Telangana Expands AB-PMJAY Coverage

■ Massive Coverage Rollout: 29.02 lakh families eligible, with 82.78 lakh Ayushman cards issued statewide as of Jan 31, 2026

■ Claims Triumph: 20.08 lakh claims settled for Rs 4,262.48 crore since May 2021 launch, with swift processing

■ Rising Utilization: Hospital admissions jumped from 3.23 lakh in 2021-22 to 6.22 lakh in 2025-26 (up to Jan), aligning with national trends and showing progressive growth year-on-year.

■ Support Systems Boosted: Dedicated hospital helpline (14413), 24/7 beneficiary support (14555), and a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism ensure smoother access and resolutions for Telangana residents.

MAHESH AVADHUTHA| Hyderabad 

After initially holding back from the nationwide rollout of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in 2018, Telangana integrated the scheme with its Aarogyasri programme in May 2021. Since then, the state has rapidly expanded coverage, reflecting growing public trust and usage.

In a Lok Sabha reply to Nizamabad MP Arvind Dharmapuri, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav shared key data on the scheme’s progress. In Telangana, 29.02 lakh families are eligible for coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.

So far, 82.78 lakh Ayushman cards have been issued, extending benefits to family members and widening access. As of January 31, 2026, 20.08 lakh claims worth ₹4,262.48 crore have been settled, covering surgeries and critical care treatments across the state.

Claims are processed by the State Health Agency under National Health Authority guidelines, with a 15-day turnaround for in-state hospitals and 30 days for portability cases outside the state.

To maintain quality standards, 12 hospitals have been de-empanelled for non-compliance, reinforcing accountability while ensuring uninterrupted services to beneficiaries.

Utilization on the Rise: Telangana matches the National Pulse

One of the most encouraging aspects is how Telangana's usage has skyrocketed, aligning perfectly with India's overall progress. Launched mid-2021, the state started small but has shown consistent growth in hospital admissions under AB-PMJAY. Here's a year-by-year comparison that tells the tale:

From a modest 3.23 lakh admissions in the debut year, Telangana jumped to 6.77 lakh in 2024-25—a doubling in just a few years. Even in the partial 2025-26 data, it's holding strong at 6.22 lakh, outpacing the national average in growth rate. This progressive increase reflects growing awareness, better infrastructure, and perhaps a cultural shift towards preventive and insured healthcare in a state known for its health tech startups.

Compared to the national average, Telangana's trajectory is in sync, but with a local flavor: higher utilization in urban areas driven by IT professionals and migrants, while rural districts are catching up through awareness campaigns.

The Road Ahead

A dedicated hospital call center (14413) has been established to tackle empanelment concerns in real-time, encouraging more facilities to join the network. Currently, over 1,400 hospitals are empanelled in Telangana, but expansion is ongoing to cover remote areas like Khammam or Warangal.

Telangana's AB-PMJAY story is one of transformation from a three-year delay to becoming a model of progressive adoption. In a state grappling with rising lifestyle diseases amid rapid urbanization, this scheme is a lifeline, reducing financial stress and promoting equitable access.