Ayushman Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana 2026: ₹5 Lakh Free Health Cover for Odisha Families
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If you live in Odisha and a hospital bill is your biggest worry, the Ayushman Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana is the scheme to understand first. In simple words, Odisha has joined the central Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and merged it with its own Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY), so a single card now works at government and empanelled private hospitals across India.
This guide covers who qualifies, how much cover a family gets, how to check eligibility and get the card, how to use it at a hospital, and what to do when something goes wrong. Every important fact below was checked against official government sources, and the links are listed at the end so you can verify them yourself.
Ayushman Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana at a Glance
| Detail | What official sources say |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY running together with Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (often written as PMJAY-GJAY) |
| State | Odisha |
| Agreement with National Health Authority | 13 January 2025. Odisha became the 34th state to implement AB PM-JAY (https://mohfw.gov.in/press-info/8176) |
| Formal launch and card distribution | 11 April 2025 in Cuttack (https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2120982®=48&lang=2) |
| Health cover | ₹5 lakh per family per year, with an additional ₹5 lakh for women members |
| People expected to benefit | About 3.5 crore people from roughly 1.03 crore families |
| Hospitals | More than 29,000 empanelled hospitals (https://health.odisha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-03/Annual%20Activity%20Report%202024-25%20final%20%20%283%29.pdf) |
| Senior citizens | Everyone aged 70 and above is covered under Ayushman Vay Vandana, whatever their income |
| National helpline | 14555 |
| Official portals | beneficiary.nha.gov.in, pmjay.gov.in, gjay.odisha.gov.in |
What Is the Ayushman Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana?
Before 2025, Odisha ran its own health scheme for poor families, known for years as the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). After the change of government, the scheme was renamed Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana. The state then signed an agreement with the National Health Authority (NHA) on 13 January 2025 to bring the central Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY into Odisha alongside it. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (https://mohfw.gov.in/press-info/8176) said the central scheme would run in convergence with the existing GJAY.
There is one small detail that many articles skip. The rollout was first announced for 1 April, which is Utkala Dibasa. The formal launch and distribution of co-branded cards actually took place on 11 April 2025 in Cuttack, in the presence of Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, according to PIB.
In its annual activity report for 2024 to 2025, the Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department describes GJAY as having been merged with Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, benefiting approximately 3.50 crore residents at more than 29,000 empanelled hospitals. So when people say “Ayushman card” or “GJAY card” in Odisha today, they usually mean the same co-branded card.
How the two schemes share the work
Not every family comes in through the same door. Reports based on state officials said that about 67.80 lakh families are covered through AB PM-JAY and about 35.84 lakh families through GJAY, adding up to over 1.03 crore families. The total of 3.46 crore people quoted early on became 3.52 crore after about 6 lakh senior citizens were added, which explains why you will see both numbers online.
For you as a patient, the split does not change much. You get one co-branded card, and the hospital checks your eligibility on the same system.
Benefits: What Does a Family Actually Get?
Health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year. This is a family floater limit, which means any member can use it during the year. It is meant for secondary and tertiary care that needs hospital admission.
An extra ₹5 lakh for women. The MoHFW release states the cover as ₹5 lakh per family per year with an additional ₹5 lakh for women members. The state’s own GJAY dashboard (https://gjaydashboard.odisha.gov.in/About) explains how it works in practice: the extra ₹5 lakh becomes available after the first ₹5 lakh is used up. Its example is easy to follow. If a man in the family uses ₹3 lakh and then a woman needs treatment, she can claim up to ₹7 lakh. If only the woman falls ill, she can use up to ₹10 lakh. AIIMS Bhubaneswar (https://aiimsbhubaneswar.nic.in/schemes/gopabandhu-swasthya-kalyan-yojana-bsky/) describes it in similar terms, with up to ₹5 lakh for a male member and up to ₹10 lakh for a female member.
Free treatment in state government hospitals. According to the GJAY dashboard, the State Government bears the full cost of health services for all patients in state government facilities, from sub-centres up to district headquarters hospitals and medical college hospitals, irrespective of income. Drugs, diagnostics, dialysis, cancer chemotherapy, operation theatre, ICU and blood bank services are all listed.
Treatment outside Odisha.
Chief Minister Majhi said at the launch that Odia families living in other states can also use the scheme at hospitals there. The card works across the empanelled network of more than 29,000 hospitals, a big jump for a state whose own scheme earlier had a much smaller network.
Cover for senior citizens. Under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana, which was launched in Odisha on the same day, all citizens aged 70 and above are covered regardless of their socio-economic status. Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling said around 23 lakh elderly people in Odisha would benefit (PIB). Seniors get a separate special card, as officials explained at the time.
Who pays. At the launch event the Chief Minister said the Centre funds 60 percent and the State 40 percent, and that financial constraints would not be allowed to affect treatment.
Who Is Eligible for the Ayushman Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana?
