Budget 2024: Insurance Coverage Under Ayushman Bharat Likely To Be Increased To Rs 10 Lakh

In the upcoming budget, Finance Minster Nirmala Sitharaman might announce a big sop for the common man for improving their healthcare. As per reports in news agency PTI, the government could increase the insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat to 10 lakh per year from the existing Rs 5 lakh in the upcoming Union Budget 2024.

PTI has also reported that the government is also contemplating to double the beneficiary base under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) over the next three years.

It may be noted that President Droupadi Murmu in her address to the joint session of the 18th Lok Sabha on 27th June said, "My Government is providing free health services to 55 crore beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The opening of 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country is also progressing at a fast pace. Further, the Government is going to take yet another decision in this area. Now all the elderly above 70 years of age will also be covered and get benefit of free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana."

Under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) the govt provides a cover of up to Rs 5 lakhs per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. Being  implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA), the scheme, government says is amied to benefit 12 Crore beneficiary families.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has crossed the milestone of 30 crore Ayushman cards on 12 January2024, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.

Union Budget, 2024-25 will be presented in Lok Sabha on 23 July, 2024. The President of India, on the recommendation of Government of India, has approved the proposal for summoning of both the Houses of Parliament for the Budget Session, 2024 from 22nd July, 2024 to 12 August, 2024, subject to exigencies of Parliamentary Business. The Pre-Budget consultations for Union Budget 2024-25 that started from 19th June 2024 onward in the Ministry of Finance and chaired FM Nirmala Sitharaman, concluded on 5th July 2024.