In a landmark decision this June, President Droupadi Murmu announced that the government will extend free treatment to citisens over 70 years of age under the scheme, irrespective of their economic status. This expansion marks a significant enhancement of the world’s largest health insurance initiative, which offers coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Prior to including in its fold, the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme was already providing coverage to 55 crores of the country’s most vulnerable individuals. Earlier in the interim budget in February, the scheme had been extended to include grassroots-level healthcare workers, such as ASHA and Anganwadi workers.
