The Ayushman Card (officially called Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Card or PM-JAY Golden Card) is your family’s passport to cashless healthcare at over 28,000 hospitals across India. No premiums, no paperwork at admission time—just show your card and get treated.
What is Ayushman Card? Quick Overview
Launched in 2018 by the National Health Authority (NHA), Government of India, the Ayushman Card provides ₹5 lakh annual health coverage to economically vulnerable families. It’s currently the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme.
| Key Fact | Number |
|---|---|
| Ayushman Cards Generated | 27+ Crore |
| Hospital Admissions Covered | 5+ Crore |
| Empanelled Hospitals | 28,000+ |
| Annual Coverage Per Family | ₹5 Lakh |
| Beneficiary Families | 12+ Crore |
The best part? The card is completely free. No application fees, no renewal charges, no hidden costs—ever.
Ayushman Card Eligibility 2026: Who Can Apply?
Eligibility is based on the SECC 2011 (Socio-Economic Caste Census) data. Your eligibility is pre-determined—you don’t “apply” to get on the list, you simply verify your existing eligibility.
Eligible Rural Households
Your family qualifies if it falls in any category:
- Lives in kutcha (temporary) house
- No adult earning member
- No male member aged 18-59
- Disabled or chronically sick adult member
- Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe household
- Landless labourer dependent on casual manual work
Eligible Urban Occupations
Your household qualifies if anyone works as:
- Street vendor, hawker, or junk dealer
- Construction worker, plumber, or mason
- Domestic worker, sweeper, or sanitation worker
- Driver, porter, conductor, or delivery staff
- Security guard, shop assistant, or workshop worker
New Addition: Senior Citizens (2024 Onwards)
All senior citizens aged 70 years and above—across all income groups—are now eligible for Ayushman Bharat coverage. This expansion adds approximately 4.5 crore additional beneficiaries.
Quick Eligibility Check
Visit pmjay.gov.in and click “Am I Eligible?” Enter your mobile number or Ration Card number to instantly verify your family’s eligibility status.
Documents Required for Ayushman Card
Keep these ready before starting your application:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar Card | Mandatory for eKYC verification |
| Ration Card | Eligibility verification |
| Mobile Number | Registered with Aadhaar (for OTP) |
| Family ID | If already assigned |
| PMJAY ID | If previously registered |
Note: If your mobile isn’t linked to Aadhaar, you can still apply through CSC centres using biometric verification.
How to Apply for Ayushman Card Online: 3 Easy Methods (2026 Updated)
Choose the method that works best for you—all are completely free.
Method 1: Apply vi (Official Portal)
Step 1: Open your browser and go to beneficiary.nha.gov.in—the official Ayushman Bharat beneficiary portal.
Step 2: Click on “Beneficiary” and enter your registered mobile number. Verify using the OTP received on your phone.
Step 3: Select your State, District, and preferred search method—search by Aadhaar Number, Family ID, Ration Card, or your name.
Step 4: If your family is eligible, your name will appear in search results. Click “Apply for Ayushman Card.”
Step 5: Complete eKYC verification—enter your Aadhaar number and verify with OTP sent to your registered mobile.
Step 6: Once eKYC is verified, the screen shows “eKYC Completed.”
Step 7: Your card is reviewed and approved within 2-7 working days. You’ll receive SMS notification when ready for download.
Method 2: Apply via Ayushman App (Easiest for Mobile Users)
- Download official Ayushman App from Google Play Store
- Open app and log in with mobile number
- Search your name and check eligibility
- Complete eKYC within the app
- Apply for Ayushman Card—done!
Pro Tip: The app now supports voice search in 12 regional languages for 2026.
Method 3: Apply via Common Service Centre (CSC)
Best option if you don’t have smartphone or internet access.
Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) with Aadhaar card and mobile number. The trained operator (Ayushman Mitra) will complete your registration, eKYC, and card application—completely free of charge.
Find nearest CSC: csc.gov.in
⚠️ Important Warning
Getting Ayushman Card is 100% free. If anyone asks for money to apply or download your card, they are fraudsters. Report immediately to helpline 14555.
Ayushman Card eKYC: Complete Guide 2026
eKYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) is Aadhaar-based identity verification—mandatory for card issuance.
Two Ways to Complete eKYC
1. OTP-Based eKYC (From Home)
- Enter Aadhaar number on portal/app
- OTP sent to Aadhaar-registered mobile
- Enter OTP
- eKYC complete ✓
2. Biometric eKYC (At CSC)
- Visit nearest CSC centre
- Operator uses fingerprint/iris scanner
- Identity authenticated instantly
- eKYC complete ✓
What If eKYC Fails?
Common reasons for failure:
- Name mismatch between Aadhaar and PMJAY database
- Date of birth mismatch
- Aadhaar not linked to mobile
Solution: Update Aadhaar details at nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra first, then retry eKYC on portal.
Check eKYC status anytime by logging into beneficiary.nha.gov.in—status appears next to each family member’s name.
