Living with hearing loss can be challenging, and one of the biggest problems is the high cost of hearing aids. A lot of people who require hearing aids are unable to purchase them. If you are an Ayushman Card holder, you might be asking yourself: “Will this card help me get a free or low-cost hearing aid?” That is an excellent question but the answer is not straightforward. Your eligibility, the hospital you visit, and the available assistance are some of the factors that determine this. Let’s examine how the Ayushman Bharat plan can benefit you in more detail.
What is the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Scheme?
Let us first start by understanding “What is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)”, which is also known as the Ayushman Bharat.
The Government of India announced a significant health program to provide over 10 crore impoverished and vulnerable households with free medical insurance worth ₹5 lakh annually.
In India since it began in 2018, it has helped more than 1.8 crore people get hospital treatments, and over 24,000 hospitals are part of the scheme.
To put it simply, it’s India’s strategy to ensure that more people have access to free or reasonably priced healthcare without having to worry about high medical costs.
Is Hearing Aid Covered in General Health Insurance?
Generally, hearing aids are considered “elective devices,” much like spectacles or contact lenses. In other words, they are thought to be beneficial but not essential for saving your life. As a result, hearing aids are not covered by many standard health insurance policies. They look at them as something that improves your quality of life, not something that’s urgently needed. However, depending on where you reside, the company you work for, and the plan you have, health insurance regulations can vary and be complex. Therefore, even if the majority of plans do not cover hearing aids, it is always a good idea to review every aspects of your policy.
Does the Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) Cover Hearing Aids?
Now comes the big question:
Does the Ayushman Card cover hearing aids?
No, it does not — according to specific sources.
Under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) care is included.
This care covers dental check-ups, and vision tests.
There are about 94 ENT packages under PM-JAY. The scheme also includes surgeries like cochlear implants for those with severe hearing loss.
Some important points:
- ENT services are part of the primary health care at Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs).
- Medicines, diagnostic tests, surgeries, and necessary medical devices during hospitalisation are covered.
- The scheme covers expenses before hospitalisation (3 days) and after hospitalisation (15 days).
- Some things are not covered, like cosmetic surgeries, OPD (outpatient care), organ transplants, fertility treatments, and drug rehab.
But hearing aids are NOT listed among the excluded items.
Who Can Get Benefits Under PM-JAY?
The eligibility for getting an Ayushman Card is based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011.
Some examples of who is eligible:
- Families living in a one-room house with weak (kacha) walls and roof
- Families with no adult between ages 16-59
- Female-headed households with no adult male
- Disabled members with no working adult
- Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST) families
- Landless families relying only on casual labour
In urban areas, it includes workers like domestic helpers, construction workers, street vendors, mechanics, and others.
Latest Update:
Now, citizens aged 70 years and above can also get the Ayushman Card, no matter their income!
Special Ayushman Cards are being issued for senior citizens.
You can check your eligibility easily:
- Visit the official website and click on “Am I Eligible”
- Or call the helpline numbers: 14555 or 1800-111-565