The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) provides health coverage to eligible beneficiaries, helping families access hospital treatment without having to bear the entire cost themselves. Under the scheme, eligible families can receive health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

However, beneficiaries should remain alert while applying for an Ayushman card. If an unauthorized agent contacts you and demands money for creating the card or asks for sensitive banking information, you should verify the request through official channels before making any payment or sharing personal details.

The National Health Authority (NHA), which implements PM-JAY at the national level, provides official channels for beneficiaries to check eligibility, generate their Ayushman card and raise grievances.

Do You Have to Pay an Agent to Get an Ayushman Card?

Beneficiaries should not pay unauthorized agents who claim they can arrange an Ayushman card in exchange for money.

The government provides official channels through which eligible beneficiaries can check their details and complete the Ayushman-card process. Depending on the applicable beneficiary category and verification requirements, the process can be completed through official digital services or authorized facilities.

People should be particularly cautious when someone contacts them unexpectedly and promises guaranteed approval of an Ayushman card after payment.

Eligibility for AB PM-JAY is determined according to the applicable government criteria. Paying an individual cannot make an otherwise ineligible person eligible for the scheme.

Where Can You Apply for an Ayushman Card?

Eligible beneficiaries can use the National Health Authority's official beneficiary portal to access PM-JAY services.

Official Ayushman Beneficiary Portal

The Ayushman App is another official digital option available to beneficiaries.

Users should make sure they are accessing the genuine government service rather than a website or app sent through an unknown WhatsApp message, SMS or social-media post.

Be Careful About Fake Calls and Messages

Fraudsters may misuse the names of government welfare programmes to convince people that they need to make an urgent payment or share confidential information.

Be suspicious if someone claiming to help with an Ayushman card asks for your bank PIN, UPI PIN, card details, internet-banking password or OTP.

An OTP should never be shared casually with an unknown caller. If an OTP is legitimately required while you are completing an official verification process yourself, enter it only on the genuine government platform.

You should also avoid clicking shortened or suspicious links received from unknown numbers.

What Does AB PM-JAY Provide?

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY provides ₹5 lakh of health cover per eligible family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. Treatment is available through empanelled public and private hospitals under the scheme.

The benefit is designed to be cashless at the point of service for covered treatment at empanelled hospitals, subject to the scheme's eligibility and package rules.

This ₹5 lakh figure should not be understood as a cash payment deposited directly into a beneficiary's bank account. It represents health coverage available for eligible hospitalization and treatment under the scheme.

Special Coverage for Senior Citizens Aged 70 and Above

AB PM-JAY has also been expanded to cover senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of their socio-economic status, under the applicable rules.

Senior citizens aged 70 and above belonging to families already covered under AB PM-JAY can receive an additional top-up cover of up to ₹5 lakh per year for themselves. Other eligible senior citizens aged 70 and above can also receive coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year under the expanded provisions.

The exact treatment and coverage rules should always be checked through official PM-JAY channels.

Where Can You Complain About Ayushman Card Fraud?

If someone demands unauthorized money in the name of issuing an Ayushman card, beneficiaries can report the matter through the official PM-JAY grievance system or contact the scheme's official helpline.

The official PM-JAY toll-free helpline is 14555.

This is important because some online articles continue to circulate older or incorrect helpline numbers. Beneficiaries should verify contact details through the National Health Authority before calling.

NHA also operates an online grievance portal where complaints related to PM-JAY can be registered and tracked.

PM-JAY Grievance Portal

If actual financial fraud has occurred—for example, money has been transferred to a scammer—victims should also contact their bank/payment provider promptly and use the appropriate cybercrime-reporting channel.

Keep These Safety Tips in Mind

When applying for or using an Ayushman card, beneficiaries should follow a few basic precautions:

• Use only official government portals, apps or authorized facilities.
• Do not pay unauthorized agents promising guaranteed Ayushman-card approval.
• Never reveal your UPI PIN, ATM PIN or banking password.
• Do not share OTPs with unknown callers.
• Avoid suspicious links received through SMS, WhatsApp or social media.
• Check your eligibility through official PM-JAY channels.
• Report suspicious demands for money through the official grievance mechanism.

Don't Trust Claims of Guaranteed Approval

An Ayushman card is not something that an agent can legitimately “approve” simply because a person pays a fee.

The applicant must meet the eligibility requirements applicable under AB PM-JAY or an eligible expansion of the programme. Verification is carried out using the prescribed government process.

Therefore, anyone claiming that they can add your name to the scheme or guarantee ₹5 lakh of benefits in return for a payment should be treated with caution.

The safest approach is to use official government channels, verify your eligibility and report any suspicious demand for money. Most importantly, remember that the ₹5 lakh benefit under AB PM-JAY is health coverage for eligible treatment—not ₹5 lakh in cash paid to every Ayushman card holder.