CMCHIS - Tamil Nadu
The CMCHIS scheme of Tamil Nadu is designed to safeguard residents of the state with catastrophic medical expenses. The scheme aims to provide cashless medical treatment across the state to the patients who go under the treatment from government or private empaneled healthcare facilities. This scheme is also known as Kalaignar Kaappittu Thittam in the native language.
Below is the complete inform you need to know to avail the benefits of the scheme:
1. Key Benefits & Coverage Overview
Cashless Hospitalization: Patients eligible under the scheme receive 100% cashless cover at any government or empaneled private hospital.
Annual Coverage Limit: Admissions of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year is covered under the scheme. (Note: The Tamil Nadu Government has announced plans to expand the coverage limit up to ₹25 Lakh for advanced critical care, with operational rollout underway).
Comprehensive Care: The scheme covers up to 1090 medical and surgical procedures, 8 specialized packages and over 50 diagnostic modalities.
Pre & Post-Hospitalization: All the expenses like diagnostics, drugs, rehab is covered under the scheme without any out of pocket expenses.
2. Who Is Eligible for CMCHIS?
The scheme is designed for low income households across Tamil Nadu.
A. Income & Residence Criteria
Residence: The patient must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu state.
Family Income Limit: Annual income of the family must not exceed a sum of Rs. 1.2 lacs or Rs. 10000 per month on official income certificate.
Mandatory Document: All the family members must be registered under a smart family ration card.
B. Special Category Inclusion (No Income Bar)
Coverage extends automatically to specific social welfare groups, including:
Members of the Differently Abled Welfare Board are covered under the scheme.
The scheme covers registered transgender people.
Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees residing in designated camps
Registered orphaned children, welfare board workers, and accredited journalists are also covered under the scheme.
3. Step-by-Step: How to Download Your CMCHIS E-Card
You do not need to pay third-party agents or middlemen to generate your card.
Visit official website (cmchistn.com)
Go to ‘beneficiary search’ and enter Smart Ration Card/URN
Check family details and map Aadhar
Click on ‘generate E-Card’ and download the PDF.
Offline Enrollment: If you are unable to fetch details online, visit the designated CMCHIS kiosk at your nearest Government District Headquarter Hospital or Medical College Hospital with your Ration Card, Aadhaar Card, and Income Certificate.
4. Special Coverage: Emergency Road Accident Care (Innuyir Kaappoom – Nammai Kaakkum 48)
Innuyir Kaappoom – Nammai Kaakkum 48- A dedicated trauma care initiative by Tamil Nadu which operates alongside CMCHIS.
What It Covers: Coverage of up to Rs. 2 lakh for immediate support, this is a cashless facility during the first critical 48 hours after a road accident.
Zero Eligibility Restrictions: The scheme applies to anyone involved in road accidents in state boundaries irrespective of state origin, ration card status or income levels.
Empaneled Hospitals: The scheme operates at over 700 designated government and private trauma centers across the major state highways. Treatment beyond 48 hours transitions seamlessly to CMCHIS or private insurance of the patient.
5. What to Do If a Private Hospital Asks for Extra Cash
CMCHIS packages are 100% cashless by law. Empaneled private hospitals receive fixed, pre-agreed reimbursement tariffs directly from the state insurance fund.
Despite this, some private billing desks attempt to collect extra cash out-of-pocket for:
"Non-Standard" Consumables: Charging separate fees for surgical drapes, gloves, or IV equipment that are already bundled into the approved CMCHIS surgical package.
Forced Bed Upgrades: Claiming that open scheme beds are unavailable to push patients into private rooms while levying surplus doctor visitation charges.
Uncovered Diagnostic Fees: Forcing patients to pay cash at external labs for pre-operative blood work or scans.
Action Steps at Discharge:
Report to the Liaison Officer: Contact the dedicated CMCHIS Project Liaison Officer (ALO) present at the hospital's scheme helpdesk.
Escalate to the 24/7 Helpline: Call the official CMCHIS toll-free helpline at 1800 425 3993 to report unauthorized cash demands.
Audit Your Discharge Statement: Never clear a secondary cash invoice without an itemized breakdown.
Were you handed a private cash bill while admitted under CMCHIS?
Empaneled hospitals cannot pass package shortfall fees directly to patients. Before clearing any unexpected cash balance at the billing counter, audit your medical bill with Empaar to instantly detect illegal package unbundling or tariff overcharges.