Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS)

Why was CMCHIS Needed

For low-income families in Tamil Nadu, a cardiac surgery or cancer diagnosis meant selling land, borrowing money, or simply going without treatment. Government hospitals provided basic access, but complex surgeries and specialist care at private hospitals were beyond reach for most families.

Tamil Nadu had already made significant progress in public health infrastructure. But even the best infrastructure cannot help a family that cannot afford the surgery. CMCHIS was created to fill exactly that gap, ensuring that no low-income family in Tamil Nadu faces financial ruin because of a medical emergency. The project office of the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, Tamil Nadu, oversees implementation across all districts, with over 1,700 empanelled hospitals making specialist care genuinely accessible.

Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme - Key Highlights

Who is Eligible for CMCHIS

Eligibility for the chief minister comprehensive health insurance scheme is clearly defined:

• Must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu.
• Applicant's names must appear on the family ration card.
• Annual family income must be below ₹1,20,000.
• Sri Lankan refugees residing in Tamil Nadu with valid Migration Certificates, no income limit applies.
• Migrants from other states residing in Tamil Nadu for at least 6 months with a valid migration certificate are eligible.
• Rescued children from registered and unregistered institutions are covered.

The family is defined as the eligible member, their spouse, dependent children under 25 years of age, and dependent parents of both member and spouse.

Who is NOT eligible: Families with annual income above ₹1,20,000, residents of other states not meeting migration criteria, and those already covered under duplicate central or state government schemes.

How to Apply for CMCHIS

For the chief minister's comprehensive health insurance scheme to apply online, note that end-to-end online registration is not currently available for new beneficiaries. Registration is done offline through official enrollment centres.

Offline- At an Enrollment Centre:

1. Obtain an income certificate from the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) or Revenue Authorities
2. Visit the nearest CMCHIS enrollment centre with required documents
3. The kiosk operator verifies your documents
4. Complete the biometric process, photograph, eye scan, and fingerprint capture
5. A CMCHIS e-card is issued on the spot after verification

No premium is paid at enrollment. The entire cost is borne by the Tamil Nadu government.

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Documents Required for CMCHIS

Keep the following ready when visiting the enrollment centre for your chief minister comprehensive health insurance scheme application form submission:

• Family ration card - primary eligibility document
• Aadhaar card - for identity verification
• Income certificate - issued by VAO or Revenue Authorities
• Self-declaration from the head of the family
• Migration certificate - for migrants and Sri Lankan refugees
• Recent photographs of family members

CMCHIS Card Download - Step by Step

Once enrolled, the CMCHIS e-card download can be completed fully online. Here is how to do the CMCHIS card download PDF:

1. Visit the official portal
2. Go to the "Enrollment" tab and click on "Member Search / e-Card"
3. Enter your URN number from the smart card or registered Aadhaar details
4. Select "Generate e-Card"
5. Download and save the card as a PDF

To link your e-card to Aadhaar, visit the official website, go to the "Beneficiary" section, and select "Link Aadhaar with URN." Always carry your CMCHIS card and Aadhaar when visiting an empanelled hospital.

How to Check CMCHIS Card Status

For chief minister comprehensive health insurance scheme card status check online:

1. Visit the official website
2. Go to "Beneficiary Search" or "Member Search"
3. Enter your URN number or Aadhaar number
4. View your enrollment and card status in real time

There is no annual renewal fee. Families that continue to meet the income eligibility criteria remain covered without any additional payment.

What Does CMCHIS Cover

How the Claim Process Works

CMCHIS is a 100% cashless model. There is no reimbursement claim route. Treatment has to be taken in an empanelled hospital.

1. Visit any empanelled hospital with your CMCHIS e-card and Aadhaar verification.
2. The hospital verifies the beneficiary’s identity by collecting Biometric data or Card Details.
3. The hospital raises Pre-authorization requests online. This is mandatory before undertaking treatment. 
4. Once Pre-authorization is approved by TPA the treatment is 100% cashless and the entire bill paid by TPA to the empanelled hospital.
5. After Discharge from the hospital the e-health record of the Beneficiary gets updated real time.

Report any empanelled hospital to the helpline which denies cashless treatment or insists for payment of charges by Beneficiary out of pocket.

CMCHIS Helpline and Support

• Toll-Free Helpline: 1800 425 3993 (24x7, Available in Tamil) 
• Phone: 044-24345992 / 044-24335993 
• CMCHIS App: Through the official website CMCHIS App can be downloaded for card access and hospital search. 
• Project Office: Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, No. 226, Om Sakthi Towers, Kilpauk Garden Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600010 
• TNHSP Office: 3rd Floor, DMS Annex New Building, 259 Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai - 600006 

To check empanelled hospitals near you: Visit the official website and use hospital search section of the webpage and enter district name & speciality to get information about empanelled hospitals near you CMCHIS provides over 1,090 procedures at over 1,700 empanelled hospitals for eligible Tamil Nadu families, completely at zero cost.

Not just that, There is no premium and no waiting period for pre-existing disease. Cashless treatment from Day 1.

If your family’s annual income is less than Rs 1,20,000, then apply for a card either by visiting your nearest Enrollment Center or at www.cmchistn.com. The card is absolutely free and coverage is completely realistic.