New health cover is one step in Tamil Nadu’s geriatric outreach, says govt.

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Nearly 12% of the 6.75 lakh people using government outpatient services are more than 60 years old, an official said. (File photo) | Photo Credit: RAGHUNATHAN SR

Tamil Nadu’s decision to launch a health insurance scheme for the elderly is part of the State government’s broader efforts to strengthen geriatric outreach and provide holistic care for its ageing population, according to the Health department.

On Monday, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj announced in the Assembly that the State government will launch the ‘Chief Minister’s Elderly Health Insurance Scheme’, covering nearly 38 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above. It will provide free medical treatment, including for cancer care, advanced cardiac surgeries, organ transplants, and high-end diagnostic services, at empanelled government and private hospitals, with no ceiling on income.

With the ageing population steadily increasing, it is projected that by 2050, one in five individuals will be over the age of 60 in India. This demographic shift calls for a health system that is differently oriented to address the evolving needs of an ageing population, officials said.

“Nearly 6.75 lakh people use our outpatient department services (government facilities) per day. Of this, nearly 12% are more than 60 years old. So, we are putting in place a comprehensive and structured initiative for geriatric outreach. For instance, the 1,000 Mobile Geriatric Treatment Centres announced are a part of our geriatric outreach,” an official said.

Among the toughest challenges are bedridden and home-based elderly. There are others who will require normal medical support and a group of them who will require mental healthcare, the official said.

In 2024, the Union government expanded the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to extend health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their income. T.N.’s Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme was integrated with AB-PMJAY in 2018. Health officials said the newly proposed Chief Minister’s Elderly Health Insurance Scheme will similarly be integrated with AB-PMJAY.

Officials said that those above 70 years will be enrolled under the CM’s Elderly Health Insurance Scheme, irrespective of income criteria.

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