Ayushman Card Eligibility Check 2026: Who Is Eligible and How to Check Online
Ayushman Card eligibility is verified through the official AB PM-JAY beneficiary database, participating state health-scheme databases and specially covered beneficiary categories. This guide explains who may qualify, how rural and urban families are identified, the rules for senior citizens aged 70 years or above and how to check eligibility online.
Last Updated: July 20, 2026
Quick Answer
You may be eligible for an Ayushman Card if your family appears in the applicable PM-JAY or state beneficiary database, you belong to a specially covered beneficiary group, or you are a senior citizen aged 70 years or above under the Ayushman Vay Vandana expansion.
Having an Aadhaar card, ration card, BPL card or income certificate alone does not guarantee eligibility. The safest method is to search your details on the official beneficiary portal.
Table of Contents
- Eligibility overview
- Who may be eligible?
- Rural eligibility
- Urban eligibility
- Expanded beneficiary groups
- State-specific coverage
- What does not guarantee eligibility?
- How to check online
- Available search options
- Name not found
- Documents to keep ready
- What to do after confirmation
- How to check offline
- Frequently asked questions
Ayushman Card Eligibility Overview
| Question | General Answer |
|---|---|
| Is every Indian automatically eligible? | No. Eligibility depends on an approved beneficiary database or a specially covered category. |
| Is there one national income limit? | Regular PM-JAY eligibility is not determined only through a single national income limit. |
| Does having a ration card guarantee eligibility? | No. A ration card may help locate or verify a family record, but it does not automatically guarantee inclusion. |
| Are senior citizens aged 70 or above covered? | Senior citizens aged 70 years or above may receive coverage under the 70-plus expansion, subject to official age and identity verification. |
| Where should eligibility be checked? | Use the official beneficiary portal, official Ayushman App or an authorised assistance centre. |
Who May Be Eligible for an Ayushman Card?
AB PM-JAY originally identified economically vulnerable families through approved socio-economic and occupational databases. Several states and union territories also operate expanded or converged government health schemes.
The main beneficiary groups may include:
Database-Listed Families
Families included in the applicable central or state PM-JAY beneficiary database.
Eligible Rural Households
Rural families identified through specified deprivation or automatic-inclusion categories.
Eligible Urban Workers
Urban households associated with specified vulnerable occupational categories.
Senior Citizens Aged 70+
Citizens aged 70 years or above under the Ayushman Vay Vandana expansion, subject to verification.
Eligible Frontline Workers
Eligible ASHA workers, Anganwadi Workers, Anganwadi Helpers and their covered family members.
State-Expanded Beneficiaries
Additional families covered under a participating state or union territory health scheme.
Ayushman Card Eligibility for Rural Families
Under the original rural beneficiary-identification framework, households were selected using specified deprivation indicators.
Examples of rural household categories include:
- A household living in one room with kucha walls and a kucha roof
- A household with no adult member between 16 and 59 years of age
- A female-headed household with no adult male member between 16 and 59 years of age
- A household with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult member
- A Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe household included under the applicable database criteria
- A landless household earning a major part of its income through manual casual labour
Automatically Included Rural Groups
Certain highly vulnerable rural households were also recognised through automatic-inclusion categories.
- Households without shelter
- Destitute households or people living on alms
- Manual scavenger families
- Particularly vulnerable tribal groups included in the applicable database
- Legally released bonded-labour families
Ayushman Card Eligibility for Urban Families
In urban areas, the original PM-JAY framework focused on vulnerable occupational categories rather than only on an income certificate.
Examples of urban occupational categories include:
- Ragpickers
- Beggars
- Domestic workers
- Street vendors, hawkers, cobblers and other street-based service providers
- Construction workers, masons, plumbers, painters, welders, labourers, security guards and head-load workers
- Sweepers, sanitation workers and gardeners
- Home-based workers, artisans, handicraft workers and tailors
- Drivers, conductors, transport helpers, cart pullers and rickshaw pullers
- Shop workers, assistants, peons, delivery assistants, attendants and waiters in small establishments
- Electricians, mechanics, assemblers and repair workers
- Washermen and chowkidars
The occupation shown in a beneficiary database may not exactly match the words used above. Search using available family details instead of relying only on a job title.
Expanded Ayushman Card Beneficiary Groups
Senior Citizens Aged 70 Years or Above
AB PM-JAY was expanded to provide health coverage to senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of socio-economic status. This category is commonly associated with the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card.
Age is the main eligibility condition for this category. However, the senior citizen must still complete official identity and age verification.
ASHA and Anganwadi Workers
Coverage has also been extended to eligible Accredited Social Health Activists, Anganwadi Workers, Anganwadi Helpers and their eligible family members.
The individual must be recognised in the applicable official worker database. Working in a similarly named private position does not automatically establish eligibility.
State-Specific Ayushman Card Eligibility
Several states and union territories have expanded or combined their own health schemes with AB PM-JAY. A family that does not appear eligible under a general national description may still be included in a state scheme.
State-level differences may affect:
- The beneficiary database used
- The name of the health card or scheme
- Additional income or occupational categories
- Family-verification requirements
- Documents accepted for searching and eKYC
- Hospitals and treatment packages available
What Does Not Automatically Guarantee Eligibility?
The following facts or documents alone do not conclusively prove that a person is eligible:
- Having an Aadhaar card
- Having a ration card
- Having a BPL card
- Being unemployed
- Having a low monthly income
- Living in a village
- Belonging to a particular community without a matching beneficiary record
- Having an ABHA number
- Receiving another government benefit
- Using an unofficial website that displays an eligibility result
Aadhaar and ration-card details may help find or verify a record, but final eligibility comes from the applicable scheme database or a special coverage rule.
