New Delhi, The newly elected BJP government in Rajasthan has approached the union health ministry for approval to merge the state’s Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme with the central Ayushman Bharat program. The proposed scheme, named Ayushman Bharat Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme, is expected to retain the existing benefits, including a ₹25 lakh insurance cover in both private and government hospitals.
Introduced by former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of the Congress party, the Chiranjeevi scheme offers higher coverage compared to Ayushman Bharat’s ₹5 lakh. An official from the state government assured that the scheme would continue without deductions in coverage.
Despite previous concerns raised by Gehlot during the campaign, the new scheme aims to maintain the amount of the package, ensuring uninterrupted health coverage. Currently, over 1.42 crore families benefit from the ongoing Chiranjeevi scheme, and the state government has directed districts to issue new cards by January 26.
An official reported that certain private hospitals had already stopped accepting Chiranjeevi cards, anticipating potential discontinuation under the new government. The merger is set to align the state with national efforts to cover all Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries.
