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NQ
Sibin O, Founder
Researched from official government portals · June 2026
HEALTH SCHEME10 MIN READJune 3, 2026

Ayushman Bharat Card Download 2026: Get Your Health Card Online in 3 Minutes

A woman from our neighbourhood was turned away from a private hospital because she didn't have her Ayushman card on her, even though her family was on the beneficiary list. She paid ₹40,000 out of pocket for a surgery that should have been free. By the time someone told her she could have just shown her Aadhaar at the hospital counter, it was too late to claim.

This guide covers how to check if you're eligible, how to get your Ayushman card, and what to actually do at the hospital — because knowing you're eligible and knowing how to use it are two different things.

Annual Cover
₹5 Lakh
per family
Empanelled Hospitals
29,000+
govt + private
Procedures Covered
1,949
across 27 specialties
Families Covered
12 Crore+
SECC 2011 + elderly

What is the Ayushman Bharat Card (Golden Card)?

The Ayushman Bharat Card — officially called the PMJAY e-card or Golden Card — is a unique beneficiary identification document issued under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). It carries your name, a 9-digit PMJAY ID, a QR code, and the NHA (National Health Authority) logo.

When you present this card at an empanelled hospital, the hospital's Ayushman Mitra will scan your QR code, verify your identity (usually via Aadhaar OTP or biometric), and pre-authorise cashless treatment. You pay nothing at the hospital counter for covered procedures — not even registration fees, medicines, diagnostics, or post-surgery care up to 15 days.

Who Can Download the Ayushman Bharat Card?

Eligibility is based on two criteria:

✓
SECC 2011 Listed Households
Families identified as deprived or occupational categories in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011. This includes families living in kaccha houses, landless labourers, daily wage workers, and households with no adult member between ages 16-59. You can check if your family is listed at pmjay.gov.in using your Ration Card number, mobile number, or name.
✓
Senior Citizens Aged 70 and Above (AB-PMJAY for Elderly)
From September 2024, all citizens aged 70 years and above can enrol for Ayushman Bharat regardless of income or SECC listing. They get an additional top-up cover of ₹5 lakh per year. Enrollment is done via the Ayushman Bharat app or by visiting the nearest CSC with an Aadhaar card.
✗
Government Employees and Income Tax Filers
Central and state government employees (except ASHA workers and anganwadi helpers) are NOT eligible. Families that paid income tax in the preceding year are also excluded. Constitutional post holders and multi-member professional families are excluded.

How to Check If You Are Eligible

Quick Eligibility Check — takes under 1 minute:

  1. Go to pmjay.gov.in
  2. Click the "Am I Eligible" button on the homepage
  3. Enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and the captcha
  4. Click "Generate OTP" and enter the OTP received
  5. Select your State, then choose search method: Name, HHD Number, Ration Card Number, or Mobile Number
  6. Enter the details and click Search
  7. If your family is listed, the names of all eligible members will appear with a green tick
Tip: If you do not have your HHD number, search by your name + date of birth. The portal searches the complete SECC 2011 database for your state.

How to Download Ayushman Bharat e-Card Online (Step by Step)

01
Visit the Official PMJAY Portal
Open your browser and go to pmjay.gov.in. Look for the "Beneficiary" section at the top of the homepage. Do not use any third-party app or website — the government app is Ayushman Bharat (available on Google Play and App Store).
02
Click "Am I Eligible"
On the homepage, find and click the "Am I Eligible" button. Enter your mobile number and the captcha shown on screen, then click "Generate OTP". An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number.
03
Verify OTP and Search Your Name
Enter the OTP received on your mobile. Once logged in, select your state and choose whether to search by name, HHD number (Household Database number), ration card, or mobile number. Enter the relevant details and click Search.
04
Confirm Your Name in the SECC List
If your family appears in the database, your name and family members will be shown. This confirms you are eligible. Note down your HHD number — you will need it for the e-card download.
05
Download or Generate the e-Card
On the Beneficiary Portal (beneficiary.nha.gov.in), log in with your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Navigate to "Download Ayushman Card" or "Generate Card". Authenticate using Aadhaar OTP (your Aadhaar must be linked to the same mobile number).
06
Save and Print Your e-Card
Once generated, download the PDF. The e-card carries your name, PMJAY ID, QR code, and scheme details. Print it or keep it on your phone — both are accepted at all empanelled hospitals.

Download via Ayushman Bharat App (Mobile)

  1. Download the "Ayushman Bharat" app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
  2. Open the app and click "Beneficiary Login"
  3. Enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and verify via OTP
  4. Your Ayushman Bharat card will appear on the dashboard
  5. Tap "Download Card" to save it as PDF or share it directly

How to Get a Physical (Printed) Ayushman Card

If you prefer a physical laminated card — or if your mobile does not support the online process — you can get the card printed at these two locations:

Empanelled Hospital (Ayushman Mitra Desk)
  1. Visit any PMJAY-empanelled hospital near you
  2. Go to the Ayushman Mitra desk at the reception
  3. Provide your Aadhaar card and HHD number
  4. The Ayushman Mitra will authenticate via biometric or OTP
  5. Your Golden Card will be printed and handed to you free of charge
Common Service Centre (CSC / Jan Seva Kendra)
  1. Find your nearest CSC at locator.csccloud.in
  2. Carry your Aadhaar card and ration card
  3. The VLE (Village Level Entrepreneur) will verify your eligibility
  4. After biometric authentication, the card is printed on the spot
  5. A nominal printing charge (if any) is government-approved

