Unable to get an Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card? Here’s a step-by-step guide.
On 29 October, the union government expanded the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to provide free health insurance to all citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income.
To enrol for the scheme, senior citizens need to generate an Ayushman Vaya Vandana (AVV) Card. While the government has specified the process, a good number are unable to do it.
Take the case of Dilip Mamadapur, 70, from Mumbai. He did his e-KYC only to see a pop-up that said the state where he lives either does not offer the scheme or has the Model Code of Conduct in force due to elections. The same was the case with Abhishek Agnihotri, 71, from Kanpur. He was informed that he could apply for the scheme only once the Model Code of Conduct was lifted. This code is meant to ensure that political parties don’t launch public schemes or grant financial aid to swing votes in their favour in the run-up to elections.
Also read | Beyond health cover: Why Ayushman Bharat has still not aced its true test
To find out where all it’s currently in force, we telephoned the Ayushman Bharat helpline number '14555'. According to the PMJAY customer service executive, the model code is in force in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and some districts of Assam and Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It is unknown for how long it will be in force in these states, but you can call the helpline to enquire about your specific district.
Notably, residents of Delhi and West Bengal cannot apply for the scheme at all. Since health is a state subject, the governments of these two regions have not allowed the central government to offer PMJAY.
Those who are eligible can apply for
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