Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), commonly known as Ayushman Bharat or the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), is a flagship healthcare scheme launched by the Government of India on 23rd September 2018. It is one of the largest publicly funded health insurance schemes in the world. The primary objective of Ayushman Bharat is to provide financial protection and quality healthcare to over 10 crore vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore individuals) in India.

1. Financial Protection: Ayushman Bharat provides an annual health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family, covering a range of secondary and tertiary care hospitalization expenses. This financial protection helps families avoid catastrophic healthcare expenses that can lead to financial distress.

2. Target Beneficiaries: The scheme covers economically weaker sections of society, identified based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data. PM-JAY aims to cover around 40% of India’s population.

3. Cashless Treatment: Under Ayushman Bharat, beneficiaries can avail cashless treatment at empaneled hospitals across India. The scheme ensures hassle-free and timely medical services for the insured families.

4. Coverage of Medical Expenses: The scheme covers a wide range of medical expenses, including hospitalization, surgery, diagnostics, medicines, consultation fees, and pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization expenses.

5. Portability: Ayushman Bharat offers portability, allowing beneficiaries to avail cashless treatment at any empaneled hospital in the country, regardless of their home state.

6. Quality Healthcare: Empaneled hospitals are required to meet certain quality standards to ensure that beneficiaries receive high-quality medical services.

7. Preventive Health Services: The scheme also focuses on promoting preventive health practices and wellness, encouraging beneficiaries to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Ayushman Bharat aims to reduce the financial burden of healthcare expenses on vulnerable families, ensuring that they have access to quality medical services without worrying about the cost. By providing financial protection and improving healthcare access, the scheme contributes significantly to the overall well-being of millions of people in India.