I am 72 years old and have an Ayushman card. If I get hospitalized, will I be eligible for a single room?

 I am 72 years old and have an Ayushman card. If I get hospitalized, will I be eligible for a single room?

Under the *Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)*, which your Ayushman card provides access to, hospitalization benefits include coverage for accommodation during treatment as part of the overall cashless package (up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care at empanelled hospitals).

However, the scheme generally covers *general ward* or *shared accommodation* (multi-bed or semi-private wards, depending on the hospital and package). *Single rooms* (private or deluxe rooms) are not automatically entitled or covered under the standard scheme benefits.

If you request or are allotted a single/private room (upgrade), the scheme typically does not cover the additional room charges or related differential costs. You would have to pay those extra expenses out-of-pocket, and in some cases, opting for an upgrade may mean the entire treatment is no longer fully cashless under PM-JAY rules.

This applies in both government and private empanelled hospitals, though availability varies: government hospitals often default to general wards (with possible separate wards for beneficiaries in some states), while private ones may offer semi-private options within package rates but charge extra for single rooms.

- Official guidelines (including from the National Health Authority and scheme documents) list "accommodation benefits" but specify general ward entitlements; upgrades are not included.

 

Since you're 72, you fall under the senior citizen category (and since September 2024, all those 70+ have enhanced eligibility with up to ₹5 lakh coverage, potentially as a separate top-up if your family was already covered). This doesn't change the room entitlement rules.

For your specific hospitalization:

- Visit an empanelled hospital (check via pmjay.gov.in or the Ayushman app for nearby options in Delhi).

- Present your Ayushman card for verification and cashless approval.

- Discuss room options upfront with the hospital's Ayushman helpdesk—they can clarify based on the treatment package, hospital policy, and availability.

- If a single room is medically necessary (e.g., isolation for certain conditions), it might be accommodated within the package in some cases, but this isn't guaranteed for preference alone.

For the most accurate details on your case, contact the PM-JAY helpline at 14555 or check the official portal (pmjay.gov.in). Rules can have minor state-level variations (Delhi follows central guidelines closely). Wishing you good health!