The Haryana government has extended the benefits of its Chirayu health scheme to families with an annual income exceeding Rs 3 lakh, enabling more households to access cashless hospital treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh per year against a fixed annual contribution.
Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sumita Misra, said on Tuesday that the expanded scheme would come into effect from November 1 and provide financial protection against hospitalisation expenses to a wider section of the state's population.
According to an official statement, families with a verified annual income exceeding Rs 3 lakh but not exceeding Rs 6 lakh will be required to contribute Rs 4,000 annually. Those earning above Rs 6 lakh will pay Rs 5,000 per year to avail themselves of the benefits.
Eligibility will be determined through the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) database, which maintains verified family information in Haryana.
Coverage extended to higher-income families
Misra said the expansion was intended to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenditure and protect households from the financial burden of unexpected medical emergencies.
Under the existing arrangement, families with verified annual incomes exceeding Rs 1.80 lakh and up to Rs 3 lakh can access the scheme by paying Rs 1,500 per family annually.
The latest decision extends the contributory coverage to families above the Rs 3 lakh income threshold, allowing more residents to access treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals.
Over 2,600 treatment packages covered
The Chirayu scheme follows the framework of Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and provides coverage for secondary and tertiary healthcare services.
It includes 2,694 treatment packages covering surgical procedures, medical treatment and day-care services. Expenses related to medicines and diagnostic services are also covered according to the provisions of the applicable packages.
The scheme does not impose restrictions on the number of family members or their ages, and all pre-existing diseases are covered.
Eligible treatment expenses include investigations conducted up to three days before hospitalisation and specified medical expenses incurred for 15 days following discharge.
Misra said beneficiaries could avail themselves of cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals across India under the national portability provision.
Family ID to determine eligibility
Applicants will be required to establish their eligibility through the PPP database, which will be used to verify household income and other relevant details.
At the time of hospital admission, beneficiaries must provide their Ayushman Bharat Golden Card number or PPP ID to access cashless treatment.
The government has also provided for grievance redressal mechanisms at district and state levels to address complaints relating to the scheme.
Government medical scheme beneficiaries excluded
The expanded Chirayu scheme will not cover individuals already receiving benefits under certain government healthcare arrangements.
These include beneficiaries of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), railway health services, medical attendance schemes and healthcare facilities provided by the armed forces and paramilitary forces.
Haryana government employees, retired state government employees and their dependants who are entitled to government medical reimbursement or cashless treatment will also be excluded.
Similarly, employees and pensioners of other state governments and Union Territory administrations, along with their dependants, will not qualify if they already receive corresponding medical benefits.
Beneficiaries aged 70 years and above will be covered under the Vay Vandana Scheme in accordance with the provisions notified by the Central government.
Government aims to reduce medical expenses
Misra said the expanded coverage would help families manage hospitalisation costs while improving access to healthcare services.
The government expects the inclusion of additional income categories to strengthen financial protection for households that may otherwise face substantial expenses during medical emergencies.
With the revised provisions becoming effective on November 1, the Chirayu scheme will cover a broader range of eligible families through its contributory healthcare model, while retaining the existing framework for cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals.