Ayushman Bharat Expands to Include Seniors, Addressing Unique Healthcare Challenges
*Vijayalakshmi P, a small-town general physician, gave little thought to health insurance throughout her 50s and 60s. Her late husband’s pensioner's family coverage was a safety net. In her 70s, the need for dedicated coverage became clear. “I’m glad the government has now included those over 70 under the Ayushman Bharat scheme,” she says. “It lets me be independent of my children’s insurance policies.” Though pleased with the inclusion, she cautiously adds, “Of course, the question remains— which hospitals are covered under the scheme?”
The recent expansion of Ayushman Bharat to include senior citizens over the age of 70 marks a significant step towards enhancing healthcare accessibility for the elderly. It aims to alleviate financial strain on families and ensure that older adults receive the medical attention.
As per the “India Ageing Report 2023,” released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the International Institute for Population Sciences, India has a rapidly ageing population. By 2050, one in every five people in the country will be over the age of 60, highlighting the need to address the challenges of an ageing society.
Societal Attitudes Towards Elderly
Pavan Choudary, Chairman, Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) says that the utility of elders has diminished, as the repository of knowledge they carried is only a google-click away and industrialization has mobilized the young away from family professions, towards nuclear families. Increasing healthcare and caregiving costs can make elders seem like an expensive burden. “Many caregivers fall in the ‘sandwich generation’, with parents to care for on one side and their own children to care for on the other,” he says.
“MTaI has long advocated for this inclusion, and I am pleased to see it materialize. However, this change will present challenges, such as capacity issues. Hopefully, with an allocation of 500,000 INR for hospital expenses, it will be uncommon for patients not to secure a bed. This may prompt capacity expansion within providers.”
