Introduction
Welcome to the comprehensive guide on Ayushman Card Online Apply. In 2025, the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM‑JAY) offers up to ₹5 lakh per family per year of cashless medical treatment at empanelled hospitals across India. If you’re wondering how to apply online, check eligibility, download the card, and use it for free treatment, this guide has you covered.
1. What Is the Ayushman Card?
- Ayushman Card is the beneficiary identity issued under PM‑JAY, India’s largest public health insurance scheme
- Covers secondary and tertiary care, including surgeries, ICU, diagnostics, pre‑hospitalisation (3 days), post‑hospitalisation (15 days), medicines, tests, OT and room charges
- The SocioEconomic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 database serves as the primary basis for eligibility; families that fall below the poverty line are eligible.
- Since late 2024–2025, citizens aged 70+ are eligible irrespective of income, under a special provision called the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card
2. Eligibility: Can You Apply?
2.1 Based on SECC 2011
- Eligibility is determined by your household being listed in the Secc‑2011 “poor vulnerable” list.
- Includes rural families living in kutcha houses, landless labourers, disabled‑only households, urban informal workers (street vendors, domestic workers)
2.2 Senior Citizens (70+ Jus Eligibility)
- As of March 2025, citizens aged 70 or above are eligible for full benefits regardless of economic status.
3. Documents Required
To apply online or offline, keep these documents ready:
- Aadhaar card (for identity and e‑KYC)
- Family ID or ration card connected to SECC information
- Income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable)
- Additional proof: address, date of birth, photograph (if applying offline)
4. How to Apply Ayushman Card Online (Step by Step)
4.1 Using the PM‑JAY Official Portal
- Go to pmjay.gov.in or search “PM‑JAY official website.”
- Click “Am I Eligible?” or go to the Beneficiary → Login section
- Enter your mobile number, Captcha, and OTP.
- Select scheme=PM‑JAY, state, district.
- Under “Search by,” choose Aadhaar number or Family ID.
- If eligible, your family members appear with “Status → Not Generated” or “Generated”.
- If Not Generated, click “Apply Now”. Do Aadhaar OTP e‑KYC, upload a recent photograph, DOB, PIN, mobile, etc.
- Submit a judicial match‑score (≥ 80%) and your card.
- Once processed, you can download the digital Ayushman Card or receive a physical card 7–15 days later by post or at CSCs
4.2 Via Ayushman Bharat Mobile App
- Get it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Log in as a beneficiary with Aadhaar and OTP for e‑KYC.
- Complete personal details and photograph, then submit.
- Digital card becomes available instantly or shortly after
4.3 Offline: At CSC Centre or Empanelled Hospital
- Visit any AyushmanMitra counter in an affiliated hospital or the closest CSC (Common Service Centre). Go to the nearest CSC (Common Service Centre) or any Ayushman-Mitra counter in a hospital that is affiliated.
- Provide Aadhaar, ration card, mobile number; biometric verification is done.
- Staff assists you with the application; the card is generated then and there or sent soon after
5. Downloading the Card
- Log in to the portal or app after approval.
- Go to the Approved Beneficiary section.
- Download your digital Ayushman Card (Golden Card).
- Print out if needed, or keep a screenshot for hospital admission
6. Using the Ayushman Card
- Visit any hospital (private or public) that has a PM-JAY affiliation.
- Show your Ayushman Card and Aadhaar.
- Hospital staff verifies your identity (OTP or biometric).
- Avail cashless treatment, up to ₹5 lakh annually (plus ₹5 lakh extra for seniors in some cases)—includes pre and post hospitalization and tests
7. Common Issues & Troubleshooting
7.1 Card Not Found in Search
- Some applicants (especially seniors) have reported that their records show during enrollment search, but not in the hospital database, preventing treatment approval
- Solution: wait a few days, call customer care, or visit a CSC/hospital counter for help.
7.2 Agents Charging Fees
- The scheme is free, but some private agents (e.g. Jan Suvidha Kendras) charge exorbitant fees (e.g., ₹7,000) for help—this is illegal and unnecessary
- Use official portals, apps, CSCs, or hospitals directly—no bribes required.
7.3 Hospitals Refusing Coverage
- Some empanelled hospitals deny treatment, citing they don’t cover certain procedures or have opted out, but lists are not always updated on the portal
- Always confirm with hospital management or check the live updated empanelled list on the PM‑JAY website.
8. Benefits in Brief
- Free medical cover up to ₹5 lakh per family per year (additional in some states)
- Covers major surgeries, diagnostics, ICU, room, OT, medicines, and follow‑up care.
- permits benefits to be transferred to certified, empanelled hospitals across the nation.
- Seniors aged 70+ get additional cover via Ayushman Vay Vandana Card (through app or portal)
11. Latest Updates & Cautions (2025)
- Private hospitals in Haryana plan to stop the Ayushman scheme from August 7, 2025, due to delayed reimbursements (~₹500 crore), affecting planned treatments, though emergency services continue
- In Delhi, the new HIMS portal integrates patient OPD bookings with ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) IDs, improving digital record access in 35 government hospitals
- Always verify empanelment status before admission; lists update periodically on the PM‑JAY site.
12. Ayushman card online apply
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Click “Apply Now” if the card has not been generated | See if your family is eligible |
| 2 | Submit Aadhaar, mobile & documents | KYC biometric / OTP verification |
| 3 | Download digital card, or receive physical card in 7–15 days | Triggers e‑KYC, match score ≥ 80% |
| 4 | Submit full family details | Photo, DOB, mobile, address |
| 5 | Submit application | Applicant status changes to Generated |
| 6 | Use at the hospital for cashless treatment | Click “Apply Now” if the card has not been generated |
