Odisha Rolls Out Ayushman Bharat for 3.5 Crore Citizens

Cuttack: The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) was officially launched in Odisha on Friday by Union Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda. The ceremonial event took place at the Bali Jatra Ground in Cuttack in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, State Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, and several senior party leaders and government officials.

The ambitious health insurance scheme aims to provide coverage to 1.3 crore families, accounting for around 3.5 crore individuals across the state. With a special focus on migrant workers, the programme will leverage a vast network of empanelled hospitals to ensure quality healthcare.

Under the scheme, each family is entitled to Rs 5 lakh in annual health insurance, with an additional Rs 5 lakh earmarked exclusively for women, potentially offering up to Rs 10 lakh coverage per household with female members.

Replacing the previous Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), the new scheme introduces integrated digital health cards which will be valid across more than 29,000 empanelled hospitals nationwide. These cards ensure cashless treatment and include portability, allowing beneficiaries to access healthcare services in any state. Pre-existing conditions are also covered from the day of enrolment.

During the launch, the first batch of Ayushman Bharat health cards was distributed to beneficiaries, with CM Majhi supervising the distribution and implementation framework.

In a significant move, all citizens aged 70 years and above will be eligible for the scheme regardless of their income status.

The state government has allocated Rs 3,500 crore for the initial rollout and has integrated three healthcare schemes under this umbrella—AB PM-JAY, Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (G-JAY), and Ayushman Vaya-Vandana Yojana—to ensure comprehensive and inclusive health coverage for the people of Odisha.