Imagine a family in a small village in Gujarat. A family member suddenly falls seriously ill, and the doctor says a major operation is needed in a big hospital. The first question that comes to mind is not about the treatment — it is about the money. A heart surgery, cancer treatment, dialysis or a kidney operation can cost lakhs of rupees. For a poor or middle-class family, that cost can feel like a mountain. Many families take loans, mortgage land or jewellery, and sometimes the treatment itself remains incomplete because the money runs out.
To solve exactly this problem, the Gujarat government runs a scheme in which the government pays for even the biggest hospital bills. In this article, we explain that scheme in full — what it is, how much free treatment it gives, which families can get it, how to make the card, which documents you need, and the complete process of getting free treatment in a hospital. Read the article till the end, because one small mistake while making the card can leave your name out of the beneficiary list.
PMJAY-MA Card Gujarat 2026: At a Glance
| Scheme name | PMJAY-MA (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – Mukhyamantri Amrutam) |
| Earlier names | Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA) Yojana, MA Vatsalya Yojana |
| State | Gujarat |
| Launched | 4 September 2012 |
| Department | Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Gujarat |
| Free treatment limit | ₹10 lakh per family per year (family floater) |
| Cover increased | Raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh in July 2023 |
| Families covered | About 1.20 crore families |
| Empanelled hospitals | 2,090 hospitals (1,132 government + 958 private) |
| Procedures covered | 2,299 medical procedures + 50 specialised referral services |
| Premium / fee | No money is charged from the beneficiary |
| Card | PMJAY-MA co-branded smart card (with QR code) |
| Enrolment | Can be done any time during the year |
| Toll-free helpline | 1800-233-1022 |
| Official websites | beneficiary.nha.gov.in, ma.gujarat.gov.in |
What is the PMJAY-MA scheme?
The Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA) Yojana is a Gujarat government health insurance scheme that was launched on 4 September 2012, when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Its purpose was to protect poor families from the financial burden of expensive treatment for serious illnesses. Later, the scheme was integrated with the central government’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), and it now runs jointly as PMJAY-MA. Beneficiaries get a single co-branded PMJAY-MA card, which works in empanelled hospitals in Gujarat and across India.
The biggest strength of this scheme is that pre-existing diseases are covered from day one. There is no limit on family size or age. Treatment is fully cashless — when you are admitted to a hospital, you do not pay a single rupee from your pocket. The government pays the hospital directly. By September 2025, more than 51.27 lakh hospital admissions had been settled under this scheme, and over ₹13,946.53 crore had been paid to hospitals. Gujarat is among the top states in the country for claim settlement under this scheme.
₹10 lakh free treatment: what is covered?
In July 2023, the Gujarat government raised the cover under this scheme from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per family per year. The amount is on a family floater basis, which means any member of the family can use up to ₹10 lakh of free treatment in a year. In the Gujarat Budget 2026-27, ₹3,472 crore was allocated for this scheme, and the Budget announced that the ₹10 lakh benefit would now reach around 2.72 crore people.
The scheme covers 2,299 medical and surgical procedures, including cardiac surgery, cancer treatment, dialysis, kidney and liver disease, neurosurgery, burns treatment and treatment for serious injuries (polytrauma). In addition, 50 specialised referral services (SRS) are also covered. Treatment can be taken in government hospitals as well as in private hospitals empanelled under the scheme. In Gujarat, 2,090 hospitals are part of the scheme — 1,132 government hospitals and 958 private hospitals.
Who is eligible? The complete list
The PMJAY-MA benefit is available only to residents of Gujarat. Eligibility is divided into several categories, so check the list below to see which category your family falls into:
| Category | Who is eligible |
| BPL families | Families included in the Gujarat government’s BPL list |
| MA Vatsalya | Families with annual income up to ₹4 lakh |
| Senior citizens | Families with annual income up to ₹6 lakh that include a senior citizen |
| ASHA workers | All urban and rural ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers |
| Reporters | Recognised reporters / journalists |
| Government employees | Class-3 and Class-4 fixed-pay employees of the state government |
| PM-JAY beneficiaries | Families eligible under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY (as per the SECC list) |
In addition, under the Gujarat Karmayogi Swasth Suraksha Yojana launched in May 2025, state government officers, employees, All India Services officers, pensioners and their dependents also get cashless treatment under AB PMJAY-MA. “G” series cards are issued to them, and about 6.40 lakh beneficiaries have received this card so far.
Please note: if your name is in the PM-JAY beneficiary list, your Ayushman card itself works as the PMJAY-MA card. You do not need to make a separate MA card. Check your name on beneficiary.nha.gov.in using your Aadhaar or ration card.
How to make a PMJAY-MA card: online method
If your name is in the beneficiary list, you can make and download your card online. The complete process is:
- Step 1: Visit the official website beneficiary.nha.gov.in, or open the Ayushman App on your mobile phone.
- Step 2: Enter your mobile number, fill in the captcha and verify with the OTP.
- Step 3: Search for your name in the beneficiary list using your Aadhaar number or ration card number.
- Step 4: Once your name is found, complete Aadhaar e-KYC — an OTP will come on the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
- Step 5: After KYC is complete, your PMJAY-MA / Ayushman card will be ready. Download it and keep a printed copy safely.
