AB-PMJAY Enables 12.69 Crore Cashless Admissions

AB-PMJAY has contributed substantially to lowering household healthcare costs. According to the National Health Accounts Estimates 2022-23, out-of-pocket expenditure as a proportion of total health expenditure declined from 62.6 per cent in 2014-15 to 43.4 per cent in 2022-23. This reduction indicates that households are bearing a considerably smaller share of healthcare expenses directly, owing to increased public investment in health and the expansion of publicly financed insurance schemes such as AB-PMJAY.

In March 2024 the scheme was expanded to include approximately 37 lakh families of Accredited Social Health Activists, Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers. It was further extended in October 2024 to cover six crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above belonging to 4.5 crore families, irrespective of their socio-economic status.

Separately, the government has increased budgetary support for health research. The allocation for the Indian Council of Medical Research rose from Rs 2,732.13 crore in Budget Estimates 2024–25 to Rs 3,125.50 crore in 2025–26 and Rs 4,000 crore in Budget Estimates 2026–27. The 2026–27 figure represents an increase of approximately 21 per cent over the Revised Estimates of Rs 3,150 crore for 2025–26.

The latest figures underscore the scale of cashless coverage achieved under AB-PMJAY and the continuing policy focus on reducing the financial burden of hospitalisation for vulnerable households while expanding research capacity.