Table of Contents
Documents required for Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) card (2026)
Direct answer. Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) provides Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for hospital treatment at empanelled hospitals. Auto-eligibility for SECC 2011-listed families. Documents: Aadhaar (verification) + ration card + mobile. No application form — eligibility check + e-card download at beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
Mandatory documents
- Aadhaar of all family members — Eligibility verification + biometric authentication at hospital
- Ration card — Family composition proof
- Mobile number (Aadhaar-linked) — For OTP-based authentication
- SECC 2011 ID number — If known; else search by name + state
- Income proof (for state top-up schemes) — Where state extends coverage
- Photograph (for printed card) — Recent, white background
Optional / situational documents
- PM Letter (Ayushman card invitation) — Sent to verified beneficiaries — speeds enrollment
- Ration card type (BPL/AAY) — Strengthens eligibility claim
- Caste certificate — For SC/ST priority and state top-up schemes
- Job card MGNREGA — For rural beneficiaries — supplementary
Specifications + key rules
- Eligibility: SECC 2011 deprivation criteria (D1-D7 categories) + occupation criteria. Rural: 6 deprivation criteria, urban: 11 occupational categories.
- Senior Citizens 70+: universal coverage announced 2024 — no SECC needed.
- Coverage: Rs. 5 lakh per family per year, secondary + tertiary care, 1,800+ procedures.
- Cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals (29,000+ across India). Show e-card + Aadhaar at admission.
- No fee for card; no premium; no enrollment cost.
- State top-ups — Maharashtra MJPJAY (+Rs. 1.5L), Punjab Sehat Sathi, MP Mukhyamantri Jeevan Suraksha extend coverage.
Where to apply
Online at beneficiary.nha.gov.in OR any empanelled hospital's Pradhan Mantri Aarogya Mitra (PMAM) OR Common Service Centre (CSC).
→ Official source: https://pmjay.gov.in/about/pmjay
If you don't have all documents
If you are SECC-eligible but card not generated, file RTI to State Health Agency (SHA) under §6 for eligibility status + reason for non-issuance + projected issuance.
→ Use our 🪄 AI RTI Drafter to generate a free §6(1) application asking for the rejection reason in 60 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
- Q: Am I eligible if my name isn't in SECC 2011? — Limited. Some states (Maharashtra, Punjab) added post-SECC categories. Check state-specific. Senior citizens 70+: universally eligible since 2024.
- Q: Hospital refused cashless — what to do? — Insist on PMAM contact at hospital. If still refused, file complaint at SHA + RTI for hospital empanelment terms.
- Q: Can I use card in any state? — Yes — full portability across India.
- Q: What's NOT covered? — OPD generally not covered. Pre-existing conditions covered. Specific exclusions: cosmetic, fertility (IVF), mental health (limited).
- Q: Premium? — ZERO premium for beneficiaries. Govt subsidises entirely.
Summary + next steps
- Gather mandatory documents above before applying — saves a re-visit
- Apply via official portal (link above) — no agent needed
- Track status: see our status-check guides
- If rejected for “documents inadequate”: request specific deficiency under §4(1)(d) RTI Act
- For state-specific guidance: see state portals directory
All RTI Wiki tools (free, no login)
- 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — type problem, get §6 application
- 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
- 🔮 Outcome Predictor — score draft win-likelihood
- ⚖️ First Appeal Generator — §19(1) draft on Day 31
- 📅 Timeline Calculator — track 30-day window
Related on RTI Wiki
- Track status: How to check ayushman bharat status
- State-by-state: Ayushman Bharat across all 36 states
- If rejected, file RTI: Full RTI guide
- Citizen RTI playbook: All 100+ scenarios
- All documents checklists: All 30 checklists
Sources
- Statutory references: as cited in Specifications above
- Official portal: linked in “Where to apply” above
- RTI Act 2005 §§4, 6, 7, 19
Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.
