Ayushman Card 2026: How to Find Hospitals Offering ₹5 Lakh Cashless Treatment Under AB-PMJAY

Ayushman Bharat Hospital List 2026: Millions of eligible families across India benefit from the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), a government-funded healthcare programme designed to reduce the financial burden of hospitalisation. Under the scheme, qualifying families can receive cashless treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh annually at empanelled hospitals.

However, obtaining an Ayushman Card is only the first step. Beneficiaries must also know which hospitals accept the card and whether the medical treatment they need is covered under the programme.

Many people face confusion when searching for participating hospitals, especially when they need specialised medical care or are travelling outside their home state.

Fortunately, the National Health Authority (NHA) provides online facilities to help beneficiaries identify hospitals participating in Ayushman Bharat.

Here is a detailed guide explaining how to check the Ayushman Bharat hospital list online, verify hospital eligibility and understand the treatment benefits available under the scheme.

What Is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a major public healthcare initiative introduced by the Government of India to provide financial protection against eligible hospitalisation expenses.

The scheme primarily supports eligible vulnerable households and other beneficiary categories covered under applicable government provisions.

Under the standard PM-JAY framework, qualifying families receive health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year for specified secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation services.

The programme operates through a network of empanelled government and private hospitals.

Beneficiaries can access covered treatment without paying directly for approved medical packages, subject to the scheme's rules and authorisation procedures.

How to Check the Ayushman Bharat Hospital List Online in 2026

If you already have an Ayushman Card and want to identify a participating hospital, you can use the official hospital search facility.

Follow these steps:

  1. Open the official hospital search portal at https://hem.nha.gov.in/search.
  2. Select your state from the available options.
  3. Choose the district where you want to receive treatment.
  4. Enter the PIN code or other search information if the portal requests it.
  5. Apply the available filters to identify hospitals associated with the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
  6. Review the displayed list of participating healthcare facilities.
  7. Check the hospital's name, location and other available details.
  8. Contact the hospital before visiting to confirm that it currently accepts PM-JAY beneficiaries and provides the treatment you require.

The available search fields and interface may change as the official portal is updated.

Beneficiaries can also visit the National Health Authority's official website at https://nha.gov.in for information about the scheme and related services.

Can You Use an Ayushman Card at Private Hospitals?

Yes. The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY network includes participating private hospitals in addition to government healthcare facilities.

However, not every private hospital in India is covered under the programme.

A hospital must be appropriately empanelled under the scheme to provide eligible PM-JAY services.

Even if a hospital appears in the official list, beneficiaries should verify whether the particular medical procedure they need is available under its approved service arrangements.

For example, a hospital may participate in the scheme but may not provide every specialised treatment package.

Confirming these details in advance can help patients avoid unnecessary travel and confusion.

How Much Free Treatment Is Available Under Ayushman Bharat?

Under the standard AB-PMJAY scheme, eligible families receive annual health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh.

The benefit generally operates as a family-floater arrangement, meaning the eligible family members share the available annual coverage rather than each receiving a separate ₹5 lakh limit.

The scheme covers specified medical and surgical procedures, hospitalisation expenses and related services included in approved treatment packages.

Depending on the package, covered services may include eligible diagnostic tests, medicines, medical procedures and other hospital-related expenses.

The exact treatment benefits depend on the applicable health benefit package and programme rules.

Special provisions apply to certain beneficiary groups, including senior citizens aged 70 years and above under the Ayushman Bharat expansion.

What Are the Main Benefits of an Ayushman Card?

The Ayushman Bharat scheme offers several important advantages to qualifying beneficiaries.

1. Cashless hospitalisation

Eligible patients can receive approved treatment at empanelled hospitals without making direct payments for covered services.

2. Coverage up to ₹5 lakh

The standard programme provides an annual family coverage limit of ₹5 lakh for eligible hospitalisation services.

3. Access to government hospitals

Beneficiaries can seek covered treatment at participating public healthcare institutions.

4. Treatment at empanelled private hospitals

The programme also includes approved private healthcare providers, increasing the available treatment options.

5. Nationwide portability

Eligible beneficiaries can access PM-JAY services at participating hospitals outside their home state, subject to the applicable programme conditions.

6. Financial protection during medical emergencies

The scheme aims to reduce the burden of major hospitalisation expenses on eligible households.

What Documents Should You Carry to an Ayushman Bharat Hospital?

Before visiting a participating hospital, beneficiaries should keep their essential identification and medical documents ready.

These may include:

  • Ayushman Card, either digital or physical.
  • Aadhaar Card or another accepted identification document.
  • Relevant medical reports and prescriptions.
  • Previous hospital records, where applicable.
  • Any additional documents requested for verification or treatment authorisation.

Document requirements can vary according to the hospital, treatment and beneficiary category.

Patients should contact the hospital's Ayushman help desk to confirm what is needed before admission.

How to Confirm Whether a Hospital Accepts Your Ayushman Card

Finding a hospital online is useful, but verifying its current participation is equally important.

Hospital empanelment status, available specialties and treatment packages can change.

Before travelling, beneficiaries should contact the hospital directly and ask whether it is currently providing services under AB-PMJAY.

They should also confirm whether the required procedure is included in the hospital's approved treatment packages.

Many participating hospitals have an Ayushman Bharat help desk or designated staff who assist patients with eligibility checks and treatment authorisation.

This additional verification can help beneficiaries avoid unexpected difficulties during admission.

Can You Receive Ayushman Bharat Treatment Outside Your Home State?

Yes. Nationwide portability is an important feature of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY programme.

An eligible beneficiary may seek covered treatment at an empanelled hospital in another state.

For example, a person living in Rajasthan may be able to receive eligible treatment at a participating hospital in Delhi or another state, subject to the applicable rules and availability of covered services.

This facility can be particularly useful for migrant workers, students and families travelling for specialised medical treatment.

However, beneficiaries should verify the hospital's participation and the relevant treatment package before making arrangements.

What Should You Do If a Hospital Refuses Ayushman Card Treatment?

If a hospital refuses to provide treatment under PM-JAY, the beneficiary should first ask for clarification.

The hospital may not be empanelled, the requested procedure may fall outside its approved packages, or additional verification may be necessary.

If the beneficiary believes an empanelled hospital is improperly denying a covered service or demanding unauthorised payment, they can raise the issue through the scheme's official grievance channels.

The national PM-JAY helpline 14555 can be used to seek assistance and information.

Patients should preserve relevant documents, hospital communications and payment records when submitting a complaint.

Important Precautions Before Visiting an Empanelled Hospital

Beneficiaries should remember that an Ayushman Card does not automatically provide free treatment for every medical service at every hospital.

The hospital must be participating in the scheme, and the required treatment must qualify under the applicable coverage rules.

Patients should verify their beneficiary status, confirm the hospital's current empanelment and check the availability of the relevant medical package.

They should also avoid sharing personal identification information or OTPs with unauthorised individuals.

For official information, use government websites and recognised scheme assistance channels.

Final Words

The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme offers important healthcare support to eligible families by providing cashless coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually under the standard programme.

However, beneficiaries should check the list of empanelled hospitals before planning treatment.

The official hospital search facility at https://hem.nha.gov.in/search can help users identify participating healthcare institutions by location.

After finding a suitable hospital, patients should confirm its current empanelment status and the availability of the required treatment.

Checking these details in advance can make it easier to use Ayushman Bharat benefits when medical assistance is needed.