Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the expansion of health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above in New Delhi yesterday as a major addition to the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

This will help provide health coverage to all senior citizens, regardless of their income. Mr. Modi underlined that to overcome the despair of the poor, his Government introduced the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, where the government would bear the cost of hospitalization of the poor up to five lakh rupees.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that about four crore poor people in the country have benefited from the Ayushman Yojana by getting treated without having to pay a single rupee. Mr. Modi remarked that when he meets the beneficiaries of Ayushman Yojana in different states of the country, he feels satisfied that the scheme was a blessing for every person associated with it, be it a doctor or a paramedical staff.

He added that every elderly person above 70 years of age in the country will get free treatment in the hospital by a Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card. Mr. Modi highlighted that the card is universal and there was no restriction on income, be it poor or middle class or upper class.

 Akashvani’s correspondent spoke to some senior citizens who hailed the inclusion in Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.