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PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) cardholders can heave a sigh of relief: the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has formally cleared the air on whether PM-JAY beneficiaries have to reapply/renew/revalidate their “Arogya” (health-entitlement) card every year. As per the ministry the card generated under the scheme does not have to be renewed or revalidated every year and “once generated the card is valid for the lifetime of the registration subject to the validity of the underlying eligibility.” In an official statement dated 3 November the ministry clarified that “the beneficiary covered under the scheme is eligible for cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year in networked hospitals across the country” and that there is no requirement of annual re-issuance of the health card. A look at what the clarification means The clarification from the ministry puts an end to much confusion surrounding the PM-JAY health card. Many beneficiaries had been operating under the impression that the card would need to be renewed/reissued every year to continue to be able to avail healthcare services as per their entitlement. The ministry however has made it clear that beneficiaries will continue to have the cashless health cover without the hassle of an annual re-issuance of the card. Beneficiaries do not have to re-register every year the ministry reiterated and need only to ensure that their personal details (address family composition etc.) are updated in their PM-JAY registration records. Verification of the card and its validity will happen digitally at the time of service at the hospitals or other service providers. Beneficiaries who have an active PM-JAY card in the system and who are eligible will get the cashless cover when needed - there is no requirement of fresh issuance or renewal. Why this is important? By eliminating the requirement for annual renewal the government is trying to minimise administrative complexity and the risk of eligible families dropping out of the scheme mistakenly on account of a belief that their card would have lapsed. In effect the move strengthens the goal of the scheme of “ease of access” and “continuity of coverage”. What beneficiaries should do? Maintain the card in good condition (physical or electronic copy). Verify your personal and family details and make sure they are current with the district/state PM-JAY database. Update any changes in address family addition/removal or any other status change in the records with the Common Service Centre (CSC) or local PM-JAY office. Beneficiaries can also check the online portal or through the mobile app for eligibility status if they wish. While the ministry statement now puts the card-renewal myth to rest it is still a good idea for beneficiaries to check their records for updates on eligibility or status from time to time. The clarification from the government is expected to improve the scheme’s service-uptake and ensure that eligible families are not denied the care they are entitled to because of misinformation.
