Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 September 2026 marked the eighth anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the health ministry’s flagship insurance programme. The scheme now covers more than 60 crore beneficiaries with annual health cover of Rs. 5 lakh each, making it the world’s largest healthcare scheme by enrollment.
The Prime Minister stressed that the scheme has reduced out-of-pocket medical spending significantly for poor and middle-class families. He also noted that primary healthcare delivery through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs—the scheme’s network of health centres at the grassroots—has recorded over 500 crore patient visits since their establishment.
Key facts
- Ayushman Bharat launched: eight years before 23 September 2026 (September 2018)
- Current beneficiaries: more than 60 crore people
- Annual health cover per beneficiary: Rs. 5 lakh
- Ayushman Arogya Mandir visits: over 500 crore
- Status: described as the world’s largest healthcare scheme
What Ayushman Bharat covers
Ayushman Bharat is a central government health insurance scheme designed to provide cashless treatment to eligible households. The Rs. 5 lakh annual cover protects families against high medical costs from serious illnesses, surgeries and hospitalization. The beneficiary can access treatment at empanelled hospitals across the country without having to pay upfront, with the insurer settling the bill directly.
The scheme operates through two main components. The first is the hospital-based insurance programme that covers secondary and tertiary care. The second is the network of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which function as primary health centres offering preventive and basic outpatient services in villages and underserved urban areas. These mandirs focus on reducing disease burden and easing the burden on larger hospitals by handling common health problems at the grassroots.
Scale and impact on medical spending
Reaching 60 crore beneficiaries represents coverage of a substantial portion of India’s population, particularly from economically weaker sections and unorganized workers. The Prime Minister highlighted that the scheme has enabled “record savings on medical expenses,” a measure of how much out-of-pocket spending has been prevented. For poor and middle-class families, a major illness or accident that requires hospitalization can exhaust savings or push households into debt. By covering up to Rs. 5 lakh annually, Ayushman Bharat protects families from such financial catastrophe.
Strengthening primary healthcare
The over 500 crore visits to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs indicate heavy use of primary health services at the village and community level. These centres provide basic outpatient care, maternal and child health services, management of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, and immunization. By handling common ailments at the grassroots, the mandirs reduce unnecessary referrals to larger hospitals and help catch illnesses early. This model aligns with India’s broader goal of making healthcare delivery closer to citizens and reducing the strain on tertiary care hospitals in cities.
What this means for you
If you belong to an eligible household, your family has access to up to Rs. 5 lakh of free hospital treatment per year across the country’s empanelled network. This means you can seek treatment for serious illness, surgery or accidents without worrying about immediate out-of-pocket costs. Your state health agency manages eligibility, so check your state’s Ayushman Bharat portal to confirm your beneficiary status and download your digital health ID card.
If you live in a village or underserved urban area, your local Ayushman Arogya Mandir offers basic health services without cost. These centres can manage common health problems, provide antenatal care, conduct immunizations and offer health education. Using these services for routine health needs can save you money and time compared to travelling to distant primary health centres.
For healthcare workers and facility managers, the scheme’s scale indicates steady patient load at both primary and hospital levels, with implications for staffing, supply chains and capacity planning.