The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) continues to strengthen India's public healthcare system, with more than 12.69 crore hospital admissions worth Rs. 1.92 lakh crore approved under the scheme till June 30, 2026. The flagship health insurance programme has also played a major role in reducing the financial burden of medical treatment on millions of families across the country.

Providing details in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, said the scheme currently offers health insurance cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family every year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. It covers nearly 12 crore economically vulnerable families, representing the bottom 40 per cent of India's population.

The government has steadily expanded the scheme's coverage over the past two years. In March 2024, around 37 lakh families of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers were brought under the programme. Later, in October 2024, the scheme was extended to cover nearly 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, belonging to 4.5 crore families, regardless of their socio-economic status.

According to the government, the scheme is now being implemented through a vast network of 37,413 public and private hospitals across the country, enabling beneficiaries to access cashless treatment for a wide range of medical conditions.

The impact of Ayushman Bharat is also reflected in the country's healthcare spending pattern. As per the National Health Accounts Estimates 2022-23, the share of out-of-pocket expenditure in total health spending has fallen sharply from 62.6 per cent in 2014-15 to 43.4 per cent in 2022-23. The government attributes this decline to increased public investment in healthcare and the expansion of publicly funded health insurance schemes, particularly AB-PMJAY.

Officials said the significant reduction in out-of-pocket expenses means that families are spending much less from their own savings on medical treatment, making healthcare more affordable and accessible for millions of Indians.