Once CGHS Card Is Surrendered By Retired Govt Employee For Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Can They Switch Back?

The Narendra Modi Government has expanded the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to provide health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their income. It was first approved by the Union Cabinet in September this year. It is in addition to the existing AB PM-JAY family scheme, wherein the elderly will have a separate cover of Rs 5 lakh per year.

The only eligibility criterion to get Ayushman Bharat Yojana for senior citizen is that the individual must be aged 70 years or above, as determined by the age recorded in their Aadhaar card, regardless of economic status.

Although Retired Government Employee Above 70 Years holding CGHS Card are eligible for Ayushman Bharat Scheme, they can't avail benefits from both. As per government rules, citizens who benefit from any other government health scheme must choose either their existing scheme benefits or those under AB PM-JAY. This means if you have CGHS, you must choose between CGHS and Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, as benefits from both schemes cannot be availed simultaneously.

Once retired government employees above 70 Year age choose the AB PM-JAY scheme and surrender their existing CGHS card or government health insurance, they cannot switch back. This is a one-time option and cannot be reversed.

Yes. The senior citizens over 70 years of age, are eligible for Ayushman Bharat coverage even if they have private health insurance.

Yes. If the senior citizens are over 70 years of age and covered under ESIC, they will still be eligible for PM-JAY coverage.

Yes, your parents aged above 70 years old are eligible for the additional top-up benefit of Rs 5 lakh. However, they will need to redo their Aadhaar based eKYC.