What Is Ayushman Card Portability?

Ayushman Card portability means that an eligible PM-JAY beneficiary is not limited only to hospitals located in the home district or home state. The beneficiary can seek applicable treatment at an empanelled PM-JAY hospital in another part of India.

Portability is particularly useful for a beneficiary who:

• Works in a state different from the home state
• Has migrated with family for employment
• Studies in another state
• Is temporarily travelling
• Needs specialised treatment unavailable nearby
• Lives near a state border
• Needs continuing dialysis or cancer treatment
• Faces a medical emergency outside the home state

Who Can Use PM-JAY Portability?

Portability is intended for a beneficiary whose eligibility and identity can be verified through an applicable PM-JAY or participating state record.

• The beneficiary appears in an eligible family or individual record
• The Ayushman Card or PM-JAY beneficiary record can be located
• eKYC is completed where required
• Name, age, gender and photograph match the beneficiary
• An accepted photo identity document is available
• The required treatment is included in an applicable package
• The destination hospital is empanelled for the required speciality

Interstate and Intrastate Portability

Which Treatments May Be Available Through Portability?

Portability can apply to covered secondary and tertiary hospitalisation packages available through the destination hospital.

• General surgery
• Orthopaedic treatment
• Cardiology and cardiac procedures
• Neurosurgery
• Oncology and cancer treatment
• Nephrology and dialysis-related care
• Urology
• Obstetrics and gynaecology
• Paediatric and neonatal treatment
• Emergency hospitalisation
• Applicable day-care procedures

What Portability Does Not Automatically Guarantee

• Admission without medical necessity
• Treatment at a non-empanelled hospital
• Every speciality at every empanelled hospital
• Every state-specific extra benefit outside the home state
• A private or upgraded room
• Unapproved medicines, devices or services outside the package
• Reimbursement after voluntarily choosing a non-empanelled hospital
• Automatic surgery approval without pre-authorisation
• Another separate ₹5 lakh limit in the destination state
• Direct cash payment to the beneficiary

Checklist Before Travelling for Treatment

1. Check that the beneficiary record is available.
2. Check that the Ayushman Card is generated.
3. Confirm that the name and photograph are correct.
4. Complete Redo eKYC where displayed.
5. Collect the doctor’s prescription and diagnosis.
6. Collect laboratory, scan and imaging reports.
7. Search for empanelled hospitals in the destination state.
8. Shortlist hospitals with the required speciality.
9. Call the exact hospital branch.
10. Confirm that PM-JAY services are active.
11. Ask whether the relevant treatment package is available.
12. Ask whether an appointment or referral is required.
13. Ask which documents must be carried.
14. Save the hospital address and help-desk contact.

How to Find an Empanelled Hospital in Another State

1. Open the official PM-JAY hospital-search portal.
2. Select the destination state.
3. Select the district or city.
4. Select public or private hospital where the filter is available.
5. Select the required speciality where available.
6. Review the hospital name and full address.
7. Check whether the exact branch is listed.
8. Note the hospital contact information.
9. Call the hospital before travelling.
10. Confirm the speciality, package and help-desk availability.

Questions to Ask the Hospital Before Visiting

• Is this exact branch currently empanelled under PM-JAY?
• Do you accept beneficiaries registered in another state?
• Is the required speciality active?
• Is the relevant treatment package available?
• Is the package restricted to a government hospital?
• Is pre-authorisation required?
• Which medical reports should the patient carry?
• Must the patient first visit the outpatient department?
• Is a specialist appointment required?
• Is the Ayushman help desk open on the intended date?
• Which identity documents are accepted?
• How is an emergency portability case handled?

Documents Required for Interstate Treatment

Step-by-Step Interstate Hospital Process

1. Visit the hospital’s Ayushman help desk.
2. Inform the Arogya Mitra that the beneficiary is from another state.
3. Show the Ayushman Card or provide the PM-JAY ID.
4. Provide an accepted photo identity document.
5. Ask the Arogya Mitra to locate the beneficiary record.
6. Confirm that the correct patient is selected.
7. Complete OTP, face, fingerprint or another supported verification.
8. Ask the hospital to review the available family coverage.
9. Meet the appropriate doctor.
10. Complete medical examination and required tests.
11. Ask which PM-JAY package applies.
12. Provide reports required for package booking.
13. Allow the hospital to submit pre-authorisation where required.
14. Wait for the official authorisation decision.
15. Confirm what is included in the approved package.
16. Receive treatment under the approved cashless package.
17. Collect the discharge summary and prescriptions.
18. Collect the authorisation or transaction reference where available.

