New Delhi, Aug 27: While inaugurating the logo of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) on Monday, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the states are free to choose the mode of implementation, which could either be insurance-based, trust-route or mixed model.

Nadda said 18 states so far have expressed their interest to go for the trust route, whereas, 7 have adopted the insurance mode. 9 states will be following the mixed model of implementation.

The healthcare scheme, promoted as the largest in the world, was first announced by Union Finance Minister Arun jaitley in his Budget Speech.

While addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the scheme will be rolled-out from September 25, the birth anniversary of BJP ideologue Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

Approximately 10.74 crore households, placed as the economically most vulnerable section in the 2011 census, will be the beneficiaries of the scheme. Each household will be entitled to a yearly benefit of Rs 5 lakh for medical expenses.

Based on the success of the scheme, it would be gradually extended to the remaining section of the populace as well, the government had said.

The services covered under the PMJAY include 1,350 procedures, including medicines, diagnostics, pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. All payments would have to be made in paperless mode.

Beneficiary of the scheme would be allowed to reap the benefits across states as well. For treatment purpose, a resident of a particular state could travel to another state and get covered under the PMJAY, Nadda said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2018 06:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).