Find the updated Ayushman Bharat hospital list 2026 — state-wise PMJAY empanelled hospitals, how to check near you, treatments covered & what to carry.

Ayushman Bharat PMJAY: Key Facts for 2026

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) — popularly called Ayushman Bharat — was launched on 23 September 2018. It is the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme, providing cashless hospitalisation coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care.

Here are the most important numbers as of May 2026, sourced from the National Health Authority (NHA):

These are verified figures reported to the Rajya Sabha in February 2026 by Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav.

What's New in Ayushman Bharat in 2026?

Three changes matter most this year:

West Bengal joins the scheme

West Bengal was the only major state that had not joined PMJAY since its launch in 2018. The state had its own scheme — Swasthya Sathi — but eligible families couldn't access PMJAY's pan-India network. In May 2026, West Bengal officially initiated enrollment under the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY framework. While the integration process is underway, beneficiaries in the state are expected to actively receive cashless treatment benefits starting from July 2026. This fills the last geographical gap, bringing all 36 states and union territories into the national network.

Ayushman Vay Vandana Card for senior citizens aged 70 and above

Launched on 29 October 2024, the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card is a game-changer for elderly Indians. Any citizen aged 70 or above — regardless of income, family size, or existing insurance — is entitled to free treatment worth up to Rs. 5 lakh per year under this card. The expansion has met with massive traction: NHA data reveals that over 3.4 crore senior citizens aged 70 and above have already enrolled for their dedicated Ayushman Vay Vandana cards out of an estimated national eligible base of roughly 6 crore seniors.

Spotting Your Cover: The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card is issued as a distinct purple-themed variant containing a separate 12-digit identification number. Even if your family already holds a standard yellow/green Ayushman card, seniors must possess this separate card to access their exclusive Rs. 5 lakh single-individual top-up allocation.

Hospital network now crosses 36,000

The empanelled hospital network has grown significantly. From 27,000 hospitals in 2023, it has expanded to 36,229 hospitals as of February 2026. Nearly every major private hospital chain — Apollo (select centres), Fortis (select centres), Manipal, Narayana Health and most state-run medical colleges — is part of the PMJAY network.
 

How to Find an Ayushman Bharat Empanelled Hospital Near You

You don't need to visit any office or make any phone calls. The official hospital locator at hospitals.pmjay.gov.in is the fastest and most reliable method.

Step 1: Open your browser and go to hospitals.pmjay.gov.in — this is the official PMJAY hospital directory maintained by the National Health Authority.

Step 2: Select your State from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Select your District.

Step 4: Choose the Hospital Type: Public, Private for-profit, or Private non-profit.

Step 5: Select the Medical Specialty you need — options include cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, nephrology, gynaecology, general surgery and more.

Step 6: Select the Empanelment Type if you want to narrow results further.

Step 7: Enter the captcha and click Search. A list of matching hospitals appears with name, address, phone number and empanelment status.

Step 8: Call ahead to confirm the hospital is currently active and accepting PMJAY patients for your specific condition. Empanelment statuses do change and some hospitals are temporarily suspended for audits.

Alternative method — the Ayushman Bharat App

Download the Ayushman Bharat app (available on Android and iOS). Use the "Find Hospital" feature to search by location. The 2026 version of the app also shows real-time bed availability at select hospitals, which is particularly useful for planned procedures.

Emergency situations

If you're in an emergency and can't search online, call the PMJAY helpline at 1800-111-565 or 1800-11-4477. The helpline operates 24x7 and can identify the nearest empanelled hospital for your area and condition within minutes.
 

State-wise Overview: Ayushman Bharat Empanelled Hospitals

The PMJAY network spans all 36 states and union territories. The following states have the highest concentrations of empanelled hospitals and represent the most frequently searched regions:

Note: Hospital counts are approximate figures based on NHA data and published reports as of early 2026. For the exact, real-time count in your district, always use the official PMJAY hospital search tool. State-specific figures change as new hospitals are empanelled and others are suspended or removed.

In terms of card utilisation (actual treatments claimed), Tamil Nadu, Karnataka andhra Pradesh and Kerala are among the top-performing states. In terms of cards issued, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra lead the count.
 

Who Is Eligible for Ayushman Bharat PMJAY?

Eligibility is based on two categories:

1. SECC 2011 beneficiaries (main scheme)

Families identified as deprived or vulnerable in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 are automatically eligible. The criteria differ for rural and urban households:

Rural eligibility (any one of the following)

• Families in kutcha (single-room) houses
• No adult male member aged 16–59 years
• Female-headed household with no adult male member
• Households with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult
• SC/ST households
• Landless households earning from manual casual labour

Urban eligibility (occupational categories)

• Rag pickers, domestic workers, street vendors, construction workers
• Plumbers, painters, welders, security guards, coolies
• Sweepers, home-based workers, artisans, handloom workers
• Transport workers (drivers, conductors, rickshaw pullers)
• Shop workers, assistants in small establishments

2. Ayushman Vay Vandana (senior citizens 70+)

All Indian citizens aged 70 and above are eligible regardless of income, family background, or existing insurance. Around 4.5 crore senior citizens have been added to the beneficiary pool through this expansion. Apply through beneficiary.nha.gov.in by clicking the "AB PMJAY Vay Vandana" tab.

