The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is typically a health scheme tailored for current Central Government employees and retired Central Government employees. The project facilitates medical care across different health and family welfare systems, including those of other wellness centres in CGHS cities in India.
Some facilities offered to CGHS beneficiaries under OPD are CGHS medication and treatment expenses, indoor investigations and treatment at government hospitals or CGHS empanelled hospitals, maternity & child health, and family welfare services, a medical consultation, as well as dispensing medications for AYUSH.
However, to avail of any facility, the CGHS beneficiary must hold a CGHS card. So, let’s now learn how to apply for a CGHS card online from the CGHS authorities and print CGHS cards from the competent authorities.
What is CGHS Card (Central Government Health Scheme)?
All CGHS beneficiaries are given a Photo ID plastic card for both pensioners and serving employees that contains a photo of the CGHS beneficiary and a distinctive ID number. This CGHS card must be shown whenever you wish to take advantage of the CGHS scheme facilities.
The cardholders should keep the card safe and bring it whenever needed. However, if you somehow lose the card, you need to inform the police to get a duplicate CGHS Government card by submitting a form to the Additional Director with attested copies of the FIR for a fee.
Eligibility Criteria for CHGS Facility?
Serving employees, pensioners, and their family members are eligible for CGHS, provided they live in the areas covered by CGHS. Let’s see who is eligible for the CGHS card is as follows:
- A serving employee of the Central Government
- Freedom fighters
- Retired High Court judges
- Ex-governors & Lt. governors
- Employees of the Post & Telegraph Department
- Former Vice Presidents
- Current & ex-members of the Parliament
- Delhi police personnel
- Beneficiaries of the family members
How to Apply for a CGHS Card?
Those who are qualified to enrol in the CGHS should do so by following the instructions below. See below for how to apply for a CGHS card.
- For Current Employees – Documents proving the applicant’s residency, the dependent’s age, and the duration of the dependent’s stay must be submitted in addition to the application form specified above. If the dependent has a disability, a disability certificate from an appropriate authority must be submitted.
- Pensioners – Pensioners must send an application form that is properly filled out and attested copies of their PPO, Provisional PPO, and Last Pay Certificate to the relevant body, along with a demand draft made payable to “PAO CGHS New Delhi”.
Online Application Steps for a Government Health Card (CGHS):
Eligible Central Government employees, pensioners, and their dependent family members can apply for a Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) card through the official CGHS portal.
Follow these steps to apply online:
1. Visit the official CGHS website: Go to cghs.mohfw.gov.in and look for the online CGHS card application service. You can also access the service through the Government of India portal.
2. Select your applicant category: Choose the appropriate option for a serving Central Government employee or a pensioner.
3. Enter your details: Serving employees should provide their service and employment details, while pensioners should enter their PPO (Pension Payment Order) details and other required information.
4. Add dependent family members: Enter the details of eligible dependents who need to be covered under the CGHS scheme.
5. Upload the required documents: Attach the documents requested in the application form, such as identity proof, photographs, service-related documents, or pension documents, as applicable.
6. Pay the applicable contribution: Complete the required CGHS contribution payment, if applicable to your category.
7. Submit the application: Review all the information carefully before submitting the form. Save the application reference number or acknowledgement for future tracking.
8. Access your digital card: Once the application is processed and the card is issued, use the official myCGHS mobile app to access your available digital CGHS card (e-card).
Application for CGHS Card Offline:
- Make sure the application is approved by the Head of the Department of Serving Employees if you wish to apply offline. You must deliver the application to the Additional Director’s Headquarters in Delhi. You can also mail the required paperwork and the application form to the Additional Director’s office in another city.
- You may apply for the central government’s pensioner health program if you are a working employee. You must send an application for the Central Government Health Scheme Card from the employee’s office, together with a bank draft and any necessary attachments.
CGHS Components From Competent Authority
The CGHS offers many healthcare benefits to its beneficiaries. Listed below are some of the advantages that beneficiaries registered under this scheme can get:
- Dispensary services
- Domiciliary care
- ECG, X-Ray, and laboratory tests
- Specialist consultation from doctors at CGHS hospital, clinic, and dispensary
- Hospitalizations
- Supply and distribution of medicines
- Services related to child health, maternity, and family welfare
- Health Education
CGHS Contribution Rates
The monthly CGHS contribution depends on the employee’s or pensioner’s pay level under the 7th Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) Pay Matrix.
The applicable monthly contribution rates are:
| Pay level (7th CPC) | Monthly contribution |
|---|---|
| Level 1–5 | ₹250 |
| Level 6 | ₹450 |
| Level 7–11 | ₹650 |
| Level 12 and above | ₹1,000 |
Note: These are the published monthly subscription rates. Applicants should verify the applicable contribution on the official CGHS portal before making payment.
Annual and Lifetime Contribution for Pensioners
Pensioners may have annual or lifetime contribution options, subject to applicable CGHS rules.
| Pay level | Annual contribution | Lifetime contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1–5 | ₹3,000 | ₹30,000 |
| Level 6 | ₹5,400 | ₹54,000 |
| Level 7–11 | ₹7,800 | ₹78,000 |
| Level 12 and above | ₹12,000 | ₹1,20,000 |
CGHS Contribution Calculator
Use this simple calculator to estimate your CGHS subscription based on your 7th CPC pay level.
Based on the published subscription schedule
Annual and lifetime calculations are estimates based on 12 and 120 times the monthly contribution. Confirm eligibility and applicable payment rules with CGHS, particularly for pensioner lifetime cards.
FINAL WORDS:
The CGHS health card provides eligible Central Government employees, pensioners, and their dependent family members access to healthcare facilities through the scheme. Applicants should use official government portals to apply, keep their application reference number safe, and check the latest CGHS guidelines and hospital rates to make the best use of their healthcare benefits.
FAQs:
Q. Where can I get the CGHS family member addition form?
A. You can get the CGHS family member addition or deletion form.
Q. From Where Can I Download My CGHS Plastic Card?
A. Go to cghs.gov.in, the CGHS plastic card download option to central government health scheme card download your CGHS card apply for your Govt health card. For a CGHS card application, always prefer the official website only.
Q. What Is The Central Government Health Card Name?
A. The name of the Central Government Health Card is CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme). Under this scheme, central government employees and retired persons can get facilities like child health services and medical treatment from private hospitals (empanelled ones).