₹5 lakh a year under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. Everyone aged 70 or above qualifies, whatever their income.

Key facts

Item Detail
Scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), run by the National Health Authority (NHA)
Cover Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, for secondary and tertiary hospital care
Before and after admission Up to 3 days before and 15 days after hospitalisation, including tests and medicines
Family size and age No limit on family size, age or gender
Pre-existing illness Covered from day one
Senior citizens All aged 70+ are eligible through the Ayushman Vay Vandana card
Card fee Free
Portal and app beneficiary.nha.gov.in; Ayushman app on Google Play
Helpline 14555 (toll-free)
Cards issued 43.52 crore as on 28 February 2026

Who is eligible

Your family qualifies if it falls in one of these groups:

ItemDetails
SECC 2011 families.The scheme first covered 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, the bottom 40% of the population, identified from the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011. In January 2022 the base was raised to 12 crore families.
State scheme lists.The NHA user manual says families on state scheme lists, under each state’s criteria, are also covered.
Frontline workers.About 37 lakh ASHAs, anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers, and their families, were added.
Everyone aged 70 or above.The Cabinet approved this on 11 September 2024, and the Prime Minister launched it on 29 October 2024. Income does not matter.

Seniors aged 70+ in a family already covered get an extra top-up of up to ₹5 lakh a year for their own use, which they do not share with younger family members. Other seniors get up to ₹5 lakh a year on a family basis. Seniors on CGHS, ECHS or Ayushman CAPF must choose between that scheme and PM-JAY. Private health insurance or ESI membership does not stop a senior from joining.

Is there an Ayushman card age limit?

No, not for regular PM-JAY families: every member is covered whatever their age. The only age rule is the 70+ entry route through the Vay Vandana card.

Checking eligibility online

  1. Open beneficiary.nha.gov.in and choose Beneficiary.
  2. Enter your 10-digit mobile number and click Verify.
  3. Enter the 6-digit OTP and the captcha, then click Login.
  4. Select the scheme (PMJAY), your state, sub-scheme and district.
  5. Choose how to search, for example by Aadhaar number or family ID, enter the details and click Search.
  6. If your family is eligible, your record appears with the family members linked to it.

If no record appears, you are not on the list under that search. Try another search type or district. You can also call 14555, or ask at an empanelled hospital. Seniors aged 70+ can enrol even if their family is not on any list.

Applying and completing e-KYC

An Ayushman card is issued only after Aadhaar e-KYC. Once your record appears in the search results:

  1. Click the e-KYC icon next to the member’s name.
  2. Choose Aadhaar OTP as the method. Fingerprint, iris and face scans are done through an operator.
  3. Enter the OTP sent to the member’s Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
  4. Capture a photo and fill in the details asked for, such as year of birth, relationship, district and PIN code.
  5. Submit. The system scores how well your Aadhaar name, year of birth and gender match the scheme record.

If the match score is above 80%, the card is approved automatically. If it is lower, you get a reference ID and the request goes to the state’s approvers. A gender mismatch gives a score of zero, so check your Aadhaar details first.

You cannot link Aadhaar to an old card or add a new family member yourself on the portal. An operator at a CSC or an empanelled hospital must do that. Adding a member needs state-specific proof, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, PM letter or ration card.

Senior citizens aged 70+

Seniors can self-register for the Vay Vandana card on the Ayushman app or at beneficiary.nha.gov.in. They can also enrol at the nearest empanelled hospital. For details, call 14555 or give a missed call on 1800110770.

Downloading the card

  1. Log in to beneficiary.nha.gov.in with your mobile number and OTP.
  2. Search for your family by Aadhaar number or family ID.
  3. Find a member whose card is approved and click the Download Card icon.
  4. Tick the checkbox for the card and click Download to save the PDF.

The Ayushman app offers the same search and download. Each eligible member gets one card, and you can use it at any empanelled hospital in India. As of October 2025, over 33,000 hospitals were empanelled: 17,685 public and 15,380 private.

Card status meanings

Status What it means What to do
Eligible, e-KYC not done You are on the list but no card exists yet Complete e-KYC
Auto-approved The e-KYC match scored above 80% Download the card
Pending approval The match score was lower; request sent to the state with a reference ID Wait, and quote the reference ID on 14555
Recommended for rejection The first reviewer found a mismatch and sent the request to the State Health Agency Correct Aadhaar details if wrong; follow up with the state agency
Approved The state has approved the card Download the card
Rejected The state found the details did not match Ask the state health agency or an empanelled hospital why

For more on the scheme itself, see our Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY page. Our list of government financial schemes covers other support you may qualify for.

Frequently asked questions

How do I download my Ayushman card by mobile number?

Log in to beneficiary.nha.gov.in with your mobile number and OTP, search for your family, and click Download Card next to an approved member.

Can I download the Ayushman card by Aadhaar number?

Yes. After logging in, choose Aadhaar as the search type, enter the number and download the card if it is approved.

Who is eligible for the Ayushman Bharat card?

Families on the SECC 2011 or state scheme lists, ASHA and anganwadi workers’ families, and everyone aged 70 or above.

Is there an age limit for the Ayushman card?

No. All members of an eligible family are covered at any age, and anyone aged 70 or above can join regardless of income.

Do I have to pay for an Ayushman card?

No. The NHA says the card is free of cost.

How do I check my Ayushman card status?

Log in to beneficiary.nha.gov.in and search for your family. The record shows whether e-KYC is pending, the card is awaiting approval, or it is ready to download.

Can I use the Ayushman card in another state?

Yes. The scheme allows cashless treatment at any empanelled hospital across India.

Sources

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