Tamil Nadu is raising the cover under CMCHIS, the Chief Minister's health insurance scheme, from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh per family a year, and the income limit from ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh. The new cover starts once the new insurer is picked through a tender, with bids due 27 November 2026. Enrol with your ration card.
Updated 2 November 2026
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official portal | CMCHIS official website and Tamil Nadu Health Department |
| Helpline | CMCHIS toll-free 1800 425 3993; CMCHIS desks (Arogyamithra) at empanelled hospitals |
| Fee | Free for eligible families. The state pays the full premium |
| Deadline | No enrolment deadline. Tender bids due 27 November 2026; current insurer contract ends January 2027 |
| Documents | Family (ration) card, income certificate from VAO or revenue authority, Aadhaar of members, self-declaration by family head |
| New cover | Up to ₹25 lakh per family per year (insurer pays up to ₹5 lakh, state corpus pays the rest) |
| Related posts | Ayushman card eligibility, TN smart ration card |
What exactly changed for CMCHIS?
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced a five-fold increase in CMCHIS cover in the Assembly on 19 August 2026. On 29 October 2026, the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Society floated the tender to choose a public sector insurance company for the next five years. The tender documents spell out the new design:
• Cover: Up to ₹25 lakh per family per year
• Who pays: The insurer is liable up to ₹5 lakh. Anything above, up to ₹25 lakh, comes from the state's Corpus Fund
• Income limit: Raised from ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh a year
• Premium: Fully paid by the state government
• Integration: CMCHIS will continue to work together with the Centre's PM-JAY (Ayushman Bharat)
• High-end treatment: Big-ticket procedures need approval from a High-End Technical Committee. Private hospitals contribute 3% of high-end package costs to the corpus
Health Minister K G Arunraj has said the enhanced cover will apply after the new tender is finalised. So right now, the old cover continues.
When will the ₹25 lakh cover start?
Not immediately. The current contract with United India Insurance started in January 2022 and ends in January 2027. Bids for the new contract close on 27 November 2026. Once the insurer is selected and the agreement is signed, the new cover begins. Watch for an official government order or announcement on the CMCHIS website.
Until then, you're covered under the existing CMCHIS limits if you're already enrolled.
Who is eligible now?
You can join if:
• You live in Tamil Nadu
• You have a family (ration) card, or your family is in the National Population Register
• Your annual family income is up to ₹2.5 lakh (earlier ₹1.2 lakh), as per the new guidelines
• Some groups like members of unorganised workers' welfare boards are also covered as per the scheme rules
The big news is the income limit. Lots of lower middle class families earning between ₹1.2 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh, like drivers, small shop owners and private school teachers, will now qualify.
How do I enrol in CMCHIS, step by step?
1. Get an income certificate. Apply online through the TN e-Sevai portal or your nearest e-Sevai centre. It's issued by the VAO or revenue authority.
2. Keep your family card ready. Check every member's name is on it. Our smart ration card guide shows how to add members.
3. Visit the CMCHIS enrolment kiosk at your district headquarters hospital or district collectorate.
4. Submit documents: family card, income certificate, Aadhaar of members and a self-declaration by the family head.
5. Photos and biometrics of family members are taken.
6. Collect your CMCHIS card or e-card number. Keep it with your family card.
When the higher income limit is officially in effect, families who were earlier rejected for being over ₹1.2 lakh should apply again.
How is CMCHIS different from Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?
In Tamil Nadu, the two run together. PM-JAY is the Centre's scheme with ₹5 lakh family cover for eligible families. CMCHIS is the state's scheme, and Tamil Nadu has merged both so families use one card and one hospital network. The new tender also asks for a CMCHIS and PM-JAY integrated scheme. If you already have an Ayushman card, you still benefit, and the state's bigger cover sits on top once it starts. Our Ayushman card guide explains PM-JAY eligibility.
How do I use CMCHIS at a hospital?
• Go to a government hospital or an empanelled private hospital
• Visit the CMCHIS desk (Arogyamithra) with your card, family card and Aadhaar
• The hospital sends a pre-authorisation request
• Treatment is cashless from admission to discharge, including tests, medicines, implants, food and transport as per package
• Around 1,286 procedures are covered under the scheme
Check whether a private hospital is empanelled on the CMCHIS website before getting admitted.
What if the hospital asks for money or refuses?
Asked to pay cash. CMCHIS is cashless for covered procedures. Refuse politely, call 1800 425 3993 and inform the CMCHIS desk.
Claim not approved. Ask the Arogyamithra for the reason. It may be a non-covered procedure or missing documents.
Name missing on the card. Update the family card first, then go to the kiosk to add the member.
Still stuck. File a complaint with the Chief Minister's helpline. Our CM Helpline 1100 guide explains how to file and track.
What should families do right now?
Three simple things. First, if you're already enrolled, check that every family member is on your ration card and your CMCHIS card details are correct. Second, if your family income is between ₹1.2 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh, apply for an income certificate on e-Sevai now, so you're ready the day enrolment opens under the new limit. Third, note the CMCHIS toll-free number 1800 425 3993 on your phone for hospital emergencies.
Real-life examples
An auto driver in Madurai. Murugesan's family earns about ₹2 lakh a year, so he wasn't eligible before. Once the new limit applies, he gets an income certificate and enrols at the district hospital kiosk.
A cancer patient in Salem. Her treatment may cross ₹5 lakh. Under the new design, costs beyond ₹5 lakh can come from the state corpus after High-End Technical Committee approval.
A family in Chennai already enrolled. They don't need to do anything now. They'll get the bigger cover automatically when the new contract begins.
Documents checklist
☐ Family (ration) card with all members
☐ Income certificate up to ₹2.5 lakh from VAO or revenue authority
☐ Aadhaar of all family members
☐ Self-declaration signed by the family head
☐ Existing CMCHIS card, if already enrolled
Final reminder
If your family income is up to ₹2.5 lakh, get your income certificate ready now so you can enrol as soon as the new limit applies. If you're already enrolled, keep your card and family card updated. To ask your MLA about CMCHIS enrolment camps in your area, find them on NetaSampark's Tamil Nadu page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new CMCHIS cover amount?
Up to ₹25 lakh per family per year, with the insurer paying up to ₹5 lakh and the state corpus paying the rest.
What is the new CMCHIS income limit?
Up to ₹2.5 lakh a year, raised from ₹1.2 lakh.
When does the ₹25 lakh cover start?
After the new insurer is selected. Tender bids close on 27 November 2026 and the current contract ends in January 2027.
Do I have to pay anything for CMCHIS?
No. The Tamil Nadu government pays the full premium.
What documents are needed for CMCHIS?
Family card, income certificate, Aadhaar of members, and a self-declaration by the family head.
Can I use CMCHIS in private hospitals?
Yes, at empanelled private hospitals, along with government hospitals.
Sources
• Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu
• DT Next, October 2026: New CMCHIS offers ₹25 lakh cover; insurer's liability capped at ₹5 lakh
• The New Indian Express, 31 October 2026: Tamil Nadu hikes health insurance income limit to ₹2.5 lakh