Despite enabling over eight crore hospital admissions, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) remains riddled with challenges that make accessing its benefits a daunting ordeal for many. For countless eligible citizens, the promise of free healthcare often gets entangled in a web of bureaucratic hurdles, unclear eligibility criteria, and implementation gaps. The first part of this series explained how people can apply for benefits under AB-PMJAY. In Part 2, we dive into the systemic gaps and the struggles beneficiaries face in accessing the scheme's medical benefits. Proving your eligibility for Ayushman Bharat As per provisions of the…

“I used the Ayushman Bharat card twice, as I had to undergo a procedure to remove water from my lungs. My entire expense was covered by the scheme. It would have been a burden to arrange ₹2 lakh on my own, but thankfully, all expenses were taken care of through this scheme," says Chikkamaregowda, a resident of Yelahanka. He opines that the Ayushman Bharat Scheme has been beneficial for people who fall below the poverty line. The Ayushman Bharat (AB) scheme is a key initiative of the Central government, launched with a vision to achieve 'Universal Health Coverage' as recommended…