The Delhi government has expanded the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to include widows and persons with disabilities, extending cashless health insurance benefits to nearly 5.5 lakh additional families.
The Delhi Chief Minister announced that approximately 3.97 lakh widows and 1.31 lakh Divyang persons will now be covered under the scheme, along with their families. The move is aimed at ensuring that vulnerable citizens are not denied medical treatment due to financial constraints.
The expansion marks a significant step in strengthening financial protection against healthcare-related expenses in the national capital.
For families dependent on widow pensions or disability assistance, medical emergencies can quickly destabilise household finances. With fixed or limited monthly incomes, absorbing large hospital bills often leads to borrowing, asset sales, or depletion of savings.
The inclusion under PM-JAY’s cashless treatment framework is expected to substantially reduce out-of-pocket expenditure. Since hospitalisation costs will be covered at empanelled facilities, the risk of falling into medical debt is significantly lowered.
From a personal finance perspective, the expansion acts as a financial safety net—protecting low-income households from sudden healthcare shocks.
The newly included beneficiaries will be in addition to families already covered under:
According to official data, 7,23,707 Ayushman cards have already been issued in Delhi, including 2,74,620 to senior citizens. The scheme currently operates through 208 empanelled hospitals in the capital—156 private and 53 government facilities.
More than 29,120 beneficiaries have availed treatment under the scheme through the State Health Agency.
The expansion comes amid growing recognition that healthcare costs remain one of the leading causes of household financial distress in India. By widening eligibility to widows and persons with disabilities, the Delhi government aims to close coverage gaps for economically vulnerable segments.
Access to cashless hospitalisation ensures timely treatment without the immediate burden of arranging funds. It also improves long-term financial stability by reducing exposure to catastrophic medical expenses.
Read more: IRDAI to Roll Out Major Insurance Reforms, Launch Bima Sugam Marketplace in 4–6 Months.
Delhi’s decision to expand PM-JAY coverage to widows and persons with disabilities reinforces the scheme’s role as a financial protection mechanism, not just a healthcare programme.
By covering nearly 5.5 lakh additional families, the move strengthens the city’s healthcare safety net and reduces the likelihood of vulnerable households slipping into debt due to medical emergencies. In a landscape where healthcare costs can quickly derail personal finances, such expansions play a critical role in promoting both health security and financial resilience.
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Published on: Feb 27, 2026, 12:37 PM IST
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