Provide Rs 10 lakh cover for Ayushman scheme: House panel recommends

New Delhi: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health has recommended the Centre to increase the coverage under the Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme to Rs 10 lakh per family, The Indian Express reported.

The committee reportedly sought the expanded coverage ‘keeping in view huge expenditure on critical healthcare’.

However, the scheme currently provides Rs 5-lakh cover per family to those belonging to the poorest 40% in the country.

Last year, the government included everyone over the age of 70 years in the scheme regardless of their financial status.

The committee wanted the government to lower the age criteria to 60 years.

The report on demand for grants reportedly said: ‘The Committee is of the view that age criteria of 70 years and above for Ayushman Vay Vandna Cards should be rationalised to 60 years and above irrespective of their socio-economic status for widening the coverage of the scheme in the better interest of common masses.’

Pointing to under-utilisation of the allocated budget, the report said though Rs 7,200 crore was allocated for the scheme in FY24, it was cut down to Rs 6,800 crore at the estimate stage.

However, the actual spending from it was only Rs 6,670 crore. Similarly in FY25 though Rs 7,300-crore was allocated, it was revised to Rs 7,605 crore.

The actual spending as of January 9 stood at Rs 5,034.03 crore and for FY26, Rs 9,406 crore has been allocated, indicating the expansion of the scheme to the elderly.

‘This indicates potential inefficiencies in fund disbursement or implementation bottlenecks. The Committee, therefore, recommends a thorough review of the fund release mechanisms to states/UTs,’ the report was quoted as stating.

The report also said: ‘The committee suggests that the release of funds be linked to the performance of states in terms of card creation, hospital admissions, and beneficiary feedback, ensuring that funds are directed to areas of greatest need and impact’.