How to apply for Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana (70+) — complete 2026 guide

National Health Authority (NHA) data as of March 2026: over 3.4 crore senior citizens (70+) have enrolled for the AVVY card across India, against an estimated eligible base of 6 crore. The scheme has authorised over ₹4,200 crore in claims in its first 17 months — bulk of it for cataract, knee replacement, cardiac angioplasty / CABG, and dialysis.

Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana (AVVY) is a vertical of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The Cabinet approved it on 11 September 2024; the scheme went live on 29 October 2024 (Dhanteras / Ayurveda Day).

Eligibility:

• Age 70 years or above — that's the only criterion.
• Any Indian citizen — no income limit, no SECC 2011 dependence, no Below-Poverty-Line requirement.
• Existing PMJAY beneficiaries (SECC-listed families) with 70+ members get the additional ₹5 lakh per family per year — exclusive to the 70+ member(s), on top of the family's existing ₹5 lakh PMJAY cover.
• Senior citizens already covered under CGHS, ECHS, ESIC, or private mediclaim: they can either continue with existing cover OR opt into AVVY (cannot use both for the same hospitalisation episode).
• No exclusion for high-income / pension-drawing seniors.

What is covered:

• Cashless secondary + tertiary hospitalisation at over 30,000 empanelled hospitals (as of April 2026), including PSU + state hospitals + 13,400+ private hospitals.
• Over 1,961 health-benefit packages (HBPs) including cardiac (CABG, angioplasty, valve), cancer (chemo, radiation, surgery), orthopaedic (knee/hip replacement), urological (kidney stone, prostate), cataract surgery, dialysis, gastric / colorectal surgery, neurological / stroke care.
• Pre-hospitalisation 3 days + post-hospitalisation 15 days of investigations and medicine.
• Day-care surgeries including cataract, dialysis, chemotherapy.

What is NOT covered:

• Outpatient (OPD) routine consultation and medicines — though many large empanelled hospitals offer some OPD bundling under HBPs.
• Cosmetic surgery, fertility treatment, hearing aids, spectacles (some exceptions: hearing aid is now included in revised 2025 HBP for confirmed sensorineural loss).
• Treatment outside India.
• Some items are sub-capped — implant cost ceilings for knee, hip, cardiac stents (CGHS rates apply).

The legal framework is Cabinet Decision dated 11 September 2024 + NHA Operational Guidelines AVVY-2024 (revised April 2025).

• Your Aadhaar age is the deciding document. Date of birth must show 70 years or more on the application date.
• If your Aadhaar shows only “year of birth” (older Aadhaars) — the system treats 1 January of that year as DOB. So if year 1955 is shown and today is April 2026, you are deemed 71.
• If your Aadhaar DOB is incorrect, get it corrected first at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra (₹50, 7-15 days). AVVY enrolment with wrong Aadhaar DOB will be rejected later during claim.

• Self-service online (with Aadhaar mobile + OTP): https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in
• Mobile app: “Ayushman App” (Android + iOS) — publisher: National Health Authority.
• Assisted at CSC / empanelled hospital / Ayushman Mitra desk at major govt hospitals — free of charge for AVVY.

• Open https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in
• Choose “Beneficiary” login → enter Aadhaar mobile number → OTP from UIDAI.
• Scheme: select “Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana” (NOT plain “PMJAY”).
• State + District + Block + Village/Urban Ward.
• The system runs Aadhaar e-KYC (face match or fingerprint with biometric device — most senior phones now support face match).
• Upload (or capture from camera): live photo, mobile number, optional ABHA number.
• Submit. Auto-approval if Aadhaar age ≥ 70; AVVY card visible in 3-10 minutes; PDF downloadable immediately.

• Locate nearest CSC: https://findmycsc.nha.gov.in or https://csc.gov.in
• Carry: Aadhaar (original), mobile, photograph (also captured live).
• Cost: FREE — CSCs cannot charge for AVVY enrolment (this is different from other CSC services). If asked for money, refuse and report to grievance@nha.gov.in.
• The operator does Aadhaar e-KYC, captures live photo. Card downloaded and printed (₹30 print charge is permitted).

• Once enrolled, the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card (purple variant) is downloadable as PDF.
• Verify: name + DOB + Aadhaar last-4-digits + 12-digit card number + scheme name “AB-PMJAY-AVVY”.
• Save digital copy on phone (in Ayushman App or as PDF). Print one laminated copy and keep with other ID documents.
• Family members aged 70+ in the same household must each enrol separately — each gets their own card. The ₹5 lakh limit is per family floater, not per individual; multiple 70+ members in the same family share one ₹5 lakh pool.