The rules depend on which door you enter through. In plain terms:
- Families covered under NFSA or SFSS ration cards in Odisha. AIIMS Bhubaneswar lists families holding PMJAY-GJAY cards and all families covered under NFSA or SFSS within the state as eligible beneficiaries.
- Families identified under the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 criteria. The central scheme uses deprivation and occupation criteria from SECC 2011.
- Families of ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers. The Union Health Minister said these workers and their families, roughly 36 lakh people nationally, were added to the scheme.
- Senior citizens aged 70 and above. They are covered through Ayushman Vay Vandana, with no income test.
- Permanent residents of Odisha. This is the basic residency condition for enrolment in the state.
Eligibility lists are based on government databases, and they can be updated, so do not rely on an old neighbour’s experience. Check your own family on the official portal, as explained below.
Documents You Should Keep Ready
For checking eligibility, generating the card or being admitted to a hospital, these are the papers that usually matter:
- Aadhaar card of the person (needed for e-KYC)
- Ration card (NFSA or SFSS)
- Mobile number linked to Aadhaar for OTP
- Your Ayushman or PMJAY-GJAY card, once you have it
At AIIMS Bhubaneswar, for example, the admission file asks for the Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY-GJAY) card, a copy of the ration card and a copy of the Aadhaar card. Other hospitals follow a similar pattern, though their help desk may ask for additional ID.
How to Check Eligibility and Get Your Ayushman Card
There are two ways to get the card: online through the official NHA portal or the Ayushman App, or in person through the help desk at a government hospital, a Mo Seva Kendra or another service centre. The official portal beneficiary.nha.gov.in is the right starting point. The Ayushman App on Google Play is also published as the official mobile app of the Government of India and can be used to make the card.
Online steps
- Open the official beneficiary portal or the Ayushman App.
- Log in with your mobile number and the OTP you receive.
- Choose the scheme (PMJAY) and the state (Odisha).
- Search for your family using details such as your Aadhaar number, ration card number or other family ID the portal offers.
- If your name is listed, complete the Aadhaar e-KYC when asked.
- After approval, download your card as a PDF.
A small note on accuracy: the portal sometimes blocks automated tools, and screens change from time to time, so follow the prompts you actually see. If any step does not match, the helpline 14555 can guide you to the right option for your state.
Offline steps
If you are not comfortable with online steps, go to the Ayushman help desk of a nearby government hospital, or a Mo Seva Kendra, with your Aadhaar and ration card. Staff can look up your family record and help with e-KYC. You should never need to pay anyone for enrolling or for printing the card.
Card names that confuse people
You may hear the terms PMJAY card, GJAY card, Ayushman card, co-branded card and Vay Vandana card. The first four refer to the family card issued jointly under the two schemes. The Vay Vandana card is the separate one for senior citizens aged 70 and above.
How to Use the Card at a Hospital
Once you have the card, the steps at an empanelled hospital are simple. AIIMS Bhubaneswar (https://aiimsbhubaneswar.nic.in/schemes/gopabandhu-swasthya-kalyan-yojana-bsky/) publishes its own process, which is a good example of how it works in a large government hospital:
- The patient is admitted to the ward or day care.
- The patient file is prepared with all documents (card, ration card copy, Aadhaar copy).
- The treating doctor fills the pre-authorisation form, the medicine and consumables form, and the implants form, with the package code.
- Pre-authorisation is applied for as per the selected package, and approval is received from the NHA, after which the patient or next of kin is informed.
- The patient visits the Ayushman Bharat counter with the bedside file, is identified as a PM-JAY beneficiary and registered with biometric verification.
- At discharge, the patient visits the counter again for biometric authentication and discharge on the portal.
If a patient is too ill to go to the desk, such as someone who is bedridden or in the ICU, fingerprint or iris authentication may not be possible, and the hospital notes this in its own guidance. Ask the help desk what alternative they use.
What Is Covered and What Is Not
Treatment is cashless and paperless at empanelled hospitals, and the cost is settled between the hospital and the scheme. Covered care generally includes hospital admission, surgeries, cancer care, heart procedures, dialysis and similar secondary and tertiary services, as per the package list.
Things that are commonly not covered include outpatient consultations that do not need admission, cosmetic procedures and dental treatment. These exclusions are widely reported but can change, so confirm with the hospital help desk or on the GJAY dashboard (https://gjaydashboard.odisha.gov.in/) before planning a procedure. Treatment is paid as per fixed package rates, so it also helps to ask which package code will apply.
How to Find an Empanelled Hospital
The state dashboard has a hospital locator at gjaydashboard.odisha.gov.in, and the national portal pmjay.gov.in carries the all-India network. Before you go, call the hospital and ask two things: is it empanelled under PM-JAY, and does it have a working Ayushman help desk. This one call saves many families a wasted trip.
Helpline Numbers and How to Complain
If a hospital refuses to treat you, asks for money for a covered service, or you face any other problem, do not simply pay and move on.
