J P Nadda launches the Unified Health Insurance Scheme of Odisha

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, launched a unified health insurance scheme of the Odisha government in Cuttack, Odisha, on 11 April 2025.

The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) of the central government was formally launched in the state as part of the unified insurance scheme. 

The minister also launched the newly introduced Ayushman Vayo-Vandana Yojana in the state.

The Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion of the launch of the unified health insurance scheme.

Roll out of AB-PMJAY and merger of the Gopabandhu scheme 

In January 2025, the Odisha government signed an agreement with the National Health Authority, which implements the AB-PMJAY scheme, to implement the scheme in the state. Odisha was the 34th State/Union Territory to join the AB-PMJAY scheme.

Recently, Delhi became the 35th state/Union Territory to join the AB-PMJAY scheme.

The previous Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal government in Odisha had refused to join the AB-PMJAY and instead launched its health insurance scheme, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

After the BJP government came to power in the state in 2024 renamed the Biju Swathya Kalyan Yojana into Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana.

With the launch of the AB-PMJAY in the state, the Gopabadhu scheme has been merged with the AB-PMJAY.

Launch of Ayushman Vayo-Vandana Yojana in the state 

• Jagat Prakash Nadda also launched the Ayushman Vayo-Vandana Yojana, which provides health insurance benefits to senior citizens of 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
• The Ayushman Vayo-Vandana Yojana is part of the AB-PMJAY scheme, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29 October 2024.

Benefits of the Unified Health Insurance Scheme 

• It will provide health insurance coverage to around 1.3 crore families and 3.52 crore people of the state.
• Free medical treatment, including hospitalisation up to Rs 5 lakh per year for each beneficiary.
• Additional Rs 5 lakh coverage for women members of the family.
• Every beneficiary will be issued a personal health card, replacing the earlier system of separate cards for male and female family members.
• Beneficiaries will now be able to receive free treatment at more than 29,000 government and private empanelled hospitals across India.

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Delhi becomes the 35th State/UT to join the Ayushman Bharat Scheme