How to Download Ayushman Card: 4 Methods (2026)
Once your card is approved, downloading takes less than 2 minutes.
Method 1: Download from beneficiary.nha.gov.in
- Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in
- Log in with mobile number and OTP
- Select State and Scheme (PMJAY)
- Search by name, Aadhaar, Family ID, or PMJAY ID
- Family members appear—click Download icon next to desired member
- Authenticate using Aadhaar OTP or biometric
- Click “Download Card” —saves as PDF
Method 2: Download via Ayushman App
- Open Ayushman App and log in
- Select family member from list
- Authenticate with Aadhaar
- Tap “Download Card” —saved as PDF on phone
Method 3: Download from DigiLocker
- Open DigiLocker (website or app)
- Search for “Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana”
- Enter PMJAY ID and click “Get Documents”
- Card appears in Issued Documents section
- Download as PDF—valid forever
Method 4: Offline Download from CSC
Visit nearest CSC with Aadhaar and mobile number. Operator downloads and prints your card instantly.
How to Check Ayushman Card Status
Wondering if your card is approved? Check instantly:
Option 1: Beneficiary Portal
Log in to beneficiary.nha.gov.in—status shows next to each family member:
- Pending – Under processing
- eKYC Completed – Verification done, awaiting approval
- Approved – Ready to download
Option 2: pmjay.gov.in
Visit pmjay.gov.in, click “Am I Eligible?”, enter mobile number or Ration Card number to view current status.
Option 3: PMJAY Helpline
Call toll-free 14555 or 1800-111-565. Provide Aadhaar or Family ID to check status instantly.
New Features on Ayushman Portal (2026 Updates)
The beneficiary portal has been upgraded with powerful new features:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| AI Eligibility Pre-Screening | Chatbot checks likely eligibility before login |
| Voice Search | Search in 12 regional languages |
| DigiLocker Integration | Auto-fetch documents during eKYC |
| Biometric Authentication | Fingerprint/iris support for security |
| Real-Time Tracking | Track application status with SMS alerts |
| GIS Hospital Locator | Find nearest empanelled hospitals on map |
| ABHA Integration | Link PM-JAY with digital health records |
Ayushman Card Hospital List: Find Nearby Hospitals
Your Ayushman Card works at 28,000+ government and private hospitals nationwide.
How to Find Hospitals:
- Visit pmjay.gov.in
- Click “Find Hospital”
- Select:
- State
- District
- Speciality (optional)
- Hospital Type (Govt/Private)
- Full list appears with:
- Hospital name and address
- Contact numbers
- Specialities available
- Distance from your location
Filter by Speciality
Need specific treatment? Filter by:
- Cardiology
- Orthopaedics
- Cancer Care (Oncology)
- Neurology
- Paediatrics
- General Surgery
- And 20+ more specialities
State-Wise Ayushman Card Schemes
Ayushman Card Odisha
Odisha residents can now access PMJAY benefits through Bijupatnaik Health Assurance Scheme convergence. Download card from beneficiary.nha.gov.in by selecting Odisha as state.
MJPJAY Maharashtra
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (Maharashtra) is now fully integrated with PMJAY. Maharashtra residents get coverage exceeding ₹5 lakh through convergence.
SHA Punjab – Ayushman Card Punjab
Punjab residents can access cards through beneficiary.nha.gov.in or Sewa Punjab portal. State Health Agency Punjab manages implementation.
Ayushman CAPF – For Defence Personnel
Covers personnel and families of:
- CRPF
- BSF
- CISF
- ITBP
- SSB
- Assam Rifles
Note: Physical plastic cards discontinued in 2022. Only digital or printed cards valid.
Ayushman Card vs Regular Health Insurance
| Feature | Ayushman Card (PMJAY) | Regular Health Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 100% Free | Annual premium required |
| Coverage | ₹5 Lakh/year | Depends on plan (₹3-50 Lakh) |
| Who It’s For | Economically weaker sections | Anyone who can pay |
| Hospitals | 28,000+ empanelled | Network hospitals |
| Cashless Treatment | Yes | Yes (network hospitals) |
| Senior Citizen Bonus | Extra coverage for 70+ | Extra premium charged |
| Renewal | Automatic | Annual renewal needed |
| Pre-existing Diseases | Covered from day 1 | Waiting period applies |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How do I know if I’m eligible for Ayushman Card?
Visit pmjay.gov.in → Click “Am I Eligible?” → Enter mobile or Ration Card number. Instant result shows eligibility status.
Q2: Can I apply if not on SECC list?
Standard eligibility requires SECC 2011 data. However:
- Senior citizens (70+) are eligible regardless
- Some states have expanded criteria under state schemes
- Check with your state health agency
Q3: How long to get card after applying?
2-7 working days after successful eKYC completion. You’ll receive SMS when ready.
Q4: Can I download cards for all family members?
Yes. Once logged in, all eligible family members appear on dashboard. Download individual cards for each member.
Q5: Is Ayushman Card valid in other states?
Yes, nationally valid. Use at any empanelled hospital across India—not just home state. Perfect for travel or temporary relocation.