Government of India has announced ‘PM CARES for Children’ scheme, for supporting children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian or adoptive parents due to COVID -19 pandemic. The scheme aims to ensure comprehensive care and protection for children who have lost their parents to COVID pandemic in a sustained manner, enable their well-being through health insurance, empower them through education; and equip them for self-sufficient existence with finance support of Rs.10 lakh, on reaching 23 years of age. The scheme includes provision for free health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh per eligible children under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme till 23 years of age.

Health Insurance component under PM CARES for Children Scheme

The PM CARES for children scheme announced by the Government includes extending insurance cover to children under Ayushman Bharat scheme. For this purpose, NHA has been asked to extend the cover under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY echo-system.

Salient Features of the scheme

PM CARES for Children scheme has been implemented through NHA’s IT platform on 30 th May 2022

Beneficiaries – Children enrolled under PM CARES for Children portal

Cover Amount – INR 5 lakhs per beneficiary per annum

Health Benefit Package – AB PM-JAY package master is applicable under this scheme

Empanelled hospitals – Eligible beneficiaries may seek treatment in any of the AB PM-JAY empanelled hospitals.

Portability feature – Scheme has portability feature which enables eligible beneficiary to take the inpatient treatment in any State

For more information, beneficiaries can call toll-free number: 14555