Aadhaar mandatory for second-time treatment under Ayushman Bharat scheme

Indu Bhushan, CEO of the National Health Agency, said Aadhaar is not mandatory to avail benefits for the first time under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) but will be compulsory for those seeking treatment under the scheme for the second time.

Bhushan said in case the Aadhaar number is not available, beneficiaries have to at least provide documents to prove that they have enrolled for the 12-digit unique identity number.

The Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, touted as the world’s largest health protection scheme, was launched on September 23 to provide healthcare facilities to the sections of the society who cannot afford it.

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It aims to cover over 10 crore vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) and provide health cover up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. According to the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data, the scheme will target poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers’ families – 8.03 crore in rural and 2.33 crore in urban areas. A beneficiary covered under the scheme will be allowed to take cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the country.

"We are studying the Supreme Court order. Aadhaar number or at least documents to prove that one has enrolled for the 12-digit unique identity number will be mandatory to seek treatment under the scheme for the second time.

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To avail benefits for the first time, one can either show an Aadhaar or any other identity document like election card etc," Bhushan said.

According to Union Health Minister J P Nadda, more than 50,000 poor people have availed benefits of the scheme since its launch.

Deputy CEO of the NHA Dinesh Arora has claimed that more than 92,000 people have been given gold cards.However, states like Telangana, Odisha, Delhi and Kerala are yet to opt for the scheme.

(With PTI inputs)