Health cover: Capacity for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY needs to be expanded

Though the PM-JAY has seen some reduction in out-of-pocket (OOP) medical expenditure, studies show it has not brought down the financial risks significantly

The expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) health insurance scheme to senior citizens above 70 years of age irrespective of income reflects an understanding of India’s evolving demographics. By 2050, according to the United Nations Population Fund, the percentage of elderly people in India’s population is expected to double to over 20 per cent. Given that the medical expenses of this cohort of the population tend to be higher, greater state support is to be welcomed. It is a pity that Delhi and West Bengal, with elderly populations of 8 and 11 per cent, have