How to Apply for an Ayushman Bharat Card Online

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. It provides a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization at any empanelled hospital across India, whether government or private.

Previously, getting the physical card required visiting a hospital or Common Service Centre (CSC). Now, the National Health Authority (NHA) has made the process completely online through the Beneficiary Portal and the Ayushman App. You can check eligibility, complete eKYC, and download your card from home.

What Ayushman Bharat Covers (and Does Not Cover)

Before applying, understand what the card actually covers:

Covered	Not Covered
Hospitalization (room, nursing, ICU)	OPD (outpatient) consultations
Surgery and surgical procedures	Dental treatment
Pre-hospitalization costs (3 days before admission: tests, consultations)	Fertility treatment (IVF)
Post-hospitalization costs (15 days after discharge: medicines, follow-ups)	Cosmetic surgery
Diagnostics during hospitalization (X-ray, MRI, blood tests)	Organ transplant (except kidney)
Day-care procedures (dialysis, chemotherapy that does not need overnight stay)	Drug rehabilitation
Newborn care and delivery	Individual OPD medicines

The Rs 5 lakh limit is per family per year, shared across all family members with cards. It resets on your policy anniversary date.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Not everyone can get an Ayushman card. Eligibility is determined by specific databases maintained by the government.

Who is eligible:

• Families listed in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 database
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card holders
• ASHA, Anganwadi, and helper workers (added in 2024)
• Building and construction workers registered with welfare boards
• All senior citizens aged 70+ (under Ayushman Vay Vandana, added in 2024)
• Beneficiaries of state-specific allied schemes (varies by state)

How to check:

1. Visit the official beneficiary portal at beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
2. Select Beneficiary on the login screen.
3. Enter your mobile number and click Verify. Enter the OTP received.
4. On the search page, select:
   • Your State
   • Scheme (PMJAY, or your state-specific scheme name)
   • District
   • Search By (Aadhaar Number, Name, Ration Card, or Family ID/PMJAY ID)
5. Aadhaar or Ration Card search is the most accurate. Enter the details and click the search icon.

Understanding the Search Results

Result	What It Means	Next Step
Family details appear, eKYC status "Unidentified" or "Pending"	You are eligible but have not completed verification	Proceed to Step 2 (eKYC)
Family details appear, eKYC status "Approved"	You are eligible and verified	Skip to Step 3 (Download card)
"No records found"	You are likely not eligible under the central scheme	Check if your state has an allied scheme, or visit a CSC for manual verification

Step 2: Complete the eKYC Process

If you are eligible but do not have the card yet, you must link your Aadhaar and verify your identity through eKYC.

1. In the search results (from Step 1), click the Action icon (usually a lock or profile icon) next to your name.
2. An "Authenticate" popup will appear. Select Aadhaar OTP as the authentication mode.
3. Enter your Aadhaar number, click Verify, accept the consent checkbox, and enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
4. The system will open the eKYC form showing the details retrieved from PMJAY records compared with your Aadhaar records.
5. Capture a live photo: The portal requires a live photo using your laptop webcam or phone camera. It compares this photo with your Aadhaar photograph for identity verification.
6. Enter additional details: active mobile number, religion, PIN code, and district.
7. Click Submit.

Step 3: Approval and Card Download

After submitting the eKYC:

Scenario	Timeline
Aadhaar details match PMJAY database closely (over 80% name match)	Instant auto-approval
Minor mismatch (spelling difference, age off by 1-2 years)	Goes to state nodal officer for manual review: 3-15 days
Significant mismatch (different name entirely)	May be rejected. Visit CSC for assisted verification.

To download the approved card:

1. Log back into the beneficiary portal.
2. Search for your details again. The eKYC status should now show Approved and card status as Generated.
3. Click the Download icon.
4. Authenticate one more time with Aadhaar OTP.
5. The digital Ayushman Card (PDF) will download to your device.
6. You can print this PDF or show it on your phone at empanelled hospitals. Both are accepted.

How to Use the Card at a Hospital

When you need hospitalization:

1. Visit any PMJAY-empanelled hospital (search on the Ayushman app or pmjay.gov.in/hospital).
2. Go to the Ayushman Mitra / PMJAY Help Desk at the hospital (usually near the reception).
3. Show your Ayushman Card (digital or printed).
4. The Ayushman Mitra will verify your identity using biometric authentication (fingerprint) or Aadhaar OTP.
5. Once verified, you will receive a pre-authorization letter for the treatment package.
6. The hospital provides treatment. You pay nothing out of pocket. The hospital bills the NHA directly.

How to Add New Family Members

If you are eligible but a new family member (new spouse, newborn child, or elderly parent over 70) is not listed in the search results:

1. Log in and authenticate yourself first (you must have an approved Ayushman card).
2. Click on Add Family Member.
3. Enter the new member's details: name, age, gender, and their Aadhaar number.
4. Upload a supporting document proving their relationship to you:
   • Ration card with their name listed
   • Birth certificate (for newborns)
   • Marriage certificate (for spouse)
5. Complete the eKYC for the new member using their Aadhaar OTP.
6. Submit for approval. Adding new members always requires manual approval from the state health authority. Timeline: 7-30 days.

Common Problems and Solutions

Problem	Solution
OTP not arriving	Check if your Aadhaar-linked mobile is active. See our Aadhaar OTP guide.
Live photo matching fails repeatedly	Ensure you are in a well-lit room with a plain background. Remove glasses, hat, and mask. Keep your face centered in the camera frame. Use the Ayushman App instead of the website for better photo capture.
"No records found" but I have an Antyodaya ration card	The state database may not have synced your ration card data yet. Visit the nearest CSC or government hospital PMJAY desk with your ration card for manual verification.
eKYC stuck at "Pending" for weeks	Contact the PMJAY helpline at 14555 (toll-free) or your state health agency. Manual approvals can take 2-4 weeks during high-volume periods.
Card shows "Inactive" status	This happens if your policy year has ended and has not been auto-renewed. Contact 14555 or visit the PMJAY desk at any empanelled hospital.
Hospital says "this procedure is not covered"	Not all procedures are in the PMJAY package list. Check the covered procedures list on pmjay.gov.in before admission.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming the card works at all hospitals: It only works at PMJAY-empanelled hospitals. Check the hospital list before going.
• Not carrying Aadhaar to the hospital: Even if you have the Ayushman card, hospitals need Aadhaar for biometric verification before approving cashless treatment.
• Waiting until an emergency to apply: The eKYC and approval process can take days or weeks. Apply when you are healthy so the card is ready when needed.
• Not checking the Rs 5 lakh balance: The coverage is shared across the entire family. If one family member used Rs 3 lakh for a surgery, only Rs 2 lakh remains for others for the rest of the policy year.

Related Guides

• How to Download e-Aadhaar Online
• How to Update Mobile Number on Aadhaar
• How to Open a Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Account

Need more help?

For more information, check out our Schemes finder, Government Scheme guides, or try our calculators.