How Is an Out-of-State Beneficiary Verified?

The destination hospital must confirm that the patient matches the eligible beneficiary record.

• Ayushman Card or PM-JAY ID search
• Aadhaar-based search where supported
• Family ID or another beneficiary reference
• Beneficiary photograph comparison
• OTP authentication
• Face authentication
• Fingerprint authentication
• Accepted government photo identity proof
• Home-state and scheme verification
• Card and eKYC status review

Why Treatment-Package Availability Must Be Checked

Hospital empanelment alone does not mean that every procedure is available.

• The required speciality must be active
• The doctor must diagnose a covered condition
• The relevant package must exist
• The hospital must qualify for that package
• Required equipment and facilities must be available
• Applicable package conditions must be met
• Pre-authorisation documents must be complete
• Sufficient family coverage must remain

How Pre-Authorisation Works

The hospital’s PM-JAY team uses the Transaction Management System to register the patient, raise a pre-authorisation request, record treatment, discharge the patient and submit the claim.

1. The hospital verifies and registers the patient.
2. The doctor records the diagnosis.
3. The hospital selects the relevant package.
4. Required tests, reports and clinical notes are uploaded.
5. The pre-authorisation request is submitted.
6. The reviewer may approve, reject or raise a query.
7. The hospital responds to any query.
8. Treatment proceeds according to the final authorisation.
9. The hospital records discharge and submits the claim.

How Portability Affects Family Coverage

Interstate treatment uses the applicable family coverage. It does not create another separate ₹5 lakh limit merely because treatment is taken in another state.

• Coverage is linked with the applicable beneficiary or family record
• Earlier treatment may affect the remaining amount
• Interstate treatment is recorded against the same applicable coverage
• Package amounts are not paid as cash to the beneficiary
• Unused coverage cannot be withdrawn

State-Specific Package Differences

National PM-JAY benefits are portable, but states may also operate additional state-funded packages, beneficiary categories or top-up benefits.

• Package rates may differ
• Some additional packages may be state-specific
• Some procedures may be restricted to certain hospital types
• State-funded top-up benefits may have separate rules
• Pre-authorisation conditions may differ by package
• Implant, device and follow-up rules may differ

Ayushman Portability for Migrant Workers

National portability is especially useful for workers living away from their registered home state.

• Save a digital copy of the Ayushman Card
• Keep the PM-JAY ID available
• Carry Aadhaar or another accepted photo ID
• Know the home state and scheme
• Identify nearby empanelled hospitals before an emergency
• Keep previous medical records available
• Inform family members about major treatment usage

Portability for Students and Temporary Travellers

An eligible student or traveller staying outside the home state may seek treatment at an empanelled hospital, subject to verification and package availability.

• Download the latest Ayushman Card
• Save the beneficiary or PM-JAY ID
• Carry accepted photo identity proof
• Keep emergency contact numbers
• Identify nearby empanelled hospitals
• Keep prescriptions, allergy information and chronic-treatment records

What If You Permanently Move to Another State?

1. Search the existing card through the official app or portal.
2. Confirm that the beneficiary record remains available.
3. Download the latest card.
4. Use portability at an empanelled destination-state hospital.
5. Update Aadhaar or family address separately where necessary.
6. Ask the State Health Agency whether another record update is required.
7. Avoid creating a duplicate beneficiary identity.

How Portability Works During an Emergency

During a serious emergency, seek immediate professional medical care. Ask an attendant to contact the Ayushman help desk while the patient is being assessed.

1. Go to the nearest appropriate emergency facility.
2. Inform staff about the medical emergency.
3. Ask whether the hospital is empanelled under PM-JAY.
4. Provide any available Ayushman Card or beneficiary ID.
5. Provide an available government photo ID.
6. Ask the Arogya Mitra to search the beneficiary record.
7. Complete identity verification as soon as reasonably possible.
8. Ask the hospital to initiate the applicable emergency package process.
9. Keep receipts for any payment made before verification.

Dialysis, Cancer and Other Ongoing Treatment

Continuing treatment in another state requires advance planning because the destination hospital must have the required speciality, package, doctor and treatment slot.