• Hospital locator: https://hospitals.pmjay.gov.in → enter state + district + speciality.
• Mobile app equivalent: Ayushman App → “Find Hospital”.
• Filter for “AVVY accepting” — though by April 2026, all PMJAY-empanelled hospitals also accept AVVY.
• For planned surgery, call the hospital's Ayushman Mitra desk in advance to confirm package availability and pre-authorisation. Walk-in cashless is also possible in emergencies.

• Show your AVVY card (digital or printed) + Aadhaar at the Ayushman Mitra / TPA desk.
• The hospital uploads pre-authorisation request to NHA portal — typically approved within 6-24 hours for elective; instant for emergencies.
• Cashless treatment proceeds. You sign discharge papers; no payment to the hospital for covered procedures (any non-package items like premium private rooms are paid out-of-pocket if you choose).

• The hospital files the claim with NHA after discharge. Payment goes hospital ↔ NHA — you are not involved.
• If the hospital tries to charge you for a covered procedure, refuse and call 14555 (NHA helpline) immediately from the hospital itself.
• Save discharge summary, bills, OPD prescriptions for 5 years (in case of audit / future claim).

+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Eligibility (AVVY)               | Any Indian, age 70+, regardless of   |
|                                  | income / caste / pension status.     |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Cover (per family per year)      | ₹5 lakh (top-up, exclusive to 70+).  |
|                                  | If household also has PMJAY (SECC),  |
|                                  | total = PMJAY ₹5L + AVVY ₹5L         |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Application fee                  | NIL (free at CSC, hospital, app, web)|
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Print of card at CSC             | ₹30 (regulated)                      |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Card validity                    | Lifetime (linked to Aadhaar)         |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Hospital network                 | 30,000+ (April 2026)                 |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Health benefit packages          | 1,961 procedures across 26 specia.   |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| CGHS / ECHS / ESIC overlap       | Cannot use both for same admission.  |
|                                  | Choose AVVY OR existing scheme.      |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Private mediclaim overlap        | Allowed in parallel — but AVVY pays  |
|                                  | first up to package rate; balance    |
|                                  | from private mediclaim.              |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| RTI to NHA for delayed pre-auth  | ₹10 IPO. BPL = free.                 |
+----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+

• Aadhaar shows wrong DOB / only year of birth. System reads 1 January of that year. If you actually turned 70 mid-year, this works in your favour. If Aadhaar shows you younger than 70, you must update Aadhaar first.
• Mobile number not linked to Aadhaar. OTP step fails. Visit Aadhaar Seva Kendra (₹50) and update.
• Live face capture fails. Common with cataract / glaucoma patients — try in good light, glasses off. CSC operators have higher-grade cameras; visit one if app fails.
• CSC operator demands money. Free service. Refuse, report to grievance@nha.gov.in or 14555. AVVY enrolment cannot be charged.
• Hospital says “AVVY not accepted here”. All PMJAY-empanelled hospitals are required to accept AVVY since April 2025. If refused, call 14555 from inside the hospital — NHA escalates within 1 hour.
• Pre-authorisation rejected. Hospital must give you a written reason. Common reasons: procedure not in package list, pre-existing condition disclosure missing, bed category mismatch. Appeal via Ayushman Mitra; escalate to NHA helpline.
• Family has 2+ seniors and they say cover is exhausted. ₹5 lakh is family floater for all 70+ members combined per year, not per individual. If both spouses are 70+, they share the same ₹5 lakh pool.
• PSU pensioner (CGHS / ECHS / Railways) wrongly told “you are not eligible”. All citizens 70+ are eligible. CGHS / ECHS pensioners can opt into AVVY or stay with their existing scheme — the choice is yours, made per hospitalisation.
• State has not yet rolled out (rare — Delhi was the last large state to integrate, in early 2025). Check status on https://pmjay.gov.in → State coverage.

• Every empanelled hospital has a designated Ayushman Mitra (counsellor). They handle pre-auth + claim filing.
• For routine issues — wait time, package query, room category — start here.

• Toll-free: 14555 (24×7) or 1800-111-565 (Mon-Sat, 8 am – 8 pm)
• Email: grievance@nha.gov.in
• State Health Agency (SHA): state-specific number on https://pmjay.gov.in/contact-us → State.
• Best for: card not generated, hospital refusing cashless, pre-auth delay > 24 hours.

• https://grievance.pmjay.gov.in → “Lodge Grievance” → choose category (enrolment / pre-auth / hospital denial / claim denial).
• 15-day SLA under NHA Citizen Charter.
• Useful trail; attach screenshots/photos.

• https://pgportal.gov.in → Ministry of Health & Family Welfare → National Health Authority.
• Higher visibility — gets routed to a Joint Secretary level.

