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Government Services

Ayushman Vay Vandana Card: ₹5 Lakh Cover for Everyone 70+

Everyone aged 70+ can get the free Ayushman Vay Vandana card, with ₹5 lakh a year of hospital cover and no income test. Enrol with Aadhaar.

AS

Written by Aarav Sharma

Published 27 September 2026·6 min read

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

If you are 70 or older, you can get the Ayushman Vay Vandana card whatever your income. It gives free hospital cover of up to ₹5 lakh a year under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. You can enrol yourself on the Ayushman app or at beneficiary.nha.gov.in using Aadhaar, or at an empanelled hospital. The card costs nothing.

Key facts

Item Detail
Scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), run by the National Health Authority (NHA)
Who qualifies Everyone aged 70 or above, with no income test
Cover Up to ₹5 lakh a year on a family basis
If your family already has PM-JAY An extra top-up of up to ₹5 lakh a year for the senior alone
Approved and launched Cabinet approval 11 September 2024; launched 29 October 2024
Where to enrol Ayushman app, beneficiary.nha.gov.in, or an empanelled hospital
Helpline 14555 (toll-free); missed call 1800110770
Enrolment so far 1.20 crore senior citizens, per a PIB factsheet of 12 August 2026

What the Vay Vandana card covers

The card gives you the same hospital benefits as any other PM-JAY beneficiary. That means cashless secondary and tertiary care at empanelled public and private hospitals. PIB lists what the scheme pays for:

  • consultations, treatment, medicines and consumables
  • diagnostic and laboratory tests
  • intensive and non-intensive care, implants, and room and food charges
  • pre-hospitalisation costs and follow-up care for up to 15 days after discharge

Pre-existing illnesses are covered from day one, with no waiting period. PM-JAY has no cap on family size or age. A PIB factsheet dated 12 August 2026 put the number of empanelled hospitals at over 38,466.

The cover is used, not just held. By 31 December 2025, 10.33 lakh hospital admissions worth ₹2,154.37 crore had been authorised for Vay Vandana cardholders. Seniors have used it for angioplasty, hip replacement, cataract surgery, dialysis and stroke care, among other treatments.

Eligibility: age is the only test

The Union Cabinet release of 11 September 2024 says all senior citizens aged 70 and above are eligible, whatever their socio-economic status. The government expected about 6 crore seniors in 4.5 crore families to benefit.

You need Aadhaar, because enrolment runs on Aadhaar e-KYC. Niva Bupa’s guide to the scheme says your age is taken from your Aadhaar record. If Aadhaar shows the wrong year of birth, correct it before you apply.

The scheme now runs across the country. In February 2025, the health ministry told the Rajya Sabha that every state and UT had adopted Vay Vandana except West Bengal and Delhi. West Bengal became the 36th state or UT to implement PM-JAY on 8 June 2026. The state estimates about 15.95 lakh families of seniors aged 70+ will be covered.

How to apply online and on the app

NHA lists three ways to enrol: the Ayushman app on Google Play, the beneficiary portal, or the nearest empanelled hospital. The steps below follow Niva Bupa’s walkthrough of the app and portal; screen labels can change.

  1. Install the Ayushman app, or open beneficiary.nha.gov.in in a browser.
  2. Choose to log in as a Beneficiary. A family member can help you on your phone.
  3. Enter your mobile number and the captcha, then verify with the OTP.
  4. Enter your Aadhaar number to search for your record.
  5. If no card exists, complete Aadhaar e-KYC with an OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
  6. Fill in the details asked for, such as state, district and PIN code, and take a photo if prompted.
  7. Add other eligible seniors in the household if the form offers it.
  8. Submit the declaration, then download the card once it is approved.

If your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, go to an empanelled hospital or a Common Service Centre, where an operator can verify you with a fingerprint. Many people do this anyway: PIB reported 25 lakh enrolments within two months of launch.

For general PM-JAY eligibility, card downloads and hospital search, see our Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY page.

If your family already has PM-JAY

This is where the rules differ, so check which case you fall in:

Your situation What you get
Your family is already a PM-JAY beneficiary A top-up of up to ₹5 lakh a year for you alone. You do not share it with family members under 70.
Your family is not covered Up to ₹5 lakh a year on a family basis
Two seniors aged 70+ in a family that is not covered The ₹5 lakh family-basis cover is shared between them

In a PM-JAY family, the younger members keep their own ₹5 lakh family cover. The senior’s top-up sits on top of it.

Using it alongside private insurance or CGHS

Private health insurance and ESI

The Cabinet release says seniors with private health insurance, or who are members of the Employees’ State Insurance scheme, can still join. You do not need to drop your policy.

A private policy still has uses. It works at hospitals outside the PM-JAY network, and you can choose your room type. Premiums also qualify for a deduction under Section 80D if you file under the old tax regime. Our guide to senior citizen health insurance explains what to look for. Before a planned admission, ask the hospital’s PM-JAY desk how it will bill a patient who holds both.

CGHS, ECHS and CAPF

Seniors covered by the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) or Ayushman CAPF must choose. They can keep their existing scheme or opt for PM-JAY. The release does not say whether that choice can be reversed. Call 14555 before you give up CGHS or ECHS.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an income limit for the Ayushman Vay Vandana card?

No. Every Indian aged 70 or above qualifies, whatever their income or socio-economic status.

Is the Vay Vandana card free?

Yes. There is no fee or premium to enrol or to use the cover at empanelled hospitals.

How do I apply for the Ayushman Vay Vandana card?

Use the Ayushman app or beneficiary.nha.gov.in with Aadhaar e-KYC, or visit an empanelled hospital. For help, call 14555.

Can a senior with private health insurance get the card?

Yes. The Cabinet release says private insurance and ESI members remain eligible.

My family already has an Ayushman card. Do I still need a Vay Vandana card?

Yes, if you want the extra top-up. Seniors in covered families get up to ₹5 lakh a year for themselves, separate from the family cover.

How many Vay Vandana cards have been issued?

1.14 crore cards had been created by 28 February 2026. A PIB factsheet of 12 August 2026 puts enrolment at 1.20 crore seniors.

Does the card work in every state?

Yes. West Bengal joined PM-JAY on 8 June 2026, completing nationwide adoption, and PM-JAY cover can be used in other states.

Sources

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