A serious illness can put a family under financial pressure. Hospital charges, medical tests, medicines and surgery costs can quickly reach lakhs of rupees. For families with limited income, arranging this money is often difficult.
To help such families, the Tamil Nadu Government runs the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, commonly known as CMCHIS. The scheme allows eligible families to receive cashless treatment at selected government and private hospitals.
Here is a simple explanation of the CM Insurance Scheme, its latest coverage, eligibility, benefits, documents and application process.
Table of Contents
What Is the CM Insurance Scheme?
The Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme is a government health insurance programme for eligible residents of Tamil Nadu. It provides financial support for approved medical treatments, surgeries and hospital procedures.
Under this scheme, the patient does not receive money in a bank account. Instead, the approved treatment bill is settled directly with the hospital. This allows the beneficiary to receive treatment without paying the covered amount from their own pocket.
Treatment is available only at hospitals registered under CMCHIS. These hospitals are known as empanelled or network hospitals.
The scheme is implemented by the Tamil Nadu Government through the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project and United India Insurance Company.
What Is the Latest CMCHIS Coverage Amount?
CMCHIS previously provided health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for approved treatments.
In August 2026, the Tamil Nadu Government announced that the annual coverage would be increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh per family. The higher limit is expected to provide better support for expensive treatments such as cancer care, heart surgery, kidney treatment and organ transplantation.
However, the implementation date and detailed rules for the ₹25 lakh coverage are yet to be officially notified. Beneficiaries should confirm the currently available limit before starting treatment.
The latest information can be checked on the official CMCHIS website or through the helpline at 1800 425 3993.
Who Is Eligible for the CM Insurance Scheme?
The scheme is mainly available to low-income families living in Tamil Nadu. According to the latest official eligibility information, the family’s annual income should be below ₹1.20 lakh.
A family may qualify if:
- The applicant is a resident of Tamil Nadu.
- The annual family income is below ₹1.20 lakh.
- The applicant’s name is included in the family ration card.
- The applicant and family members have valid Aadhaar cards.
- The applicant has a valid income certificate.
The family covered under the scheme may include the head of the family, legal spouse, dependent children and dependent parents. Their names should be included in the ration card or other accepted family records.
Eligible Sri Lankan refugees may also receive benefits. Special eligibility rules may apply to orphans, rescued children and certain migrant workers.
Some older online pages still show ₹72,000 as the income limit. However, the latest CMCHIS eligibility page mentions a limit of below ₹1.20 lakh. Applicants can confirm this at the nearest enrolment centre.
What Are the Main Benefits of CMCHIS?
The biggest benefit of CMCHIS is cashless hospital treatment. A family does not have to arrange a large amount of money immediately when an approved member needs surgery or hospitalisation.
The main benefits include:
- Cashless treatment at network hospitals
- Coverage for major diseases and surgeries
- Access to government and private hospitals
- Coverage for approved pre-existing diseases
- No annual premium for eligible families
- Family-based health coverage
- Selected diagnostic and follow-up procedures
- Financial support for expensive treatments
- Certain maternity and newborn treatments
The official CMCHIS directory currently includes more than 2,200 government and private hospitals. However, the hospital list may change over time.
Which Treatments Are Covered?
CMCHIS covers a wide range of approved treatments and procedures. These may include:
- Heart surgery and cardiac procedures
- Cancer treatment
- Kidney treatment and dialysis
- Brain and spinal surgery
- Accident and emergency care
- Burns treatment
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Selected eye procedures
- Maternity and newborn care
- Organ transplants
- Diagnostic tests linked to approved treatment
- Follow-up care for selected procedures
Not every consultation, medicine or hospital expense is automatically covered. The procedure must be included in the approved CMCHIS package.
Before admission, ask the hospital’s CMCHIS desk whether the required treatment is covered. This can help you avoid unexpected charges later.
Which Documents Are Required for CM Insurance Scheme?
Applicants should normally keep the following documents ready:
- Family ration card
- Aadhaar card of the applicant
- Aadhaar cards of family members
- Income certificate
- Tamil Nadu residence proof
- Active mobile number
- Passport-size photograph, if required
Documents proving the relationship with dependent family members may also be requested.
Make sure the name, date of birth and address are consistent across the Aadhaar card, ration card and income certificate. A spelling difference may delay the verification process.
Take both original documents and photocopies when visiting an enrolment centre.
How Can You Apply for CMCHIS?
First, obtain an income certificate from the Village Administrative Officer or another authorised revenue official. It should show that your family’s annual income is within the required limit.
Next, take the income certificate, ration card, Aadhaar cards and other necessary documents to an authorised CMCHIS enrolment centre. These centres are generally available at district collector offices and other approved government locations.
The staff will check your documents and family details. You may also need to complete biometric verification.
After successful verification, your family will be enrolled under the scheme. You can then collect or download the CMCHIS card.
Registration should be free. Do not pay money to an unauthorised person who promises faster approval.
How Can You Download the CMCHIS Card?
Registered beneficiaries can access their card or e-card through the official CMCHIS portal.
You may have to enter details such as your URN, ration card number, Aadhaar information or registered mobile number. Once the record appears, you can generate and download the e-card.
Keep a digital copy on your phone and carry a printed copy when visiting a hospital. If you cannot find your details online, contact the enrolment centre or call the CMCHIS helpline.
How Does Cashless Treatment Work?
First, choose a network hospital that provides the required treatment under CMCHIS. At the hospital, visit the insurance help desk and show your CMCHIS card, Aadhaar card, ration card and medical reports.
The hospital will verify the patient’s details and submit a pre-authorisation request. Once the request is approved, the covered treatment can be provided on a cashless basis.
Cashless treatment does not always mean that every hospital expense will be paid. The patient may have to pay for non-covered medicines, personal items, an upgraded room or services outside the approved package.
Ask the hospital for a clear explanation before making any additional payment. Always collect a proper receipt.
How Can You Find a CMCHIS Hospital?
The official CMCHIS hospital list can be searched by district, speciality and hospital type.
After finding a hospital, call and confirm that it is accepting CMCHIS patients for the required treatment. A hospital may be approved for certain procedures but not for every medical service.
Checking these details before admission can save time and prevent confusion.
How Can You Check the Claim Status?
The hospital’s CMCHIS desk can provide the status of the pre-authorisation request or claim. Ask for the reference number so that you can follow up if there is a delay.
Beneficiaries can also use the official CMCHIS-ABPMJAY mobile app to find hospitals and access available policy or claim information.
For further help, call 1800 425 3993. Keep the patient’s URN, hospital name and treatment details ready.
What Should You Check Before Admission?
Before getting admitted, confirm:
- Whether the CMCHIS membership is active
- Whether the hospital is currently empanelled
- Whether the required procedure is covered
- Whether pre-authorisation has been approved
- Whether any amount must be paid separately
- Which coverage limit currently applies
Do not hand over original documents to an unknown agent. Submit them only to an authorised enrolment centre or the hospital’s official insurance desk.
Conclusion
The CM Insurance Scheme provides valuable healthcare support to eligible families in Tamil Nadu. It helps beneficiaries receive approved treatment without using their savings or borrowing a large amount of money.
The proposed increase from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh can offer stronger protection against expensive medical treatments. However, beneficiaries should confirm when the revised limit becomes operational.
Eligible families should complete their registration early and keep their ration card, Aadhaar cards, income certificate and CMCHIS card updated. Having these documents ready can save valuable time during a medical emergency.
Also, read – Bhagwant Mann ₹1000 Scheme 2026: Latest News & Apply Online