Ayushman Vay Vandana Card 2026: Apply Online for Senior Citizens Above 70, Benefits & Download

• Universal ₹5 Lakh Annual Cover: Every senior citizen aged 70 and above receives an annual cashless treatment cover of ₹5,00,000 for secondary and tertiary healthcare in empaneled hospitals.
• No Waiting Period & All Pre-existing Diseases Covered: From day one of card generation, all existing illnesses—including hypertension, diabetes, cardiac conditions, cancer, stroke, joint replacements, and kidney diseases—are covered with zero waiting period.
• Independent Cover from Family PM-JAY: If your family already shares an Ayushman Bharat card (₹5 Lakh family floater), a senior citizen aged 70+ receives an exclusive, dedicated ₹5 Lakh top-up cover that is not shared with younger family members.
• Cashless and Paperless at Hospital: Covers hospitalization, pre-hospitalization (up to 3 days), post-hospitalization medicines and diagnostics (up to 15 days), ICU charges, surgical procedures, and implants.
• Nationwide Portability: Valid across all 29,000+ empaneled government and private hospitals across India.
• Choice for CGHS / ECHS Beneficiaries: Senior citizens holding CGHS, ECHS, or CAPF healthcare schemes can choose to either retain their existing scheme or migrate to Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. Those with private commercial health insurance can hold the Vay Vandana Card simultaneously as secondary cover.

1. Age Requirement: The applicant must be 70 years of age or older. Eligibility is strictly determined by the Date of Birth recorded in their Aadhaar card.
2. Citizenship: Must be a permanent resident and citizen of India.
3. No Income Cap: There is no BPL requirement, no ration card requirement, and no income ceiling. High-income individuals and income-tax payers aged 70+ are fully eligible.
4. Existing Central Health Scheme Clause: Seniors enrolled in CGHS, ECHS, or Railway Medical schemes cannot claim both government covers simultaneously; an online declaration is collected during application to opt for Ayushman or continue existing coverage.

• Aadhaar Card (Mandatory): Used as the sole identity, proof of age, and e-KYC document.
• Active Mobile Number: Linked with Aadhaar to receive OTP during e-KYC (or required for face-authentication in the mobile app).
• Live Photograph: Captured in real-time through the web camera or smartphone camera during the e-KYC process.
• (Note: Income certificates, caste certificates, ration cards, and BPL cards are NOT required).

• Aadhaar Date of Birth Discrepancy: If the Aadhaar card only shows the birth year (e.g., "1954") without date and month, the system defaults the birth date to January 1st of that year. Ensure the calculated age equals or exceeds 70 years on the date of application.
• Unlinked Aadhaar Mobile Number: Applying online requires Aadhaar OTP. If your Aadhaar is linked to an obsolete mobile number, update it at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra first or use the Ayushman App’s Face Authentication feature.
• Selecting Wrong Role at Login: Always select "Beneficiary" mode on the NHA portal, not "Operator".
• Blurry Live Photo: The e-KYC system uses AI facial matching against the Aadhaar database photo. Uploading a blurry, dark, or covered face photo will trigger manual review or rejection.

Method 1: Via Official NHA Beneficiary Web Portal

1. Open your browser and go to the official portal: beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
2. Under the login section on the right, select the radio button "Beneficiary".
3. Enter your 10-digit mobile number and click Verify. Enter the 6-digit OTP received via SMS and the Captcha code, then click Login.
4. On the search dashboard: Select your State. Under Scheme, choose PMJAY. Under Sub-Scheme, select PMJAY or Vay Vandana / 70+. Under Search By, select Aadhaar Number and enter the senior citizen's 12-digit Aadhaar number. Click the Search icon.
5. If the individual's record shows "Identified / Uncarded", click the e-KYC icon (Action button).
6. Choose your authentication mode: Aadhaar OTP (recommended). Enter the OTP received on the Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
7. Capture a live passport-style photo using the device camera.
8. Fill in declaration details (select whether you hold CGHS/ECHS/private insurance).
9. Click Submit. Upon successful verification, the status updates to Approved.
10. Click the Download Card button to get the official Ayushman Vay Vandana Card PDF.

Method 2: Via "Ayushman App" (With Face Authentication)

1. Install the official Ayushman App (by National Health Authority) from the Google Play Store.
2. Log in as Beneficiary with your mobile OTP.
3. Search by Aadhaar number. When prompted for e-KYC, select Face Auth.
4. Complete the live selfie scan through the Aadhaar FaceRD utility without needing an OTP.
5. Download the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card directly to your smartphone.

1. Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in and log in using your mobile number and OTP.
2. Enter the applicant's State and Aadhaar Number.
3. Under the member row, check the Card Status column: Approved: Card is ready. Click the green downward arrow icon to download the high-resolution PDF. Pending Verification: e-KYC photo match was below threshold; state health agency manual verification will take 24–48 hours. * Rejected: Check the red rejection remark (usually due to photo mismatch or age under 70). Re-apply using fresh biometric e-KYC.

1. Ayushman Mitra Desk: Contact the Ayushman Mitra stationed at the hospital helpdesk immediately.
2. Online Grievance Portal: File an online complaint at the Central Grievance Redressal Management System (CGRMS) at grievance.pmjay.gov.in.
3. National Toll-Free Helpline: Call 14555 or 1800-111-565 (available 24x7 in multiple languages). Keep your 14-digit PM-JAY ID or Aadhaar number handy.