How to check if you're eligible?

Go to pmjay.gov.in and click "Am I Eligible?" Enter your mobile number, verify with OTP and provide basic details. Alternatively, visit any Common Service Centre (CSC) or the Ayushman Mitra desk at any empanelled hospital — they'll check your eligibility on the spot.
 

What Does Ayushman Bharat Cover? (Treatments Included)

The Health Benefit Package (HBP) under PMJAY covers 1,961 medical procedures across 27 specialties. These include:

• Cardiology: Bypass surgery, coronary angioplasty, valve replacement, pacemaker implantation.
• Oncology: Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical oncology for all major cancer types.
• Neurology and neurosurgery: Brain tumour surgery, stroke care, spinal procedures.
• Orthopaedics: Joint replacement (knee, hip), fracture repair, trauma surgery.
• Nephrology: Dialysis (for end-stage renal disease, covered under a special kidney care package), kidney transplants (limited).
• Obstetrics and gynaecology: Normal delivery, C-section, hysterectomy, fertility treatments.
• Ophthalmology: Cataract surgery, glaucoma procedures.
• Gastroenterology: Laparoscopic surgery, appendectomy, gallbladder removal.
• Pulmonology: Thoracic surgery, treatment for TB complications.
• Paediatrics: Neonatal care, heart procedures for children.
• Other: Burns and plastic surgery (medically necessary), ENT procedures, dental surgery tied to hospitalisation.

The scheme also covers

• Pre-hospitalisation expenses for up to 3 days before admission
• Post-hospitalisation expenses for up to 15 days after discharge (medicines, diagnostics, follow-up)
• Ambulance transport charges
• Day-care procedures (that don't require an overnight stay)
• Pre-existing conditions from Day 1 — no waiting period

What PMJAY does NOT cover

• OPD consultations and medicines not linked to a hospitalisation
• Cosmetic or elective plastic surgery (unless due to trauma or burns)
• Dental procedures like fillings, implants, or root canals (unless tied to hospitalisation)
• Non-emergency vaccinations outside the government immunisation calendar
• Drug and alcohol de-addiction programmes
• Fertility treatments beyond the listed packages
• Weight-loss surgery and self-inflicted injury treatments

How to Use Your Ayushman Card At a Hospital

Many beneficiaries reach the hospital but face delays because they don't know the correct process. Here's exactly what happens — and what you should do:

Before you go

Verify the hospital's empanelment status on hospitals.pmjay.gov.in before arriving. Some hospitals are specialty-empanelled — meaning they only cover certain treatments under PMJAY, not all. Confirming this in advance prevents unpleasant surprises at discharge.

At the hospital

Step 1: Go directly to the Ayushman Mitra desk (also called Arogya Mitra desk). Every PMJAY empanelled hospital is required to have one. Do not go to the billing counter first.

Step 2: Present your Ayushman Card (physical or digital from the PMJAY app) and your Aadhaar card. The Mitra will verify your identity through Aadhaar-based biometric scanning — fingerprint or iris — or OTP if biometric isn't available.

Step 3: The Mitra searches for your family in the Beneficiary Identification System (BIS) and confirms your eligibility for the specific treatment needed.

Step 4: Once verified, the hospital raises a pre-authorisation request to the State Health Agency. For emergency procedures, treatment can begin while authorisation is being processed.

Step 5: You are admitted cashlessly. The hospital bills PMJAY directly. You don't pay anything at admission, during the stay, or at discharge — as long as the treatment falls within the covered packages.

Step 6: At discharge, the hospital submits the claim to the State Health Agency for reimbursement. You receive a discharge summary, prescription and follow-up plan — at zero cost.

What to carry

• Ayushman Card (physical card or PMJAY app on phone)
• Aadhaar card (mandatory for biometric verification)
• Ration card (as secondary family ID, if available)
• Any state-issued photo ID as backup

What if a hospital refuses to treat you?

This does happen and it's a violation. If an empanelled hospital refuses to treat you or asks for out-of-pocket payment for a covered procedure, call 14555 (the PMJAY helpline) immediately from the hospital premises. The helpline team can directly contact the hospital and escalate the issue. Keep a note of the name of the person who refused, the time and any amount asked for.
 

