Quick answer: At an empanelled hospital, visit the dedicated PM-JAY desk (often staffed by an Ayushman Mitra), show your Aadhaar and Ayushman card, and let the hospital verify your eligibility and get pre-authorization before treatment. You don’t pay upfront for covered treatment — the hospital bills PM-JAY directly.

Key Takeaways

• Using your card is mostly the hospital’s job, not yours — your role is verification and paperwork, not payment.
• Treatment needs pre-authorization from the hospital before it’s confirmed as covered.
• Only empanelled hospitals, and only for the packages they’re approved for, offer cashless treatment.
• Emergency admissions can start treatment first and complete verification afterward at most hospitals.

Step-by-Step: Using Your Card for Planned Treatment

1. Confirm the hospital is empanelled and offers the specific treatment you need, using the official hospital search tool.
2. Bring your Aadhaar, Ayushman card (digital or physical), and any prior medical records or referral documents.
3. Visit the hospital’s PM-JAY help desk on arrival — look for signage or ask reception for the Ayushman Mitra.
4. The desk verifies your identity and eligibility, usually against the same beneficiary database used on the portal.
5. The hospital’s medical team requests pre-authorization for your specific treatment package from the State Health Agency.
6. Once approved, treatment proceeds as cashless — the hospital bills PM-JAY directly rather than charging you.

Planned vs. Emergency Admission

	Planned treatment	Emergency admission
Verification timing	Before admission	Can start after treatment begins
Pre-authorization	Obtained before the procedure	Often processed retrospectively within a defined window
What you need to bring	Aadhaar, Ayushman card, referral if applicable	Aadhaar and Ayushman card as soon as available; a family member can assist if you can’t

Hospitals are generally required to stabilize and treat genuine emergencies first and sort out PM-JAY paperwork afterward — if a hospital demands upfront cash before treating an emergency, that’s worth escalating to the hospital’s PM-JAY desk supervisor or the scheme’s helpline.

What’s Included Without Extra Cost

• Pre-hospitalization expenses for a limited period before admission
• The treatment package itself, including surgery, medicines, and consumables covered under that package
• Post-hospitalization expenses for a limited period after discharge
• Diagnostic tests that are part of the approved package

Common Mistakes

Mistake	What to do instead
Paying cash because a hospital staff member says the card “isn’t working”	Ask them to contact the PM-JAY desk or Ayushman Mitra directly before paying anything
Assuming any procedure at an empanelled hospital is automatically covered	Coverage depends on the specific treatment package the hospital is approved for — confirm before your procedure
Not bringing Aadhaar along with the Ayushman card	Both are typically needed together for identity verification at the hospital desk

If a Hospital Asks You to Pay

A hospital that’s genuinely empanelled for your treatment shouldn’t be asking for payment for a covered package. If this happens, ask specifically whether the procedure falls under a covered PM-JAY package — sometimes a related but different procedure isn’t included, which is a legitimate reason for a partial charge. If you believe you’re being wrongly asked to pay for something that should be free, the PM-JAY helpline (14555) can help you raise the issue with the hospital or State Health Agency.

Conclusion

Using your Ayushman card at a hospital is less about anything you personally do and more about the hospital’s own verification and billing process running correctly. Knowing the steps — and your right to cashless treatment for covered packages — helps you catch it quickly if something goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay anything upfront at an empanelled hospital?

No, for treatment covered under an approved PM-JAY package, the hospital bills the scheme directly rather than charging you.

What do I need to bring to use my Ayushman card at a hospital?

Your Aadhaar and your Ayushman card (digital or physical); prior medical records help if you have a referral.

Can I get treated in an emergency before verification is complete?

Yes, most hospitals stabilize and treat genuine emergencies first, completing PM-JAY verification and pre-authorization afterward.

What if a hospital asks me to pay despite being empanelled?

Confirm whether your specific treatment is under a covered package; if you believe you’re wrongly asked to pay, contact the PM-JAY helpline at 14555.

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Related: PM-JAY Hospital List guide, Ayushman Bharat Treatment & Package List, and PMJAY TMS Portal for Hospitals guide.