Healthcare
India — Healthcare: Public Healthcare
India's flagship public health coverage scheme, Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY), covers over 60 crore (600 million) eligible Indians as of 2026, providing up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospital stays, surgeries, and critical care, plus a separate ₹5 lakh top-up for citizens aged 70+. However, PM-JAY, ESIC, and CGHS (India's public health schemes) are closed to foreign nationals across essentially all visa categories, including Employment, Business, Student, Medical, Tourist, and even OCI visas — foreigners and expats can be treated at public hospitals but must pay entirely out of pocket, as citizenship-linked eligibility is the gating factor.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceAyushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) / Government of IndiaLast reviewed: 2026-07-20
Key facts
- Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) covers 60+ crore eligible Indians, offering up to ₹5 lakh/year per family for hospitalization and surgery.
- Citizens aged 70+ qualify for a separate ₹5 lakh top-up regardless of income.
- PM-JAY, ESIC, and CGHS are all closed to foreign nationals, including OCI cardholders — public scheme eligibility is tied to Indian citizenship.
- Foreigners can still be treated at public hospitals but must pay out-of-pocket in full, with no access to the subsidized public scheme rates.
Common mistakes
- Assuming OCI status grants access to public healthcare schemes like PM-JAY — it does not; eligibility requires Indian citizenship.
- Relying on public hospitals expecting subsidized rates as a foreigner — full out-of-pocket payment is required.