Govt Plans PM-JAY Healthcare Coverage for 1 Cr Gig Workers
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced during her Budget speech that gig workers will be registered on the e-Shram portal and provided identity cards, enabling their inclusion in the PM-JAY scheme.
The Finance Ministry, in coordination with the Labour Department, is developing a plan to extend healthcare benefits under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to around 1 crore gig workers, Expenditure Secretary Manoj Govil confirmed.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced during her Budget speech that gig workers will be registered on the e-Shram portal and provided identity cards, enabling their inclusion in the PM-JAY scheme.
The specifics of the scheme are under discussion with the Labour Ministry and other relevant departments as per PTI.
The healthcare coverage for gig workers could either be structured as a fully-funded Central Sector scheme or as a centrally sponsored scheme, with expenses shared between the Centre and states in a 60:40 ratio. “Once the scheme details are finalized, the cost will be calculated,” Govil said.
PM-JAY is the world’s largest health assurance program, offering coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 12 Cr economically vulnerable families.
In a related development, the Union Cabinet decided on September 11, 2024, to provide health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, irrespective of their income.