What If the Card Is Lost While Travelling?

1. Open the official Ayushman App or beneficiary portal.
2. Log in using an active mobile number.
3. Select the home state and applicable scheme.
4. Search using Aadhaar, Family ID or PM-JAY ID.
5. Open the correct beneficiary.
6. Download the generated card.
7. Show the digital card at the hospital help desk.
8. Complete fresh identity verification.

Can Portability Be Used When eKYC Is Pending?

Pending or failed eKYC can prevent successful beneficiary verification at the destination hospital.

1. Open the beneficiary record.
2. Check whether eKYC Pending or Redo eKYC is displayed.
3. Complete Aadhaar OTP where available.
4. Use face authentication where supported.
5. Use authorised fingerprint authentication where supported.
6. Correct demographic mismatches.
7. Wait for card approval and generation.
8. Download the updated card.

Portability for Senior Citizens Aged 70 Plus

A senior citizen with an approved Ayushman Vay Vandana Card may seek applicable treatment at an empanelled hospital outside the home state, subject to beneficiary and package verification.

• Check whether the senior’s card is generated
• Check whether age and identity information are correct
• Confirm that the photograph matches
• Confirm the required speciality at the destination hospital
• Carry previous medical reports and medicine information
• Ask which beneficiary or coverage record will be used

What If the Hospital Refuses an Out-of-State Card?

Ask for the exact reason. An empanelled hospital should not reject an eligible beneficiary only because the card belongs to another state, but other genuine verification or package issues may exist.

• Confirm that the exact branch is currently empanelled
• Confirm that the required speciality is active
• Ask whether the beneficiary record was found
• Ask whether identity authentication succeeded
• Ask whether the treatment package is available
• Ask whether the package has a hospital-type restriction
• Ask whether sufficient coverage remains
• Ask whether a pre-authorisation query or rejection was received

1. Ask for the Arogya Mitra.
2. Ask the hospital to search through the portability workflow.
3. Provide the PM-JAY ID and photo identity document.
4. Request another beneficiary-verification attempt.
5. Ask for the exact system message.
6. Ask for a written refusal or reference number.
7. Contact the PM-JAY helpline.
8. Register an official grievance if necessary.
9. Search for another empanelled hospital with the required speciality.

What If the Hospital Demands Extra Payment?

Approved PM-JAY packages are intended to provide cashless care for the items included in the authorised package.

• Ask which package was approved
• Ask which services are included
• Ask why payment is being requested
• Ask whether the item is outside the approved package
• Ask whether a voluntary room upgrade was requested
• Ask for an itemised written bill
• Ask the Arogya Mitra to explain the charge

Portability Complaint and Official Helpline

Contact official support when an empanelled hospital refuses the card only because it belongs to another state, demands an improper payment or does not explain a portability rejection.

Keep the following information ready:

• Beneficiary’s full name
• Home state and district
• Destination state and district
• Ayushman Card or PM-JAY ID
• Active mobile number
• Hospital name and exact branch
• Required speciality and treatment
• Date and time of visit
• Exact refusal or error message
• Pre-authorisation or package reference
• Receipts and payment evidence
• Medical reports and prescriptions

Portability Fraud and Safety Precautions

• Do not pay an agent to activate interstate portability
• Do not pay to transfer the card from one state to another
• Do not create a duplicate beneficiary record in the destination state
• Do not share an OTP with an unknown caller
• Do not upload the card to an unofficial website
• Do not use another person’s Ayushman Card
• Do not use another person’s Aadhaar, face or fingerprint
• Do not accept guaranteed surgery approval from an agent
• Do not pay to increase the ₹5 lakh coverage
• Do not believe promises of separate coverage in every state
• Do not share an ATM PIN, UPI PIN, CVV or banking password
• Do not leave original identity documents permanently with the hospital

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

PM-JAY national portability allows an eligible beneficiary to receive applicable cashless hospital treatment outside the home district or home state. The destination hospital must be empanelled and approved for the required speciality and package.

Before travelling, check the beneficiary record, download the latest Ayushman Card, collect medical reports and confirm the exact hospital branch. At the hospital, contact the Arogya Mitra and complete beneficiary verification and pre-authorisation.

Do not pay an agent to activate portability, transfer the card or create duplicate coverage. Use the official grievance process when an empanelled hospital refuses an eligible beneficiary only because the card belongs to another state.