Central Government Health Scheme

The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) provides comprehensive medical care to Central Government employees and pensioners enrolled under the CGHS, upon payment of a monthly contribution.

Key Highlights

• Eligibility: Covers Central Government employees, pensioners, and eligible dependents.
• Benefits: OPD, hospitalisation, diagnostics, medicines, AYUSH, and cashless treatment.
• Contribution: Monthly subscription ranges from ₹250 to ₹1,000 based on the 7th CPC pay level.

Eligibility for Joining CGHS

The following persons are eligible for the CGHS facilities:  

• Central Government Employees: Employees and their dependents residing in CGHS-covered areas.
• Pensioners & Widows: Central Government pensioners (excluding Railway and Armed Forces retirees) and widows receiving family pensions.
• Special Categories: Delhi Police personnel (in Delhi only), Railway Board employees, Freedom Fighters, and employees of select statutory/autonomous bodies.

Medical Facilities Available Under CGHS

The following medical benefits are available to the CGHS beneficiaries:

• OPD treatment, including the issue of medicines.
• Specialist consultation at government hospitals or polyclinic.
• Indoor treatment at empanelled and government hospitals.
• Investigations at empanelled and government diagnostic centres.
• Cashless facility for the treatment in diagnostic centres and empanelled hospitals. 
• Reimbursement of expenses for the treatment availed in private or government hospitals under emergency.
• Reimbursement of expenses incurred for purchasing artificial limbs, hearing aids, appliances, etc., as specified.
• Maternity, family welfare and child health services.
• Dispensing of medicines and medical consultation and in Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani system of medicines (AYUSH).

CGHS Contribution

The monthly subscription to be paid by the CGHS beneficiaries for obtaining the CGHS facility are as follows:

The private hospital wards empanelled under the CGHS are available based on each individual’s pay grade. The ward entitlement under the CGHS is as follows:

How to Register for Central Government Health Scheme

Before registering for the Central Government Health Scheme, the following documents are required:

• For Pensioners: Copy of PPO (Pension Payment Order) or provisional PPO, residential proof, and identity/age proofs (Aadhaar/PAN).
• For Serving Employees: Salary certificate/slip, residential proof, and age proof for dependents.

To register for Central Government Health Scheme, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Visit the CGHS Official Portal and click ‘Apply for CGHS Card’.

Step 2: Enter your mobile number and verify it using the OTP.

Step 3: Select ‘Serving Employee’ or ‘Pensioner’, then click ‘Apply Here’.

Step 4: Fill in your personal, department/pension, nominee, and dependent details. Upload the required photographs.

Step 5: Upload the necessary documents:

Step 6: Review the application, accept the declaration, and click ‘Save’ to generate the acknowledgement number.

Step 7: Pensioners must pay the CGHS subscription fee through BharatKosh after receiving the payment link. Serving employees usually pay through their department.

CGHS Card

A CGHS card is a plastic card given to the eligible beneficiaries of the CGHS by the Indian government.

• It consists of a beneficiary ID number and photo ID.
• A beneficiary and eligible family members of the beneficiaries of the CGHS can receive medical benefits under the scheme when they present the CGHS card in the hospital/diagnostic centres.
• In case the beneficiaries lose the card, they need to report it to the police station and the CGHS authorities.
• The beneficiaries need to submit a copy of the FIR, application form, and a penalty of ₹50 to obtain a duplicate card.

Validity of the CGHS Card

The validity of the CGHS card for different beneficiaries are as follows:

• The CGHS card is valid till the date of retirement in the case of the serving employee.
• In the case of yearly contribution pensioner cards, the contribution is to be made prior to the completion of the continuing year, to continue the card’s validity.
• In the case of transfer of serving employee to a non-CGHS covered area, the CGHS service card is valid for the family members up to six months after the transfer provided the CGHS contribution for six months is made in advance.
• The CGHS card is valid in all the CGHS cities for investigation, treatment and hospitalisation.