Ayushman Vay Vandana Card 2026: The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card is a vital health security benefit for senior citizens aged 70 years and above in India. Under this scheme, eligible seniors can avail cashless hospital treatment up to ₹5 lakh per year. However, many people have questions about eligibility for this scheme: must the family's annual income be below a certain threshold to obtain the card?

The National Health Authority (NHA) shared a related question on its official social media platform. The NHA asked whether citizens aged 70 years and above must meet any income-related criteria to benefit from the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana.

The answer to this question is especially useful for families who have elderly members at home.

Is there any income limit for Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card?

The answer to this question is – no.

As per the Central Government rules, there is no income limit applicable for Indian citizens aged 70 years and above for Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.

This means that whether the elderly person belongs to an economically weaker family, middle-class family or a high-income family, he/she can be eligible for health coverage under this scheme if he/she fulfils the age eligibility criteria.

The official FAQ of the National Health Authority also clarifies that eligibility in this scheme is not determined on the basis of income.

Up to how much will free treatment be available?

Under the extension of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), health coverage up to ₹5 lakh per annum has been made available for senior citizens.

Under this facility, cashless treatment can be availed as per the prescribed package of the scheme in the listed government and private hospitals.

However, it's important to understand one important point: ₹5 lakh health coverage is generally determined on a family basis. This does not mean that each senior citizen in the same family will necessarily receive a separate ₹5 lakh limit.

If a family is already covered under the Ayushman Bharat plan, additional top-up coverage of up to ₹5 lakh is provided separately for family members aged 70 years and above. This additional coverage is over and above the existing limit for younger family members.

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Who can get Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card made?

There are some basic conditions set for applying under this scheme.

• The applicant must be a citizen of India.
• His age should be at least 70 years.
• Age verification is done based on the date of birth or age recorded in Aadhaar.
• Aadhaar based e-KYC is required for card issuance.
• There is no maximum income limit for eligibility.

Registration for the scheme is available throughout the year. Therefore, eligible senior citizens can apply through the prescribed channels.

How to get Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card made at home?

Senior citizens who meet the eligibility criteria can register through the official portal or the Ayushman app.

The general procedure for online application is as follows:

1. First of all go to the official website https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in/ .
2. Use the available option to login as a beneficiary.
3. mobile number and complete the required verification process.
4. Enter the senior citizen's details and Aadhaar details.
5. Complete Aadhaar based e-KYC if required.
6. Proceed with the application process by filling in the required information and declarations.
7. After the registration is complete, get the card as per the instructions available.

Apart from this, eligible citizens can also register with the help of Ayushman App, listed hospital or Common Service Centre.

Which diseases can be treated with benefits?

Through the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, senior citizens can avail various types of hospital-based health services.

The scheme's prescribed packages include services like cardiac treatment, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, cancer treatment and dialysis.

Additionally, packages for knee replacement, hip surgery and treatment of other serious ailments are also available in certain circumstances.

However, not all tests, medications, or treatments are automatically free. Benefits are only available based on the package approved under the plan, the prescribed conditions, and the services provided by the hospital.

Will you get the benefit even if you already have health insurance?

Many senior citizens already have private health insurance, and the plan also makes significant provisions for such individuals.

According to government information, eligible senior citizens covered under private health insurance or Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESI) can also avail the benefits of Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana.

However, the elderly who are availing benefits of CGHS, ECHS or other related government health schemes may have to choose between the existing scheme and Ayushman Bharat.

Therefore, citizens already availing government healthcare facilities should understand the rules and regulations thoroughly before switching options.

Lakhs of elderly people got treatment in two years

According to information released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on October 29, 2026, the Ayushman Vaya Vandana initiative has completed its two years.

According to government data, 23.46 lakh hospitalisation cases were authorised under this initiative till October 20, 2026. The value of these treatments is estimated to be around ₹5,668.80 crore.

The objective of this initiative is to provide protection to the elderly from the huge financial expenses incurred during hospital treatment.

Where can I find card related information?

For any kind of information or assistance regarding Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, citizens can use the official channels of the National Health Authority.

Important contact information:

• Helpline Number: 14555
• Missed Call Number: 1800-110-770
• Official Portal: https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in/
• Mobile App: Ayushman App

Don't share your Aadhaar OTP or banking information with strangers. Be wary of suspicious links or unauthorized payment requests in the name of card placement.

Important information for senior citizens

The most important feature of the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card is that there is no income restriction for eligible Indian citizens aged 70 years or above.

Therefore, families having members aged 70 years or above can check their eligibility and get the card made as per the prescribed procedure.

Please note that the ₹5 lakh benefit is not given as a cash amount but is available as health coverage for eligible hospital treatment as per the scheme rules.

Source Credit: National Health Authority (NHA), Official X Post, 31 October 2026. View original post . Additional factual references: National Health Authority (NHA), Prime Minister's Office and Press Information Bureau (PIB).