Quick answer: Yes. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY has national portability, so an eligible family can use its Ayushman card for cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals in other states. The hospital must be empanelled under PM-JAY for the specific treatment you need, and the treatment must be one of the scheme’s covered packages. Always check both before you travel.
Many families travel to other states for specialised care, often to hospitals far from home. For eligible families, PM-JAY can make that journey far more affordable, but only if the right checks are done in advance. A little preparation avoids the painful situation of arriving at a hospital that cannot use your card for your treatment.
What PM-JAY portability means
The National Health Authority describes PM-JAY as portable across the country: a beneficiary can visit any empanelled public or private hospital in India for cashless treatment. The scheme provides cover of up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for listed secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The government has also reported that lakhs of hospitalisations have already been authorised under this portability feature.
What PM-JAY covers and does not cover
| Usually covered | Usually not covered |
|---|---|
| Listed hospitalisation packages across many specialties | Routine outpatient (OPD) visits |
| Medicines, diagnostics and hospital services within the package | Treatments not in the scheme’s package list |
| Pre-hospitalisation diagnostics for a short period before admission | Hospitals that are not empanelled, or not empanelled for your treatment |
| Post-discharge medicines for a limited period | Travel and accommodation costs for the family |
Package details and rules change over time, so confirm the current position with the hospital’s Arogya Mitra desk or the PM-JAY helpline.
Checklist before travelling to another state
- Confirm eligibility and that your Ayushman card is active, using the official beneficiary portal or a Common Service Centre.
- Find empanelled hospitals in the destination city using the official PM-JAY hospital search.
- Check the specialty. Ask whether the hospital is empanelled for your specific treatment, not just for PM-JAY in general.
- Carry documents: Ayushman card, Aadhaar or other ID, and all medical reports and referral letters.
- Go to the Arogya Mitra desk on arrival. This is the hospital’s PM-JAY help desk, which verifies eligibility and starts pre-authorisation.
- Budget for travel and stay. PM-JAY covers treatment, not the family’s journey or accommodation.
If something goes wrong
If a hospital says it cannot use your card, first ask the Arogya Mitra desk to explain why; often the hospital is not empanelled for that specific procedure. If you believe you are being wrongly refused, call the PM-JAY helpline, 14555, to raise a grievance.
Keep a phone record
When you call a hospital or the helpline, note the date, the name of the person you spoke to and what they said. If anything goes wrong on arrival, this record helps the Arogya Mitra desk and the helpline resolve it quickly.
Carry printed copies of the card and your ID too, in case phones or networks fail.
How NEIMHAANS helps
NEIMHAANS is a non-clinical healthcare concierge that has helped families from Northeast India travel for treatment since 2007. For families with an Ayushman card, we help check which hospitals in the destination city are empanelled for the treatment their doctor has advised, prepare documents, plan the journey and stay, and support the family at the hospital. We cannot approve or guarantee PM-JAY coverage; that decision rests with the scheme and the hospital. See our services and our guide to medical concierge services in Assam.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Ayushman card outside my home state?
Yes. PM-JAY offers national portability, so an eligible beneficiary can get cashless treatment at empanelled public or private hospitals in other states, for treatments covered under the scheme.
Does the Ayushman card cover OPD consultations?
PM-JAY is mainly for hospitalisation. It covers listed secondary and tertiary care packages, including pre-hospitalisation diagnostics and post-discharge medicines for a limited period, rather than routine outpatient visits.
How do I find an empanelled hospital in another state?
Use the official PM-JAY hospital search on the National Health Authority’s portals, call the PM-JAY helpline, or ask the Arogya Mitra desk at an empanelled hospital.
What if a hospital refuses to accept my Ayushman card?
First ask the Arogya Mitra desk why, since the hospital may not be empanelled for that specific treatment. If you believe you are being wrongly refused, contact the PM-JAY helpline to raise a grievance.
Do state health schemes also work in other states?
Not always. Some state schemes are limited to hospitals within that state. PM-JAY is the one designed for portability across India.
This article is part of our complete guide to hospital costs in India.
This article is general information, not medical, legal, insurance or financial advice. Rules, schemes and hospital policies change, so always confirm details with your hospital, insurer or the relevant authority.