If your name does not appear online, do not panic. Sometimes the name is recorded with a different spelling, or the head of the family’s name is listed. In that case, get it checked at the nearest card centre.
Offline method: kiosks and enrolment centres
For families who cannot make the card online, enrolment centres run across Gujarat. You can visit your nearest taluka kiosk, civic centre kiosk, civil hospital, Common Service Centre (CSC), e-Gram centre, UTI-ITSL centre or nCode agency centre. Mobile enrolment vans also visit villages and complete enrolment on the spot.
Carry these documents when you visit a centre:
- Ration card (to identify the family)
- Photo identity proof — Aadhaar card, voter ID or PAN card
- Income certificate (required for the MA Vatsalya category)
- Proof of residence (proof that you live in Gujarat)
At the centre, the officer will check your documents and confirm your eligibility. After that, fingerprints (biometrics) of all family members will be taken, because the card carries the details of every member of the family. That is why all family members must be present at the time of enrolment. Once verification is complete, you will receive a QR-coded MA / PMJAY-MA smart card. Enrolment in this scheme can be done at any time of the year — there is no last date.
How to get free treatment in a hospital
Once you have the card, getting treatment is very simple. If you or a family member needs to be admitted to a hospital, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Go to your nearest government hospital or a private hospital empanelled under the scheme. The list of hospitals is available on ma.gujarat.gov.in.
- Step 2: Show your PMJAY-MA card and Aadhaar card at the hospital help desk (Arogya Mitra desk).
- Step 3: The Arogya Mitra will verify your eligibility through a biometric check (fingerprint or iris scan).
- Step 4: The hospital will take cashless pre-authorisation before treatment, and the treatment will begin. You do not have to deposit any money at the hospital.
- Step 5: At the time of discharge, a biometric check is done again, and the hospital takes its payment directly from the government.
If a hospital refuses to accept the card or asks for money, immediately complain on the toll-free helpline 1800-233-1022. An empanelled hospital cannot refuse treatment under this scheme.
PMJAY-MA vs the regular Ayushman card: what is the difference?
This question comes to many people’s minds, so let us understand it clearly. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the central government’s scheme, which gives free treatment up to ₹5 lakh across the country. In Gujarat, the same scheme has been combined with the state’s Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana to form PMJAY-MA, in which the cover rises to ₹10 lakh. In other words, eligible families in Gujarat get double the benefit of the central scheme. The card is a single one — the PMJAY-MA co-branded card — which gives up to ₹10 lakh cover inside Gujarat and works in PM-JAY empanelled hospitals in other states as per PM-JAY rules.
Another difference is that the MA Vatsalya category also includes families that are not in the PM-JAY SECC list but have an annual income of up to ₹4 lakh. The state government gives this benefit to such families on its own.
Important things you must know
- No premium or registration fee is charged from the beneficiary under this scheme. If anyone asks for money in the name of making the card, it is fraud — complain on the helpline immediately.
- The card is only for residents of Gujarat. Residents of other states cannot use this card in Gujarat.
- Free treatment is available only in empanelled hospitals. If you take treatment in a private hospital that is not empanelled, you will have to bear the cost yourself.
- If a family member already suffers from a serious illness, it is still covered from day one. There is no waiting period.
- Always carry your card and Aadhaar card with you, especially when going to a hospital. If the card is lost, it can be made again from the nearest centre.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How much free treatment do I get with a PMJAY-MA card?
A: Free cashless treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family per year. This limit was raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh in July 2023.
Q2: Who can get a PMJAY-MA card?
A: BPL families in Gujarat, families with annual income up to ₹4 lakh (MA Vatsalya), families of senior citizens with income up to ₹6 lakh, ASHA workers, reporters, and Class-3 and Class-4 fixed-pay government employees are eligible.
Q3: How can I download my PMJAY-MA card online?
A: Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in or open the Ayushman App, log in with a mobile OTP, search your name with Aadhaar or ration card, complete e-KYC and download the card.
Q4: Is there a last date to get the card made?
A: No. Enrolment in this scheme can be done at any time of the year. No last date is fixed.
Q5: Will treatment for an old disease also be free with this card?
A: Yes. Pre-existing diseases are covered from day one. There is no waiting period.
Q6: What should I do if a hospital asks for money?
A: An empanelled hospital cannot ask for money for treatment. If this happens, complain on the toll-free helpline 1800-233-1022.
Q7: Can I use the card for treatment outside Gujarat?
A: Yes. The PMJAY-MA card works in PM-JAY empanelled hospitals across India, but outside Gujarat, PM-JAY rules apply.
Official links and contact
- Check beneficiary list and download card: beneficiary.nha.gov.in
- Gujarat MA Yojana portal (hospital list): ma.gujarat.gov.in
- Ayushman Bharat official website: pmjay.gov.in
- Toll-free helpline: 1800-233-1022
- Email: mayojanagujarat@gmail.com, nhpmgujarat@gmail.com
Last Updated: 10 November 2026
Disclaimer: GramSuvidha is a private information portal, not a government website. The information in this article is based on official sources and news reports. Rules and amounts can change from time to time, so please verify the details on the official website before applying or seeking treatment.
