Tamil Nadu Delays Expanded Healthcare Scheme for Seniors Over 70

Swift Summary

• The expanded Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), aimed at providing free healthcare benefits of ₹5 lakh per year to senior citizens aged 70 and above and their families, has not been implemented in Tamil Nadu nearly a year after its launch.
• Differences persist between the Union government and Tamil Nadu over specific implementation details, especially around defining economically vulnerable populations for eligibility criteria.
• The Union government uses the Socio-economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011, while Tamil Nadu bases poverty determination on annual family income less than ₹1.2 lakh under its Chief Minister’s Thorough Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS).
• In Tamil Nadu:

– Approximately 43.19 lakh individuals from 32.35 lakh families could benefit under the expanded scheme.
– Official data shows only 4.06 lakh individuals from eligible families are currently listed in PM-JAY records.

• Premium cost-sharing between Center and States stands at a central contribution of 60%, except for certain northeastern/Himalayan states where it is up to 90%. For Tamil Nadu:

– Annual premium costs: ₹1,000 crore borne by the centre; ₹200 crore by the State government.
– disputes include demands for adjusting estimates of economically vulnerable people to cover about six million more beneficiaries.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The stalled implementation of AB PM-JAY’s expanded benefits in Tamil Nadu highlights ongoing friction over aligning state-specific needs wiht centrally determined eligibility criteria. While both governments share engagement through discussions, differing methodologies-state estimate based on annual income versus central reliance on SECC data-pose logistical challenges that need resolution before global healthcare accessibility under this scheme can be realized.The non-implementation risks discontinuity for millions who potentially stand to benefit from improved access to healthcare services amid rising medical costs-especially among senior citizens aged above seventy-and underscores broader fiscal questions regarding cooperative federalism in India’s welfare state framework. A practical compromise will likely depend on reconciling equitable resource allocation with clarity regarding beneficiary inclusion processes.

Published September 14, 2025.