Senior citizens aged 70 and above in Delhi can now get their medical expenses covered at empanelled government and private hospitals in the city with Ayushman cards under Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY). The Delhi government on Monday provided the first 38 Ayushman Cards to beneficiaries at an event, underlining that the scheme will be a huge help, as private insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions for senior citizens and deprive them of necessary healthcare services.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta distributed the Ayushman cards at Monday’s event.
Free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh and an annual cover of Rs 5 lakh, shared within the family, are offered to the beneficiaries under the scheme. This means if there are two elderly beneficiaries in the household, the cover will be split among them.
Launching the scheme at the Thyagraj Stadium, Gupta underlined that only an Aadhaar card and proof of residence in the Capital will be sufficient to make a Vay Vandana Card, irrespective of an income certificate. The government’s aim is that no eligible senior citizen is left out, she asserted.
Speaking at the event, Puri, referring to the BJP ruling the Centre, city, and civic body, said that Delhi’s “triple-engine government” is accelerating developmental work. He also criticised the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for not implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the Capital. “If a senior citizen needs treatment for a particular illness in any part of the country, they can go to any empanelled hospital in those locations for free treatment,” he said.
Vay Vandana Card will carry complete information about health records, medicines, and treatments. Cardholders will be entitled to free health check-ups, medicines, and treatment, including emergency care, at any empanelled hospital under the scheme in the city.
As per the National Health Authority (NHA) dashboard, there are 93 hospitals, including private and public, empanelled under the scheme.
Story continues below this ad
The CM urged all public representatives to prepare lists of senior citizens in their constituencies and actively assist those who are unable to use technology to reach registration centers.
Taking a jibe at the previous AAP government, the CM claimed that the former government, “due to its arrogance had prevented the implementation of this remarkable scheme for Delhi’s senior citizens for years”. “Today, I want to clearly state that Delhi will now take its own decisions, and no citizen’s rights will be taken away. This government stands with its senior citizens and is fully committed to protecting their dignity and rights”, she said.
It often becomes difficult for senior citizens to access adequate healthcare facilities due to limited income and rising medical expenses, underlined Delhi Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh, who was also present at the event. “Most health insurance schemes are expensive and do not cover pre-existing conditions, which sometimes leaves our elderly deprived of necessary healthcare services. In such a situation, the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana has emerged as a protective shield for them,” he said.
Among the beneficiaries who were given the card on Monday was 74-year-old Gangasaran Shastri from West Delhi’s Uttam Nagar, a priest in Laxmi Narayan Temple in Sainik Enclave. “I hope I don’t fall ill. However, sometime back my health had deteriorated and I was admitted to a private hospital, which cost us a huge bill of Rs 6-7 lakh,” he said.
Story continues below this ad
Shastri’s son is a cab driver, and the family had to take a loan from acquaintances to pay the bill of the private hospital, he said, adding that his son does not have any health insurance. “Neither me nor my son earns enough to buy health insurance. Whatever we earn goes into daily expenses,” he shared.
Ninety-five-year-old Rafiq, a resident of Mehrauli, who came with his daughter-in-law, Ishrat, suffers from asthma and high blood pressure.
He often goes to Safdarjung Hospital to get treatment. However, his daughter-in -law said that he has to wait for long hours due to queues. “If we get immediate treatment in private hospitals with the help of this card, it would be a huge help to us,” she said. The card also gives a health cover for Rafiq’s wife.
Meanwhile, Birma Devi, 72, a resident of Kalyan Puri, said that it would have been great if she had gotten the card earlier. “I have a high BP issue, and I usually go to GB Pant Hospital, but it takes the whole day for me to wait there. The waiting time for tests is also long,” she said.
Her son said the card will help in accessing private hospitals, which the family doesn’t usually opt for due to the high costs. “The government has given us this card now. It’s a relief. Hopefully, we will be able to avail the services under this,” said Vinod.