Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY eligibility is list-based: families identified in the SECC 2011 survey and certain occupational categories qualify automatically, and every senior aged 70+ now qualifies regardless of income. This guide explains all routes to eligibility and how to check yours in two minutes.
Who is eligible
Rural families (SECC deprivation criteria)
- Households with only one room and kutcha walls/roof
- No adult member aged 16–59, or female-headed households with no adult male member 16–59
- SC/ST households
- Households with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult
- Landless households earning mainly from manual casual labour
- Automatically included: destitute/alms-dependent, manual scavenger families, primitive tribal groups, legally released bonded labourers
Urban families (occupational categories)
- Ragpickers, beggars, domestic workers, street vendors, cobblers, hawkers
- Construction workers, plumbers, masons, painters, welders, security guards, coolies
- Sweepers, sanitation workers, gardeners
- Home-based artisans, tailors, drivers, conductors, rickshaw pullers
- Shop assistants, peons, delivery boys, waiters, electricians, mechanics, washermen
Other routes
- Families covered under the old RSBY scheme
- All senior citizens aged 70+ — Vay Vandana card, no income test
- Many states cover additional families under state health schemes merged with PM-JAY
How to check your eligibility
- Open beneficiary.nha.gov.in and log in with your mobile + OTP
- Search by Aadhaar, ration card/family ID or name with your state and district
- If your family record appears, you are eligible — proceed to e-KYC
- Or call the toll-free helpline 14555 with your details
Free eligibility check on the official NHA portal.
Not eligible? Your options
- Check your state government health scheme — several states offer near-universal coverage with the same hospital network
- Members aged 70+ can get the Vay Vandana card independently
- Low-premium options like PMSBY (accident insurance) and PMJJBY (life insurance) provide partial protection for a few hundred rupees a year
Frequently asked questions
Is there an income limit for PM-JAY?
There is no direct income test for the main scheme — eligibility follows the SECC/occupational lists. Only the 70+ route ignores all criteria.
My neighbour got a card but we did not, though we are similar. Why?
Eligibility depends on how your household was recorded in SECC 2011. Small differences in that data decide inclusion — check your record on the portal or at a CSC.
Can a new family member be added?
Yes — newborns and newly married spouses can be added to an already-eligible family with supporting documents through the add-member option.
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Disclaimer: PMYojnaUpdates.com is an independent information portal, not affiliated with any government department. Always use the official site pmjay.gov.in for applications and status checks.