How to Check Ayushman Card Eligibility Online
You can search for beneficiary details through the official PM-JAY beneficiary portal. The buttons and search methods may change, but the general process is as follows.
- Open the official PM-JAY beneficiary portal.
- Select the beneficiary login option.
- Enter an active mobile number.
- Complete the displayed captcha.
- Enter the OTP received on the mobile number.
- Select your state.
- Select the applicable scheme shown for your state.
- Choose an available search method.
- Enter the requested details carefully.
- Review the household and family-member results.
- Check whether the required person is listed.
- Proceed to eKYC only after confirming the correct record.
Which Details Can Be Used to Search?
Search options can differ depending on the selected state and scheme. Available options may include:
- Aadhaar number
- PM-JAY beneficiary ID
- Family ID
- Ration-card number
- Name and family information
- Location details
- A state-specific scheme ID
- Another identifier supported by the selected state
Try another supported search option when the first method does not find a result. Spelling differences, old household information or the wrong scheme selection may prevent a valid record from appearing.
What to Do If Your Name Is Not Found
A “no record found” message does not always prove that a person is ineligible. It may appear because the search information does not match the beneficiary database.
- Confirm that the correct state is selected.
- Check whether more than one scheme is available for the state.
- Verify the spelling of the beneficiary’s name.
- Search using another available document or family identifier.
- Search for another eligible family member.
- Check old and current ration-card or family-ID details.
- Visit an authorised Common Service Centre or Ayushman help desk.
- Call the national helpline at 14555 for guidance.
Documents to Keep Ready for Eligibility Search
The eligibility search may require only limited information. However, the following documents and details may help locate and verify the correct family.
| Document or Detail | How It May Help |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar card | Identity search, matching and eKYC where supported |
| Active mobile number | Portal login and OTP verification |
| Ration card | Household or family search in supported states |
| Family ID | Finding the applicable household record |
| Existing PM-JAY ID | Locating a previously identified beneficiary |
| Age proof | Verification under the senior citizen 70-plus category |
| Official worker identification | Verification for eligible ASHA or Anganwadi worker categories |
| State health-scheme ID | Searching a converged or expanded state beneficiary database |
What to Do After You Find an Eligible Record
Finding a family member in the beneficiary system is the first step. Identity verification may still be required before the card can be approved and downloaded.
- Confirm that the displayed name belongs to the correct person.
- Check the age, gender and family details.
- Select the family member who needs the card.
- Start the available eKYC process.
- Complete OTP, face, biometric or authorised verification.
- Review the submitted information.
- Wait for approval if the request is under verification.
- Download the approved Ayushman Card.
Complete eKYC
Follow the Ayushman Card eKYC process .
Download the Card
Follow the Ayushman Card download guide .
How to Check Ayushman Card Eligibility Offline
A person who cannot use the online portal may request help from an authorised assistance point.
Depending on local availability, support may be available from:
- An Ayushman help desk at an empanelled hospital
- An authorised Common Service Centre
- A State Health Agency assistance centre
- An authorised enrolment or verification camp
- The national PM-JAY helpline at 14555
Carry the required documents or clear copies. Do not leave original identity documents permanently with an unknown agent or operator.
Common Eligibility Check Mistakes
- Selecting the wrong state or state scheme
- Assuming that Aadhaar itself proves eligibility
- Searching only with a recently changed name
- Ignoring an older family or ration-card record
- Confusing an ABHA number with PM-JAY eligibility
- Using an unofficial instant-approval website
- Paying an unauthorised person for database inclusion
- Entering an OTP on a page opened from an unknown message
Frequently Asked Questions
Is every BPL family eligible for an Ayushman Card?
Not necessarily. A BPL document may be relevant, but the family normally needs to appear in the applicable PM-JAY or state beneficiary database.
Is there a fixed annual income limit?
Regular PM-JAY eligibility is not decided only through one national income limit. Approved databases, deprivation indicators, occupations and state-specific rules may be used.
Can a senior citizen aged 70 or above qualify?
Senior citizens aged 70 years or above may qualify under the 70-plus expansion, subject to official age and identity verification.
Are all family members covered when one name is found?
Check the full household record. Each member who needs a card should appear and be correctly verified in the beneficiary system.
Can I become eligible by creating an ABHA number?
No. ABHA is a digital health identity. Creating an ABHA number does not automatically provide PM-JAY treatment entitlement.
Why is my name missing when another family member is eligible?
Your details may be missing, recorded differently or awaiting a supported family update. Try another search method and contact an authorised centre.
Can I check eligibility using a mobile phone?
Yes. The official beneficiary portal and official Ayushman App can be accessed using a compatible mobile device.
Do I need to pay to check eligibility?
Eligibility can be searched through the official portal. Do not pay an unauthorised agent for a promise of approval or inclusion.
What is the Ayushman Card helpline number?
The national PM-JAY helpline number is 14555. Check the official National Health Authority website for the latest contact information.
What should I do after confirming eligibility?
Select the correct family member, complete eKYC, wait for approval where required and download the Ayushman Card.
Final Words
Ayushman Card eligibility cannot be confirmed reliably from a general income estimate or by holding one particular document. The correct method is to search the official beneficiary system using the appropriate state, scheme and family details.
Eligible rural and urban families, specially covered frontline workers, senior citizens aged 70 years or above and additional state beneficiaries may receive coverage under the applicable rules.
After finding the correct beneficiary record, complete eKYC and download the approved card before seeking planned treatment.
Official Resources
Disclaimer
Wikisia is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with the National Health Authority, AB PM-JAY, the Government of India or any State Health Agency.
Eligibility databases, state schemes, portal features and verification requirements may change. The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes.
Always confirm eligibility through the official beneficiary portal, an authorised assistance centre or the National Health Authority helpline. This article does not guarantee beneficiary inclusion, card approval or treatment coverage.