Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme Completes 2 Years with 23.46 Lakh Hospital Admissions

Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme became two years old on October 29, 2026, which has a total of 23.46 lakh admissions authorised at ₹5,668.80 crore till October 20, 2026. Initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024, the scheme extends the benefits of Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to all senior citizens above 70 years irrespective of income and socio-economic class.

What Is the Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme?

Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme is an extension of the government’s Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme, making its benefits available for all senior citizens above 70 years old irrespective of income and socio-economic profile.

The scheme was rolled out on October 29, 2024, and it has been administered by the National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The scheme seeks to give financial protection against the cost of hospitalisation to about six crore senior citizens from 4.5 crore families.

Key Features and Benefits

• Name of the Program: Ayushman Vay Vandana
• Date of introduction: October 29, 2024
• Targeted age group: All older citizens above the age of 70
• Income limit: There is no requirement for income or socio-economic status
• Health benefits: ₹5 lakh every year
• Scope of services: Secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation
• Agency implementing the policy: National Health Authority
• Concerned ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
• Expected beneficiaries: Approximately 6 crore senior citizens
• Households included: About 4.5 crore

How Does ₹5 lakh Health Benefits Work?

Beneficiaries eligible in families not covered under AB PM-JAY will get ₹5 lakh worth of health benefits each year.

Senior citizens who are aged 70 and above and belong to a family covered by AB PM-JAY will get an additional scheme of ₹5 lakh benefits per year for themselves only. This scheme will not provide benefits to those family members of the citizens who are less than the age of 70.

Policy change is notable as it enables senior citizens to enjoy public sector hospitalisation benefits without any affluence tests for them.

Ayushman Vay Vandana: Performance After Two Years

Data officially released by the government on October 29, 2026, revealed the following data up to October 20, 2026.

• Authorised admissions into hospitals: 23.46 lakhs
• Value of Authorised Care: ₹5,668.80 Crore
• Commonest Treatment: Cataract operation and completed 4.71 Lakhs operations
• Costliest treatment: PTCA and covered around approximately ₹649 crores

Commonest Treatments Available

1. Cataract surgery: About 4.71 Lakhs surgeries have been performed under this surgery. Thus, cataract surgery is the most common procedure which constituted about 20.1% of authorised procedures.

2. Haemodialysis: Approximately 2.90 lakh surgeries have been authorised through this programme. Haemodialysis removes waste products and excess fluids from the blood when the kidneys are unable to do so.

3. Cardiac procedure: The most expensive authorised treatment is PTCA, costing approximately ₹649 crores.