Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme: On the occasion of Diwali last year, the central government provided relief to the elderly aged 70 years and above by providing them free treatment. Currently, under the government's Ayushman scheme, there is a provision for free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. But now a parliamentary committee has recommended to expand the scope of 'Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme'. Under this recommendation, it has been said that the age criteria of 70 years and above for Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card should be made 60 years and above, regardless of the socio-economic status of the people.

People aged 60 years and above will get free treatment!

This simply means that if the committee's recommendation is implemented, then in the future, people aged 60 years and above will be able to get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. There will be no compulsion for any person of this age to get an Ayushman card. Currently, the government makes Ayushman cards for people aged 70 years and above without considering their socio-economic status.

Recommendation to increase the limit from 5 to 10 lakhs

This report was presented in the Rajya Sabha by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare. The 163rd report also said that the current health care coverage should be increased from Rs 5 lakh per family to Rs 10 lakh per year. It was also told that many high level medical procedures and tests are not included in Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

Critical illnesses should also be included.

The committee recommended that the packages covered under the scheme should be reviewed. New packages / procedures related to the treatment of critical illnesses with treatment costs should be included. The committee appreciated that (the government has recently expanded AB-PMJAY, under which six crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above from 4.5 crore families have been covered under the Vaya Vandana Yojana. Under this, socio-economic status can be anything.