Expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme

The Ayushman Bharat scheme has been expanded to include all elderly individuals over the age of 70, providing them with universal health coverage regardless of their income status. Previously, the scheme focused on the poorest 40% of the population, but this new version aims to address the vulnerabilities faced by the aging population. Over 200,000 new beneficiaries have already registered for this expanded coverage, which includes an additional 5 lakhs of top-up coverage for those who were already part of the scheme. This initiative acknowledges the increasing healthcare needs of the elderly, many of whom suffer from chronic conditions requiring extensive medical care and have limited access to health insurance.