Ayushman Card Hospital List 2026: How to Find Hospitals

What is the Ayushman Card hospital list?

Finding a hospital is a different task from checking whether a person is eligible for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. A family may have an Ayushman card, yet still need to identify a hospital that is currently empanelled and offers the required service. An old PDF, a local advertisement or a hospital’s general reputation cannot establish that on its own.

This guide focuses on how to search the official hospital directory, verify the facility and prepare for a possible cashless admission. If you need the basic eligibility rules, read our separate eligibility guide rather than treating a hospital listing as proof of entitlement.

Where is the official PM-JAY hospital search?

The current official reference is the National Health Authority hospital search at NHA Hospital Search. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare linked to it in a February 2026 parliamentary response. It is a stronger starting point than hospital lists copied into third-party blogs.

An older government reference also points to the legacy PM-JAY hospital finder. Because government portals can change their interface, use the active official portal and follow the labels displayed there. If access is temporarily unavailable, consult your State Health Agency or use the PM-JAY support helpline.

How to find empanelled hospitals step by step

Step 1: open the official hospital search on a phone or computer. Step 2: select a state and, where available, the district. Step 3: use any available hospital-name, facility-type or speciality filters. Step 4: search and examine the resulting hospital names, addresses and other displayed details. Step 5: shortlist facilities you can realistically reach.

Filter labels, login prompts or available fields can change, so do not rely on screenshots from an older version of the website. Hospitals with similar names are not necessarily the same branch. Check the complete address before travelling.

Government versus private PM-JAY hospitals

PM-JAY may include both public and private facilities on the empanelment list. The useful question is not just whether a hospital is privately owned; it is whether that particular facility is currently participating and whether it can deliver the treatment the patient needs.

For a private facility, ask the hospital’s PM-JAY help desk whether it is actively empanelled, which relevant specialities and packages are available, and what preliminary checks are required. For a government hospital, confirm that the applicable treatment service and PM-JAY process are available at that location.

Being on the hospital list does not mean every treatment is covered

This distinction matters. Empanelment identifies a participating hospital, but a specific procedure can depend on an approved health-benefit package, patient eligibility, clinical assessment and authorisation requirements. A hospital may be on the list while not offering the speciality or procedure in question.

Before a planned admission, ask for the name of the relevant department, whether the treatment falls under a PM-JAY package, whether pre-authorisation is necessary, and the documents required. Ask for any exclusions or out-of-pocket charges to be explained before consenting to them.

Can I use my Ayushman card in another state?

PM-JAY has a national portability framework under which eligible beneficiaries may receive covered cashless treatment at participating hospitals outside their home state. The National Health Authority has described how the home state and hospital systems handle interstate cases.

However, do not assume that every hospital in another state offers the same package. Contact the selected hospital before travel, explain the medical requirement and ask about beneficiary verification, required records and any applicable admission process. In an emergency, seek appropriate medical care promptly rather than postponing treatment to complete a web search.

Questions to ask before you visit

A short phone call can save a difficult trip. Ask: Is this branch currently active under PM-JAY? Does it offer the required speciality and procedure? Is an Ayushman Mitra or PM-JAY facilitation desk available? Will the hospital need pre-authorisation? What identity and medical documents should we bring?

A general statement such as “we accept Ayushman cards” is not a guarantee for a particular operation. If possible, obtain the hospital’s official contact number from a government source and note the person or desk you spoke with.

Which documents should a patient carry?

Carry the Ayushman card or available beneficiary identification details, a valid photo ID, the doctor’s advice and relevant medical reports. Keep prescriptions, test results and referral notes organised so the hospital can understand the treatment history. Follow the current hospital instructions for any additional documents.

Protect personal information. Do not send an Aadhaar number, OTP, full medical history or photographs of identity documents to an unknown intermediary who promises guaranteed free treatment or faster clearance.

What if the hospital is not listed or the search site fails?

Recheck the spelling of the hospital name, selected state and district, and whether the hospital may operate under another branch name. Search tools and directories are updated over time. A missing search result does not prove that a hospital is permanently excluded, but you should not treat its status as confirmed without an authoritative check.

If the official portal is unavailable, refer to the relevant State Health Agency or the National PM-JAY helpline 14555 for guidance. Do not use an unverified commercial hospital finder as your only source.

How to distinguish beneficiary eligibility from hospital availability

An empanelled hospital list answers where covered services may be accessed; it does not establish whether a specific individual is eligible. For beneficiary verification, use authorised PM-JAY channels such as the beneficiary portal or an approved hospital help desk. The hospital then checks the clinical and administrative requirements for the planned service.

For details on who may qualify, read our Ayushman Bharat eligibility guide and the main PM-JAY scheme page. Keeping these purposes separate reduces confusion between finding a facility, proving eligibility and receiving approval for a treatment package.

What to do if cashless treatment is refused or a fee is demanded

Ask the PM-JAY desk for a clear explanation of the issue: Is beneficiary verification incomplete? Is the hospital not authorised for that package? Is approval pending, or is an item outside the applicable benefit? These situations require different remedies.

Keep a dated record of the hospital name and the explanation provided. Request written documentation for a disputed charge and use the authorised PM-JAY grievance route or the 14555 helpline when necessary. Never post sensitive health or identity details publicly.

Common mistakes when searching for hospitals

One mistake is assuming an old PDF is current. Another is searching for a hospital name but choosing the wrong city or branch. A third is confusing the ABHA health account with PM-JAY benefit eligibility; the programmes serve different purposes. A fourth is assuming that an empanelled facility must provide every speciality.

The safer process is to use an official directory, match the full address, contact the facility, verify the relevant package and check the patient’s beneficiary status through an authorised route. These checks are particularly valuable before elective procedures or long-distance travel.

Frequently asked questions

Do all private hospitals accept Ayushman cards? No. Check the active empanelment and relevant treatment availability for the particular facility.

Can a beneficiary seek treatment outside the home state? PM-JAY provides portability, subject to the scheme and hospital’s applicable requirements.

Is an old downloadable list enough? No. Verify the present hospital status through current official information.

Does finding my hospital on the list guarantee a free operation? No. Eligibility, package coverage and necessary authorisation still matter.

Where can I ask for help? Try the official hospital search and PM-JAY national helpline at 14555.

Official resources, conclusion and editorial note

Start with NHA Hospital Search to identify a suitable facility, then confirm its current status and services directly with the hospital. For general eligibility guidance, see the existing eligibility article and the main PM-JAY scheme guide.

Independent editorial resource; this article is not an official government service. Hospital networks and treatment packages can change. Sources: Ministry of Health/PIB hospital-list reference, National Health Authority, and PM-JAY beneficiary portal. Last content review: 17 October 2026.

Internal-link checklist (after publishing)

1. From the existing Ayushman eligibility blog, link a contextual phrase such as “find an empanelled PM-JAY hospital” to the newly published article in Hindi and English.
2. From the new hospital guide, retain links to both the existing eligibility blog and main scheme page in the matching language.
3. Do not insert a broken link to the new article until the published URL is confirmed.
4. Avoid claims that every hospital accepts the card or every treatment is fully free. Refresh hospital finder links if the authority changes their site.

Fact-check: Ministry of Health/PIB (03 Feb 2026) linked the current hospital directory; official NHA resources describe portability and beneficiary pathways.