Ayushman-GJAY Card for Bone Surgery in Odisha

Every week someone in my OPD holds up a card and asks, "Will this work for the operation?" Since 2024 the name on the card has changed, the rules have changed, and a lot of people are confused. Here is what you need to know as a bone and joint patient in Odisha.

BSKY, GJAY, Ayushman: what changed

  • Odisha's earlier scheme, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), was renamed Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY).
  • The state then integrated GJAY with the central Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme. It is now commonly called PMJAY–GJAY, and was rolled out across Odisha from 1 April 2025.
  • Beneficiaries get a single combined health card.

During the changeover after the 2024 change in government, some private hospitals refused cashless treatment to BSKY card holders. The state government clarified that the scheme remained active and asked empanelled hospitals to keep treating card holders. If you are turned away, ask to see the hospital's empanelment status.

What the card covers

  • Cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, with up to ₹10 lakh for women family members.
  • Eligible families: those with PMJAY–GJAY cards and families covered under NFSA/SFSS food security schemes in Odisha.
  • Senior citizens aged 70 and above are being covered under a separate central extension, the Ayushman Vay Vandana card.
  • With integration, the card can be used at empanelled hospitals across India, not only in Odisha.

For orthopaedic patients, this typically includes fracture fixation (plates, nails, screws), joint replacement and spine surgery at empanelled hospitals, subject to the scheme's package list.

Does it actually help? The evidence

Two recent studies from PGIMER Chandigarh, retrieved from PubMed, show how much these cards now matter in bone surgery:

  • In orthopaedic trauma surgery (2024–2025), PM-JAY funded about 81% of insured surgeries, and its share of all trauma operations rose from 31% to 37% in one year.
  • In spine surgery, PM-JAY funded 67% of all operations, and self-paid surgeries fell from 38% to 19% between 2023 and 2024.

In plain terms: implant-heavy surgery that families once delayed because of cost is now within reach for many card holders.

How to use the card in hospital

  1. Carry the card, Aadhaar and ration card (if applicable).
  2. On admission, go to the Ayushman/Arogya Mitra counter. Your identity is verified by fingerprint or iris scan.
  3. The hospital seeks pre-authorisation for the procedure.
  4. At discharge, biometric verification is done again.
  5. If the patient is in ICU or bed-bound, staff can make alternative arrangements. Ask at the counter.

Common problems and what to do

  • "Card not working": Check whether your old BSKY card has been converted. Visit a AMA Seva Kendra or call the Smart Health Card helpline 155369.
  • "This implant is not covered": Ask for the package code and what is excluded, in writing.
  • "Pay now, claim later": Under a cashless scheme, you should not be asked to pay for covered procedures at an empanelled hospital. Report it on the feedback helpline 14545.

Next step: Before any planned bone or joint surgery, confirm two things on the official GJAY portal or at the hospital counter: that your card is active, and that the hospital is empanelled for your procedure.

Related reading

References

  1. AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Updated information related to Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY), May 2026. Link
  2. Vikaspedia. Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana (GJAY) of Odisha. Link
  3. UNI. Odisha to launch AB-PMJAY and GJAY on 1 April. Link
  4. OdishaBytes. Odisha govt asks hospitals to continue treatment of BSKY card holders. Link
  5. Kumar V, Nimesh R, Dhatt SS, et al. Ayushman card (PM-JAY) as a tool for financial risk protection in orthopaedic trauma care. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2026;78:103468. doi:10.1016/j.jcot.2026.103468 (via PubMed)
  6. Kumar V, Aduri TT, Gupta A, Dhatt SS. Impact of Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) on access to spine surgery. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2026;73:103352. doi:10.1016/j.jcot.2026.103352 (via PubMed)

About the author

Dr Markandaiya Acharya, MBBS, MS (Orthopaedics), Orthopaedic Surgeon. OCMR Reg. No. 22788.

This article is for public health education and does not replace an in-person consultation. Scheme rules change; confirm current details with the hospital or the official GJAY portal.

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