Ayushman Bharat increase to 10 lakh Budget 2026: As Budget 2026 approaches, expectations regarding Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) have increased in the health sector. The government currently provides a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family, but a proposal to double it due to rising medical costs is under discussion. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman may announce a significant increase in the health budget in the coming February. This step will not only provide relief to the poor but will also strengthen the healthcare infrastructure of the country.
Increase in coverage limit
According to media reports and experts, Ayushman Bharat There is a plan to increase the insurance limit from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per year. The main objective of this change is to make the treatment of serious diseases and expensive organ transplants accessible to poor families. If this proposal is passed in the budget, it will be the biggest reform ever in the country’s health care system.
Special benefits to senior citizens
An additional top-up cover of Rs 5 lakh has recently been introduced for senior citizens above 70 years of age. This means that for families that have elderly members, the effective coverage has already reached Rs 10 lakh. budget 2026 The possibility of extending this benefit to other categories or on the entire family basis is also being explored.
Budget allocation and impact
Rs 9,406 crore was allocated for the scheme in the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26, which was 24% more than the previous year. This amount is expected to cross Rs 10,000 crore in the upcoming budget to handle the growing beneficiary base. The increased funds will not only increase the sum insured but will also enable more private hospitals to be empaneled.
Inflation and expensive treatment
Due to rising inflation and use of new technology in the medical sector, the prices of operations and medicines have increased significantly. The current limit of Rs 5 lakh often proves inadequate for complex surgeries or long-term cancer treatments. Keeping this in mind, the National Health Authority (NHA) is assessing the financial burden towards increasing the coverage.
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State Government Initiatives
States like Chhattisgarh and Punjab have already taken steps towards increasing the coverage to Rs 10 lakh at their level. The Punjab government has announced that it will implement this enhanced cover from January 22, 2026, providing additional relief to existing beneficiaries. Seeing these successes of the states, the Central Government is considering implementing it uniformly across the country.
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