PMJAY vs. Private Health Insurance: Understanding the Gap

PMJAY is a transformational scheme — but it has real coverage limits that many beneficiaries discover only when they need the most care. Here's where the gaps appear:

• Coverage limit: PMJAY covers Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. A single critical illness — cancer, organ transplant, cardiac bypass — can cost Rs. 8–20 lakh at a private hospital. The gap must be paid out of pocket.
• OPD expenses: Day-to-day consultations, medicines and diagnostics not tied to a hospitalisation are not covered. For a family managing diabetes or hypertension — two of the most common conditions in India — ongoing OPD costs add up quickly.
• Non-eligible families: Families not listed in SECC 2011 — including lower-middle-class households that are above the poverty threshold but not affluent enough for comfortable medical bills — are entirely outside PMJAY's coverage.
• Private hospital quality variance: PMJAY covers treatment at empanelled private hospitals, but the scheme's package rates are fixed. Some private hospitals may offer limited room facilities or deprioritise PMJAY patients for elective procedures at busy times.

How private health insurance fills these gaps

A top-up or super top-up health insurance plan can complement PMJAY coverage by covering expenses that exceed the Rs. 5 lakh PMJAY limit. For families ineligible for PMJAY, individual health insurance plans starting from Rs. 6,000–Rs. 8,000 per year provide coverage equivalent to or better than PMJAY across both OPD and inpatient care.

For elderly members specifically: Private senior citizen health insurance plans cover a broader set of procedures, higher room rents, annual health check-ups and OPD consultations that PMJAY's Vay Vandana Card does not. If you have a parent aged 70+ who qualifies for the Vay Vandana Card, pairing it with a private health plan significantly reduces out-of-pocket exposure for chronic conditions.

SMC Insurance (IRDAI Reg. No. 289) is a composite insurance broker with access to health insurance plans from all major insurers in India. Our advisors can help you understand exactly which gaps remain after PMJAY and find the right private cover to fill them — without duplication or unnecessary cost.
 

How to Apply for an Ayushman Card (if You Don't Have One Yet)

If you're eligible but haven't applied yet, the process takes less than 15 minutes online.

Online method

• Go to beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
• Enter your registered mobile number and verify with OTP.
• For senior citizens aged 70+: click the "AB PMJAY Vay Vandana" tab. For all other beneficiaries, use the standard eligibility check.
• If your name appears in the SECC or beneficiary database, click "Do KYC."
• Verify with Aadhaar OTP, fingerprint, or face capture (selfie).
• Your Ayushman Card is generated within 15 minutes and can be downloaded as a PDF.

Offline method

Visit any Common Service Centre (CSC) or the Ayushman Mitra desk at any empanelled hospital. Carry your Aadhaar card and ration card. A nominal fee of Rs. 30 applies at CSCs. The card is usually generated on the same day.

Documents needed for application

• Aadhaar card (mandatory)
• Ration card (for family verification)
• Mobile number linked to Aadhaar (for OTP)
• Any government-issued family ID in your state

Does Ayushman Bharat Cover Road Accident Victims?

Yes, this is a specific provision worth knowing. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and a scheme implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in coordination with NHA, road accident victims can receive cashless treatment at PMJAY-empanelled hospitals for up to Rs. 1.5 lakh for a period of seven days from the date of the accident. This applies regardless of whether the victim holds an Ayushman Card or is from a PMJAY-eligible family. The accident must be reported to the police and the victim must be admitted to an empanelled hospital within 48 hours.

This provision makes PMJAY-empanelled hospitals a critical safety net for road accident victims — even those who wouldn't otherwise qualify for the scheme.

However, note that this emergency cashless limit of Rs. 1.5 lakh is separate from and much lower than a dedicated personal accident insurance plan. A personal accident insurance policy provides structured compensation for accidental death, permanent disability and income loss — none of which are covered under PMJAY. If you rely on a vehicle for your livelihood or commute, personal accident insurance provides protection that no government scheme currently offers.
 

Protecting Yourself Beyond PMJAY

Ayushman Bharat has brought meaningful healthcare access to hundreds of millions of Indians. But it was designed for the economically most vulnerable — and even for those families, the Rs. 5 lakh limit has real edges.

If you're not in the PMJAY beneficiary list but also can't afford a large hospital bill, the right private health insurance plan is not a luxury — it's a financial necessity. A single hospitalisation for a serious illness at a private hospital easily crosses Rs. 3–6 lakh today and critical care can go far beyond that.

If you already have PMJAY coverage, a super top-up plan costs very little and activates only when your PMJAY limit is exhausted — making it one of the most cost-efficient ways to extend your protection.

SMC Insurance is an IRDAI-registered composite broker (Reg. No. 289, valid till 27/01/2029). We work with all major health insurers in India. Our advisors can review your current coverage — whether government, employer, or private — and identify any gaps that put your family's savings at risk.

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