- National PM-JAY helpline: 14555. A state government page for another state also lists this as the national number, and says grievances can be lodged on the online portal cgrms.nha.gov.in.
- Odisha GJAY queries: the state dashboard lists the toll-free number 104, available 24 hours.
- Help desk: every empanelled public hospital runs a PM-JAY help desk where staff can note your complaint.
Some websites list other numbers for the scheme. Treat them carefully, and use only the numbers published on official .gov.in portals. When you complain, keep your card number, the hospital name, the date and a short note of what happened.
What Has Been Achieved So Far
A few official and semi-official updates give a sense of how the scheme has been moving:
- Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling said in July 2025 that more than 2.6 lakh people had received treatment since 11 April, and that Odisha ranked second after Uttar Pradesh in enrolment, as reported by Kalinga TV from an ANI report. This is a ministerial statement, not an audited figure.
- On the first anniversary, 11 April 2026, the Chief Minister posted a message on the official CM Odisha website (https://cm.odisha.gov.in/en/node/913) calling the coordination of Ayushman Bharat, GJAY and Ayushman Vay Vandana a boon for the state’s health infrastructure. The message does not give new numbers.
- Live treatment and claim statistics are kept on the state GJAY dashboard (https://gjaydashboard.odisha.gov.in/). Numbers change daily, so check it directly if you need a current figure.
Common Problems and Simple Fixes
Fresh update (13 October 2026)
The Union Health Ministry has asked all states and Union Territories to make hospitals and clinics prominently display their treatment and service charges — in English and the local language (Odia for Odisha) — under the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010. In her letter to chief secretaries, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava also asked for package rates for foreign patients on medical or Ayush visas. For GJAY beneficiaries this matters: if a hospital’s bill surprises you, ask to see the official rate chart first, since the ministry says clear rate display should reduce billing disputes. Health is a state subject, so enforcement rests with the Odisha government.
My family name is not found on the portal. Try searching with a different family member or a different ID. If it still does not appear, ask at the Ayushman help desk of a government hospital or call 14555 to understand the correct route for your state.
My Aadhaar and ration card details do not match. Name or date of birth mismatches are a frequent reason for e-KYC trouble. Correct the wrong record first, then try again.
The hospital says my card is not working. Ask the help desk to check your eligibility on the system and note the reason. If you are told something that does not sound right, lodge a grievance.
I was asked to pay for a covered treatment. Call 14555 and file a grievance on the portal. Keep every receipt.
Beware of Fake Agents and Websites
Because the scheme involves millions of people, some individuals and websites try to take money for “registration” or “fast card approval”. Official portals end in .gov.in, and enrolment should not require a payment to an agent. Never share your OTP, Aadhaar number or bank details with unknown callers. This website is an independent information site and is not run by the Government of Odisha or the National Health Authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ayushman Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana one scheme or two?
It is two schemes running together. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the central scheme, and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana is Odisha’s state scheme. In Odisha they have been merged into one system with a co-branded card.
How much cover does a family get?
Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. Women members get an additional ₹5 lakh, which can bring the usable amount up to ₹10 lakh when a woman needs treatment.
Who can get the card?
Families covered under NFSA or SFSS in Odisha, families identified under the SECC criteria, ASHA and Anganwadi worker families, and senior citizens aged 70 and above through Ayushman Vay Vandana. Always confirm on the official portal.
Can I get treatment outside Odisha?
Yes, at empanelled hospitals in the network. The Chief Minister said at the launch that beneficiaries can use the scheme in hospitals outside the state.
Is treatment in government hospitals free for everyone?
According to the state’s GJAY dashboard, the State Government bears the cost of health services for all patients in state government facilities up to medical college hospital level, irrespective of income.
Is GJAY the same as BSKY?
GJAY is the renamed and expanded successor of the earlier Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. Some older cards and portal pages still carry the old name.
What is the helpline number?
The national PM-JAY helpline is 14555. For Odisha GJAY queries, the state dashboard lists 104.
What if a hospital refuses cashless treatment?
Ask the help desk to record it, call 14555 and lodge a grievance on the CGRMS portal. Keep your card details and the hospital name ready.
How do seniors aged 70 and above get covered?
They are covered under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana, irrespective of income, and receive a separate card. They can complete the process through the official portal or the Ayushman App.
Is this website official?
No. This is an independent information website. For applications and verification, use only the official portals listed below.
More Odisha Government Scheme Guides
If you are following other Odisha welfare updates, these guides on our site may help:
- PMAY Odisha list 2026 for housing scheme beneficiary lists
- Mission Shakti interest aid to SHGs for women’s self help group updates
- Odisha Small Savings Incentive Scheme for coupon rules and prizes
- All installment updates for payment news from the state
- Latest blog posts for more government scheme explainers
Disclaimer: subhadra-yojanain.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with the Government of Odisha or the National Health Authority. Scheme rules, limits and hospital lists can change, so please confirm the latest details on the official portals before acting.
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