The Ayushman Card allows eligible beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana—commonly called AB PM-JAY—to receive cashless hospital treatment at empanelled government and private hospitals.
Under the scheme, eligible families may receive health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for approved secondary and tertiary hospitalisation. This amount is not paid directly into the beneficiary’s bank account. It is used for eligible cashless treatment at participating hospitals.
In this guide, you will learn how to check your eligibility, create an Ayushman Card, download it, find an empanelled hospital, and use the card for treatment.
Important: Nuvelloza.com is an independent informational website. We are not connected with the National Health Authority, PM-JAY, or any government department. Always verify information through the official PM-JAY portal or helpline.
Ayushman Card 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana |
| Common name | AB PM-JAY |
| Card name | Ayushman Card |
| Benefit | Cashless hospitalisation coverage |
| Coverage limit | Up to ₹5 lakh per eligible family per year |
| Treatment type | Approved secondary and tertiary hospitalisation |
| Hospitals | Empanelled government and private hospitals |
| Application mode | Online app/portal or authorised assistance centre |
| Official authority | National Health Authority |
| Beneficiary helpline | 14555 |
| Application fee | Card generation should not require payment through the official self-service process |
What Is the Ayushman Card?
The Ayushman Card is a beneficiary identification card issued under AB PM-JAY.
It helps an empanelled hospital verify that a person is eligible to receive treatment under the scheme. The card generally contains identifying information connected with the approved beneficiary record.
The official Ayushman mobile application says eligible beneficiaries can use it to create their Ayushman Card and access free treatment of up to ₹5 lakh under PM-JAY.
An Ayushman Card is different from an ABHA Card. An ABHA number is mainly a digital health-account identifier used for managing and sharing health records. It does not automatically establish eligibility for ₹5 lakh PM-JAY coverage.
Benefits of the Ayushman Card
Eligible beneficiaries may receive the following benefits:
- Cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals
- Coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per eligible family per year
- Access to approved secondary and tertiary hospitalisation packages
- Treatment at participating government and private hospitals
- Paperless beneficiary verification
- Coverage that may be used across participating hospitals in India
- Access to approved treatment packages subject to scheme rules
The ₹5 lakh benefit is a family-level annual health-coverage limit, unless a specific eligible category has different rules. It is not a personal loan, subsidy payment, or cash transfer.
Who Is Eligible for an Ayushman Card?
You cannot become eligible simply by submitting a general application.
For most beneficiaries, eligibility depends on whether the person or family is included in the applicable PM-JAY beneficiary database or a participating state’s approved database.
Eligibility may cover identified poor and vulnerable families and other categories included by the central or state government.
Senior citizens aged 70 or above
The Government of India expanded AB PM-JAY health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income, subject to the applicable enrolment and scheme rules.
Senior citizens should check their status through the official beneficiary platform or Ayushman application because verification and card-generation requirements may differ from those for existing PM-JAY families.
How to Check Ayushman Card Eligibility Online
Follow these general steps:
- Open the official PM-JAY beneficiary platform or the official Ayushman application.
- Select the beneficiary-login option.
- Enter your mobile number.
- Complete the OTP or other requested verification.
- Select your state.
- Search using the available details, such as your name, Aadhaar information, family ID, ration-card details, or other supported identifier.
- Check whether your name appears as an eligible beneficiary.
- Review the displayed family and beneficiary details carefully.
The exact search options can vary by state and beneficiary category.
Finding your name in an unofficial online list does not guarantee approval. Eligibility should be confirmed through the official beneficiary system or an authorised PM-JAY representative.
Documents That May Be Required
Depending on your state and beneficiary category, you may be asked for:
- Aadhaar card
- Aadhaar-linked mobile number
- Government-issued photo identification
- Ration card
- Family identification document
- Proof of age
- Proof of residence
- Existing PM-JAY beneficiary details
- Other documents requested by the applicable authority
Not every applicant will need every document. The required documents depend on the information already available in the beneficiary database and the verification method being used.
Do not share your Aadhaar OTP, banking password, card PIN, or login credentials with an unknown person.
How to Apply for an Ayushman Card Online
Eligible beneficiaries may be able to create a card through the official Ayushman application or beneficiary platform.
Step 1: Install the official Ayushman app
Search for the official Ayushman App published for the Government of India and verify the publisher information before installing it.
Avoid unofficial applications with similar names.
Step 2: Log in as a beneficiary
Select the beneficiary option and enter your mobile number.
Complete the OTP, captcha, or other required security verification.
Step 3: Search for your beneficiary record
Choose your state and use one of the available search methods.
Confirm that the beneficiary’s:
- Name
- Age
- Gender
- Family details
- Address or district
are correct before continuing.
Step 4: Complete identity verification
The portal or app may request Aadhaar-based authentication, face verification, OTP verification, or another approved identity-verification process.
Step 5: Submit the card request
Check all displayed details and submit the request.
The application may be sent for verification if it cannot be approved immediately.
Step 6: Check approval status
Return to the beneficiary section and check whether the card has been approved.
Once approved, the card may become available for download.
How to Make an Ayushman Card Offline
Eligible beneficiaries who cannot complete the process online may seek assistance through an authorised facility, such as:
- An Ayushman help desk at an empanelled hospital
- An authorised Common Service Centre
- A state-designated enrolment location
- Another officially authorised PM-JAY support point
Carry your original identification and family-related documents.
