Over half of Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries are women

More than half of the beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme are women, a recent report from the government revealed. As of March 12, 2025, over 18.17 crore Ayushman cards have been issued to women. The report, presented in the Rajya Sabha by the health ministry, indicated that Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of female beneficiaries, with more than 2.49 crore. Madhya Pradesh follows with 2.08 crore, and Bihar has 1.89 crore women covered by the scheme. Ayushman Bharat, officially known as Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), is considered the largest health insurance program in the world. It offers health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations, but does not cover outpatient services. In March 2024, the scheme was expanded to include 37 lakh families of Accredited Social Health Activists and Anganwadi workers. In October last year, the government also broadened the scheme to benefit around 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 and above, providing them with free treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh per year, regardless of their socio-economic status.