How to Find the Nearest Empanelled Hospital

With over 29,000 hospitals empanelled across India, finding one near you is straightforward:

Method 1: Online Hospital Finder
  1. Visit hospitals.pmjay.gov.in
  2. Select your State and District from the dropdowns
  3. Filter by Speciality (e.g., Cardiology, Oncology, Orthopaedics)
  4. The list of all nearby empanelled hospitals will appear with address and contact number
Method 2: Call or SMS

Call the PMJAY helpline 14555 and ask the agent for hospitals in your area for a specific treatment. They can search by your PIN code and speciality in real time.

What is Covered Under Ayushman Bharat?

PMJAY covers 1,949 medical and surgical procedures across 27 medical specialties. Coverage is for hospitalisation of 24 hours or more and includes pre-hospitalisation expenses (3 days), post-hospitalisation follow-up (15 days), all medicines, diagnostics, ICU charges, surgeon fees, room charges, and transport allowance.

The ₹5 lakh cover is per family per year — there is no individual cap, and there is no cap on family size. All members of an enrolled family share the ₹5 lakh pool.

Medical & Surgical Cases: Cancer surgery, heart bypass, knee replacement, spinal surgery
Maternal & Newborn Care: C-section delivery, premature baby care (NICU), post-natal care
Cardiology: Angioplasty, valve replacement, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
Oncology: Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, tumour removal surgery
Orthopaedics: Hip replacement, fracture management, prosthetic limbs
Urology & Nephrology: Kidney stones, dialysis, kidney transplant
Mental Health: Psychiatric inpatient care, substance abuse treatment
COVID-19 Treatment: Hospitalisation, oxygen therapy, ICU care
Note: Outpatient (OPD) consultations, medicines from chemists (without hospitalisation), and cosmetic procedures are NOT covered. Dental treatment is also excluded unless it is part of a covered surgical procedure.

Ayushman Bharat Helpline & Official Links

Toll-Free Helpline
14555
24x7, all languages
Portal
pmjay.gov.in
Eligibility check + e-card
Hospital Finder
hospitals.pmjay.gov.in
Search empanelled hospitals
Beneficiary Portal
beneficiary.nha.gov.in
Download card + claims

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I cannot find my name on the PMJAY portal. What should I do?
A: The PMJAY database is based on SECC 2011 data. If you were not listed in that census, your name may not appear. However, if you are 70 years or older (new AB-PMJAY for Elderly scheme from September 2024), you can enrol directly using your Aadhaar. Also visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) — they can check the complete state database and help enrol if there is a data mismatch.
Q: Is the Ayushman Bharat card free to download?
A: Yes, completely free. Downloading the e-card from pmjay.gov.in or the official Ayushman Bharat app costs nothing. If anyone asks you to pay for generating the card, it is a scam — report it to the 14555 helpline immediately.
Q: Can I use the Ayushman Bharat card in a private hospital?
A: Yes, but only at empanelled private hospitals. Not all private hospitals accept the card. You can find the full list of empanelled hospitals at hospitals.pmjay.gov.in or by calling 14555. As of 2026, over 29,000 hospitals — both government and private — are empanelled.
Q: What is the difference between e-card and the physical Ayushman card?
A: The e-card is the digital PDF you download online — it is valid at all hospitals and accepted on your phone screen. The physical card (also called Golden Card) is a printed laminated card issued at hospital admission counters or CSC centres during the Ayushman Melas. Both are equally valid.
Q: Does the ₹5 lakh limit reset every year?
A: Yes. The ₹5 lakh cover is per family per year and resets on April 1 of each financial year. If your family used ₹3 lakh in the current year, it resets fully to ₹5 lakh on April 1 of the next year. There is no carry-forward of unused balance.
Q: My Aadhaar is not linked to any mobile number. Can I still download the card?
A: If your Aadhaar is not linked to any mobile number, you cannot download the card online via OTP. Visit your nearest CSC (Common Service Centre) or an empanelled hospital's Ayushman Mitra desk. They can authenticate you using biometric (fingerprint) authentication and issue the card.
Q: My state has its own health scheme (like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana in Maharashtra). Am I still eligible for Ayushman Bharat?
A: Many states have integrated their state health schemes with PMJAY. In such states, the combined cover may be higher than ₹5 lakh (for example, some states offer up to ₹10 lakh combined). Check your state health authority's website or call 14555 for the combined benefit applicable in your state.
Q: Can I add a newborn or a new family member to my Ayushman Bharat card?
A: The PMJAY scheme is family-based and family size is not capped — so newborns in an enrolled family are automatically covered. However, for adding new members (after marriage, adoption), the process involves visiting the CSC or state NHA office with relevant documents. Contact 14555 for state-specific procedures.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the National Health Authority (NHA) or the Government of India. Information is based on official PMJAY guidelines as of June 2026. Eligibility criteria, covered procedures, and empanelled hospitals may be updated by the NHA. Always verify the latest information at pmjay.gov.in or by calling the helpline 14555. NagrikIQ does not process Ayushman Bharat applications or provide card generation services directly.

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