The National Health Authority (NHA), the State Health Agencies (SHAs), all public hospitals, and even private empanelled hospitals to the extent of their PMJAY function, are public authorities under §2(h) of the RTI Act 2005 (or substantially financed under §2(h)(d)(ii)).

RTI helps here when:

• Your AVVY enrolment is “in process” for over 30 days with no movement — RTI to PIO NHA / SHA gets the file noting + reason.
• A hospital refused cashless treatment despite empanelment — RTI to PIO NHA for the empanelment status of the hospital + the SOP for refusal complaints.
• Pre-authorisation was denied but hospital wouldn't share the rejection letter — RTI to PIO SHA for a copy of the pre-auth file.
• You want package rates for a specific procedure (knee replacement, CABG) to compare with what the hospital quoted — RTI for the published HBP rate sheet.
• You want claim status when the hospital says “claim pending NHA” for many months — RTI for the claim file status.
• PIO addresses:
  1. Central: PIO, National Health Authority, 9th Floor, Tower-L, Jeevan Bharati Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001.
  2. State: PIO, State Health Agency (HQ in your state capital).
• Fee: ₹10 IPO; BPL = free.

See: RTI in 12 simple steps and All money & scheme RTI guides.

RTI does NOT help here when:

• You want medical opinion on whether a procedure is “medically necessary” — that is a clinical decision; RTI cannot override.
• You want a specific brand of stent / implant — choice of brand is hospital + doctor's clinical decision within NHA cap; RTI cannot fix it.
• You want to add a procedure to the HBP list — this needs representation to NHA's Health Benefit Package Committee, not RTI.
• You want to switch from CGHS / ECHS to AVVY permanently — that's a personal scheme choice, no RTI needed; just don't claim under both.
• Hospital negligence / malpractice claim — go to State Medical Council / Consumer Forum / police FIR; RTI doesn't compensate medical injury.

Q. I am already a PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat) cardholder under SECC. Do I get extra cover?
Yes. If you are 70+, you get an additional ₹5 lakh exclusively for 70+ members of the family on top of the existing ₹5 lakh family-floater PMJAY cover. Total household pool: up to ₹10 lakh per year (₹5 L family + ₹5 L senior 70+ exclusive). You must do a fresh AVVY enrolment even if your PMJAY card already exists.

Q. I have CGHS / ECHS / Railway pensioner cover. Should I switch to AVVY?
You can keep both — but for any single hospitalisation, you must choose one (cannot double-claim). AVVY's empanelled network is much larger than CGHS in many tier-2 cities, and there's no co-payment under AVVY (CGHS has small co-pays at private hospitals). Many seniors are using AVVY for emergencies and CGHS for routine OPD.

Q. My wife is 68 and I am 73. Does she get cover too?
Under AVVY only the 70+ member is covered. If you both are SECC-listed, your wife is already covered under regular PMJAY (₹5 L family floater). When she turns 70, she enrols in AVVY separately and the household pool effectively becomes ₹5L PMJAY + ₹5L AVVY shared.

Q. Can I use AVVY at a private hospital?
Yes — at any of the 13,400+ empanelled private hospitals. Find one on https://hospitals.pmjay.gov.in. Fortis, Apollo, Max, Manipal, Medanta and many regional chains are partly empanelled (specific procedures + bed categories).

Q. Is AVVY valid in another state if I travel?
Yes — AVVY is portable. You can use the card at any empanelled hospital across India. Carry the digital card + Aadhaar.

Q. I'm 69 turning 70 next month. Can I apply now?
No — apply on or after the day you complete 70 years (per Aadhaar DOB). The portal will reject pre-70 applications.

Q. Cataract surgery cost is showing ₹38,000 in package. My eye doctor says he charges ₹65,000 for premium IOL. Will AVVY cover?
AVVY covers up to the package ceiling (~₹38,000 for cataract with foldable IOL as of 2026). If you choose a premium IOL or single-room category beyond package, the balance is paid by you (or by your top-up private mediclaim). The hospital must give you a clear written estimate before surgery.

Q. What documents do I keep ready for hospital admission?
AVVY card (digital / printed), Aadhaar, mobile (for OTP at admission), past medical records / discharge summaries (for pre-existing condition disclosure), prescription. ABHA card is recommended but not mandatory.

• Ayushman Bharat ABHA card — full 2026 guide
• Senior citizen card — eligibility, application, benefits
• Jeevan Pramaan annual life certificate — full guide
• Find Jan Aushadhi store — generic medicines guide
• RTI in 12 simple steps — for first-time filers
• All Indian government helplines — one master directory
• All money & schemes RTI guides

Last reviewed: 26 April 2026 by RTI Wiki editorial team. Health Benefit Package rates and empanelment lists are revised periodically by NHA — verify on pmjay.gov.in or write to admin@bighelpers.in if you spot a stale figure or new helpline.