The Government of India launched the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana (AVVY) in October 2024, offering every Indian aged 70 and above a free health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh annually. This initiative aims to provide senior citizens with worry-free access to medical care.

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• AVVY provides Rs.5 lakh cashless health insurance every year for citizens aged 70+ with no income criteria or medical tests.
• The card covers pre-existing diseases from day one and is available even to those who have other government or private health insurance (only one plan can be used at a time).
• AVVY covers 1,961 medical procedures across 27 specialties including heart, cancer, kidney, and bone/joint care.
• The card is accepted at over 30,000 hospitals nationwide, including more than 13,000 private hospitals.
• Senior citizens can apply through the Ayushman Bharat App with a simple e-KYC process involving OTP verification and self-declaration.
• Existing Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY beneficiaries get an additional Rs.5 lakh cover as a top-up under AVVY.
• The scheme promotes financial protection and improved healthcare access for the elderly population.
• The government has already spent Rs.1.29 lakh crore on free hospital care under Ayushman Bharat, and AVVY expands this support for senior citizens.
• This scheme is a significant step toward enhancing the quality of life and health outcomes for India’s aging population.