Ask whether the centre is officially authorised before sharing personal information. Avoid agents who promise guaranteed eligibility or request a large payment.
How to Download an Ayushman Card
Once your card has been approved:
- Open the official beneficiary portal or Ayushman application.
- Log in using your registered mobile number.
- Complete the required verification.
- Select your approved beneficiary record.
- Choose the card-download option.
- Complete authentication if requested.
- Save the Ayushman Card PDF or digital copy.
- Print a copy if you prefer to carry a physical card.
The National Health Authority’s training resources include a process for downloading beneficiary Ayushman Cards through its beneficiary-identification system.
Keep your card secure because it contains personal identification information.
How to Find an Empanelled Hospital
Treatment under PM-JAY must generally be taken at a hospital empanelled under the scheme for the relevant treatment package.
To find one:
- Open the official PM-JAY hospital-search service.
- Select your state.
- Choose your district.
- Select the hospital type or speciality when available.
- Review the displayed empanelled hospitals.
- Contact the hospital before travelling.
- Confirm that the required treatment package is currently available.
The official PM-JAY hospital-search system allows users to search for empanelled healthcare facilities.
A hospital may be empanelled but may not provide every treatment package. Always confirm the required department and treatment in advance.
How to Use the Ayushman Card for Treatment
At an empanelled hospital:
- Visit the hospital’s Ayushman or PM-JAY help desk.
- Show your Ayushman Card and requested identification.
- Ask the help-desk representative to verify your eligibility.
- Let the hospital check whether the proposed treatment is covered.
- Complete any required pre-authorisation process.
- Review all documents before signing.
- Keep copies of admission, approval, discharge, and treatment records.
Treatment is available only according to approved PM-JAY packages, medical requirements, hospital empanelment, available annual coverage, and other scheme rules.
Is Every Medical Expense Free?
No.
The card does not mean that every doctor visit, medicine, test, or treatment is automatically free.
Coverage generally depends on:
- Whether the person is an approved beneficiary
- Whether the hospital is empanelled
- Whether the required procedure is part of an approved package
- Whether hospitalisation or pre-authorisation requirements are met
- Whether the family’s applicable coverage is available
- Whether state-specific rules apply
Ask the hospital’s Ayushman help desk for written clarification before treatment begins.
Common Reasons an Ayushman Card May Not Be Generated
A card request may remain pending or fail because:
- The beneficiary’s name is not in the approved database
- Aadhaar details do not match the beneficiary record
- The mobile number cannot receive an OTP
- The name, age, or address differs across documents
- Identity verification is incomplete
- The uploaded image is unclear
- The application is awaiting official verification
- The state uses a different enrolment process
- The applicant is confusing an ABHA Card with an Ayushman Card
Do not repeatedly submit different details. Contact authorised support to correct the record.
Ayushman Card Helpline
For official assistance, beneficiaries may contact the PM-JAY helpline at:
14555
Use the official helpline to ask about:
- Eligibility
- Card status
- Empanelled hospitals
- Treatment complaints
- Suspected fraud
- Incorrect beneficiary details
Never pay a person who claims they can add an ineligible name to the government beneficiary database.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ayushman Card free?
Eligible beneficiaries can generate the Ayushman Card through official channels. Be cautious if an unauthorised agent asks for a large application or approval fee.
Does the government deposit ₹5 lakh into my account?
No. The scheme provides eligible cashless hospitalisation coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. It is not a direct bank payment.
Can anyone apply for an Ayushman Card?
Anyone may check their status, but a card can be generated only for a person who meets the applicable eligibility and verification requirements.
Can I use the card at a private hospital?
Yes, but only at private hospitals empanelled under PM-JAY and only for eligible treatment packages.
Is an ABHA Card the same as an Ayushman Card?
No. An ABHA number is a digital health identifier. An Ayushman Card identifies an eligible PM-JAY beneficiary for covered treatment.
Can people aged 70 or above apply?
Senior citizens aged 70 years and above are covered under the expanded PM-JAY provisions irrespective of income, subject to enrolment and verification requirements.
Can I download the card on my phone?
Once the beneficiary record and card are approved, the digital card may be downloaded through the supported official platform or application.
What should I do if a hospital asks for money?
First ask whether the charge relates to a covered PM-JAY package. Request a written explanation and contact the official PM-JAY helpline if you suspect that a covered service is being wrongly charged.
Final Words
The Ayushman Card can help eligible families receive approved cashless hospital treatment without paying the full covered hospital cost themselves.
Before relying on the card, confirm:
- Your eligibility
- Your card approval status
- The hospital’s current empanelment
- Whether the required treatment package is covered
- Whether any pre-authorisation is required
Use only official channels, protect your personal information, and call 14555 when you need assistance.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational purposes only. Scheme rules, eligibility databases, enrolment methods, treatment packages, and state-level procedures may change.
Nuvelloza.com does not issue Ayushman Cards, approve beneficiaries, arrange treatment, or collect applications. Always confirm current information through the National Health Authority, the official PM-JAY beneficiary platform, an authorised help centre, or the relevant government department.