CGHS update: Central govt employees have to mandatorily apply for new CGHS card online, how to apply, rules, documents needed

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has released detailed guidelines for issuing Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) cards to serving central government employees and central government pensioners. In an office memorandum dated June 27, 2024, the ministry said, "The undersigned is directed to issue the following guidelines, in view of technological changes and change in payment methods of CGHS Contribution, for issuing of CGHS cards to serving employees and pensioners." Read the new guidelines on how central government employees and pensioners can apply for a new CGHS card.

Central government employees have to mandatorily apply for a new CGHS card online

Serving central government employees have to mandatorily apply for a new CGHS card online, the OM said. A central government employee can visit www.cghs.nic.in to generate a temporary reference number. He has to fill up the form available on the website and submit it online. Once it is done, he has to take a printout of the online application form and submit the hard copy to their respective departments.

Documents that a central government employee must submit along with the application form to apply for a CGHS card

1) Proof of age of son (in case son is a dependent)

2) Self-attested copy of disability certificate issued by the medical board of any government hospital (in case of dependent son aged 25 and above)
3) Pay slip of serving employee
4) Address proof
5) Documents proving dependency of family members (wherever applicable)
6) Copy of ID proof of dependent family members (Passport, PAN card, masked Aadhar, voter ID
card etc.)

If the central government employee already has a CGHS card, he or she must submit a self-attested photocopy of their old CGHS card along with the form.

Before filling the details of family, the central government employees should know the definition of family under CGHS. To make it easier for you, here is a detailed list of the people who can be considered as family and dependant.

Definition of family for applying for CGHS benefits:

1. Husband/wife (first wife only)
2. An employee has a choice to include either dependent parents or dependent parents–in-law; for the purpose of availing the benefits under CGHS subject to the conditions of dependence and residence, etc., being satisfied.
3. If adoptive father has more than one wife, the first wife only.
4. Children including legally adopted children, step children and children taken as wards subject to the following conditions:
i) Son: Till he starts earning or attains the age of 25 years, whichever is earlier.
ii) Daughter: Till she starts earning or gets married, irrespective of the age limit, whichever may be earlier
iii) Son: suffering from any permanent disability of any kind (physical or mental) as defined below: Irrespective of age limit.
iv) Dependent divorced/abandoned or separated from their husband/widowed daughters and dependent unmarried/divorced abandoned or separated from their husband/widowed sisters: irrespective of age limit.
v) Dependent minor brother(s): Up to the age of becoming a major.
vi) Dependent minor children of widowed/separated daughters: Up to the age of becoming a major.

The department then processes the form and submits it to the concerned office of the additional director of CGHS to issue new CGHS cards. According to the office memorandum, "One copy is to be forwarded to the Additional Director of the concerned city and the other copy is to be retained by the employer department of the central government (hereinafter referred to as ‘sponsoring authority) for CGHS benefits.

"The requisition shall be sponsored by the head of department/head of the office of the employee," the memorandum said.

CGHS application: Who are dependant family members?

Members of family (other than spouse) whose income is less than Rs 9000*/+DA per month are treated as dependents and are normally residing with CGHS beneficiary.

CGHS application for central govt employees: Following documents are to be enclosed for family members:

1) Proof of residence/stay of dependents — copy of ration card/election ID/passport/identity card issued by college/school/university/bank pass book, etc.
2) Proof of age of son
3) Attested copy of disability certificate issued by competent authority (in case of dependent son aged 25 and above).

Electronic CGHS card is valid like a plastic CGHS card

After the verification of the CGHS card, the electronic form of the CGHS card (online CGHS card) will be accessible to the beneficiary. The central government employees can use the option of ‘Beneficiary Login’ on the CGHS Website, myCGHS app & Digilocker app for Android/iOS-based mobile devices.

The electronic CGHS card shall be at par with the CGHS plastic card for availing benefits. The authenticity of the CGHS card can be verified using the option of ‘Verify beneficiary’ available on the CGHS Website (www.cghs.nic.in).

All the central government employees and pensioners are eligible for the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). Under CGHS, central government employees and pensioners can get quality healthcare facilities at reasonable rates. The healthcare facilities under the CGHS programme are available in 80 cities in India.