Two families in Rajkot, Gujarat have avoided taking high-interest loans for critical medical procedures after the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme covered their full treatment costs. The cases, reported on 9 November 2026, illustrate how cashless health coverage is functioning as a financial safety net for low-income households in the state.

Kidney Stone Surgeries Covered in Full

Jayantibhai Vadakia, a resident of Dharampur village in Chotila taluka, was diagnosed with kidney stones in both kidneys. His family's financial position made it impossible to bear the cost of two separate operations. Vadakia subsequently underwent both surgeries free of charge at Doshi Hospital in Rajkot district using his Ayushman Bharat card.

The hospital additionally provided him with travel assistance of ₹300 on each of his two visits. Recalling the experience, Vadakia said the scheme had spared his family a debt trap. 'If we did not have the Ayushman card, we would have had to borrow money at interest for the operations. However, because of this scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our treatment was completely free. The facilities here are very good. This scheme is very helpful for poor and middle-class families,' he said.

Urinary Bladder Tumour Treatment at No Cost

In a separate case, the scheme covered treatment for a tumour near the urinary bladder of a beneficiary identified as Laxmanbhai. His son, Kanabhai, said doctors had estimated the cost of the operation and follow-up treatment at approximately ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 — an amount the family could not have arranged without borrowing.

'My father underwent a urinary bladder surgery. The cost of the operation and treatment was around ₹50,000 to ₹60,000, which was covered through the Ayushman card. Without the card, we would have had to arrange the money either by borrowing or taking a loan at interest. This scheme is very helpful for small and poor families. The government has done good work for people from weaker sections,' Kanabhai said.

What Gujarat's PMJAY-MA Scheme Covers

Under the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY-MA scheme in Gujarat, eligible families are entitled to cashless treatment worth up to ₹10 lakh annually at empanelled government and private hospitals. The state government doubled the coverage limit — from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh — in July 2023.

The scheme covers both secondary and tertiary hospitalisation, and notably includes pre-existing conditions from the very first day of enrolment, with no restrictions on family size or the age of beneficiaries. This design feature is significant because it removes the standard waiting periods that typically exclude the most vulnerable patients.

Broader Impact and Context

Medical debt remains one of the leading drivers of household financial distress in India, with studies consistently showing that a single hospitalisation can push a low-income family below the poverty line. The two Rajkot cases underscore how cashless schemes can interrupt that cycle — provided coverage limits, hospital empanelment, and awareness reach intended beneficiaries. This comes amid ongoing national debate about the scheme's expansion and whether its ₹5 lakh central ceiling is adequate for tertiary care in high-cost procedures. Gujarat's decision to top up coverage to ₹10 lakh through its Mukhyamantri Amrutam component is one model other states are reportedly studying.

Both beneficiaries confirmed that the scheme allowed their families to access timely treatment that would otherwise have been delayed or forgone entirely due to cost.