Senior citizens above 70 years should combine Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) with a private health insurance plan for a comprehensive cover. They can use the government cover for primary hospitalisation. And for expensive treatments that go beyond Rs 5 lakh or prolonged hospitalisation, make use of a private cover.
The AB-PMJAY provides a base floater cover of Rs 5 lakh for all senior citizens above 70 years, which is beneficial to cover primary and tertiary expenses. To supplement the cover, senior citizens should consider private plans of at least Rs 5 lakh to cover additional expenses such as outpatient treatments, specific diseases, or higher room categories as health expenses tend to increase with age. This combination will ensure comprehensive coverage and address both essential and advanced healthcare needs.
Moreover, they can look at a top-up which is a cost-effective strategy to expand coverage for expensive treatments. This can help them avoid high premiums for comprehensive coverage, while ensuring they are covered for substantial expenses if need be.
Siddharth Singhal, head, Health Insurance, Policybazaar.com, senior citizens are vulnerable to high-risk illnesses, treatments for which can be very expensive and may go beyond Rs 5 lakh. “To ensure more comprehensive coverage, seniors can combine it with a private health insurance policy that covers additional healthcare expenses, including any specialised services for expensive treatments,” he says.
