The Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Yojana was initiated in Rajasthan on May 1, 2021, as a part of implementing 'Universal Health Coverage' in the state of Rajasthan. The objective of this scheme is to provide relief to all citizens of the state from major medical expenses, ensuring access to excellent healthcare without any financial barriers for treatment of pain and serious illnesses.
The Rajasthan government has been proactive in introducing various innovations to provide healthcare services to the citizens. Previously, the state has successfully implemented schemes like free medicines and free diagnostic tests in government hospitals, benefiting the public.
Expanding further on the 'Universal Health Coverage', the Rajasthan government has initiated the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme in collaboration with both government and private hospitals. The aim is to reduce the financial burden on families for hospital admissions and health services.
What is the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Yojana?
The Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Yojana is a health insurance scheme aimed at providing comprehensive health coverage to economically vulnerable families. Under the Chiranjeevi Yojana, beneficiaries receive financial assistance for medical treatments, including hospitalisation and surgeries, at empaneled hospitals. This initiative aims to improve access to quality healthcare and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for low-income households, ensuring better health outcomes for those in need.
Objectives of the scheme
The scheme was launched with the below objectives and purposes:
- Reduce expenses on health for eligible families.
- Provide quality and specialised medical facilities through affiliated private clinics along with government hospitals to eligible families.
- Facilitate free treatment for diseases outlined in the scheme's package for eligible families in the state.
Read more: Ladli Bhena Yojana
Features of Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme
The scheme, named the Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme, was initiated in the state on May 1, 2021, expanding the coverage of the Ayushman Bharat-Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Health Insurance Scheme, effective from January 30, 2021. Given below are the features of the scheme:
- Beneficiary families include those registered in the scheme through the Jan Aadhaar database, either qualifying under the free category or paying the specified premium. Eligible families under the free category include those covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011, contractual employees of all departments/boards/corporations/government companies in the state, small and marginal farmers, as well as destitute and needy families who received COVID-19 relief last year. Other families in the state, not government employees/pensioners or not availing benefits under medical attendance rules, can enroll by paying the specified premium.
- The scheme is valid only for IPD (In-patient Department) and OPD (Out-patient Department) procedures. There are 1798 types of packages and procedures available under the scheme for various diseases. These packages are further divided into 3219 packages in the scheme's software for easier understanding. All diseases prior to the scheme's commencement are included. The packages for beneficiaries under the scheme include the following medical facilities:
- Registration fee
- Bed charges
- Admission charges and nursing charges
- Consultation fee for surgery, anaesthesia, specialist consultations, and general medicine
- Expenditure on anaesthesia, blood, oxygen, OT, etc.
- Medication expenses
- X-ray and investigation charges, etc.
- Expenditure on necessary equipment for the prevention of communicable diseases for hospital staff and patient protection. Expenses for tests, medications, and doctor consultation fees related to the disease for which the patient is admitted to the hospital are included in the package for up to 5 days before admission and up to 15 days after discharge.
- Other provisions: There is no limit on the size or age of the family in the scheme. Infants without a name on the family card will also be eligible for benefits under the scheme for up to one year.
Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme eligibility criteria
Eligible families under the scheme are divided into two categories:
- Free benefit category: The premium for eligible families falling under categories specified by the state government is fully paid by the government. Currently, families eligible under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011, contractual employees of all departments/boards/corporations/government companies in the state, small and marginal farmers, as well as destitute and needy families who received COVID-19 relief last year, are included in the free category.
- Category paying Rs. 850 per family per year: Families in the state not falling under the free eligible category and not being government employees/pensioners or not availing benefits under medical attendance rules can avail the scheme's benefits by paying 50% of the specified premium, i.e., Rs. 850 per family per year. The remaining 50% of the premium will be borne by the government.
- Resident: Applicant must be a permanent resident of Rajasthan.
- For BPL only: This health insurance program is exclusively available to individuals classified as Below Poverty Line (BPL).
Also, read: PMJAY
Documents required for Chiranjeevi Yojana Health Scheme
Aadhaar card is the only document that is mandatory to apply for this scheme.
How to register for the Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme
The process for registering under the scheme for availing benefits is as follows:
- Registration process for free benefit category
Step 1: Families eligible under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 are already beneficiaries and do not need to register separately.
Step 2: Beneficiaries must register on the scheme's registration portal, available on the official website chiranjeevi.rajasthan.gov.in. Registration can be done online or at the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).
Step 3: For registration, beneficiaries must have their Aadhaar card/ Aadhaar card number/ Aadhaar enrolment receipt number.
Step 4: Before registration, the applicant's mobile number registered in the Aadhaar card will be e-verified via OTP. Therefore, having an Aadhaar card or Aadhaar card number is necessary.
Step 5: Applications for registration of contractual workers will be verified online by the nodal officer of the respective department and regularly updated.
Step 6: Small and marginal farmers who are not linked to the Aadhaar card can get the seeding of landholding done on the Aadhaar portal through e-Mitra. After seeding, the family can register themselves online or through e-Mitra for the scheme on the registration portal mentioned above.
Step 7: After successful registration, beneficiaries can print their policy documents.
- Registration process for category paying Rs. 850 per family per year
Step 1: Beneficiaries must register themselves online or through e-Mitra. They need to pay the premium amount of Rs. 850 per family per year either to the respective e-Mitra centre or through digital payment modes. After successful registration, beneficiaries can print their policy documents.
Step 2: The detailed process for registration through e-Mitra or self-registration is available on the scheme's website chiranjeevi.rajasthan.gov.in.
Step 3: Registration fees: Beneficiaries from both categories do not need to pay any fees at e-Mitra centres. The registration fee, premium deposit fee, and policy document printing fee on pre-printed paper will be borne by the state government.
Benefits of the Chiranjeevi Yojana Health Scheme
The process for availing free treatment benefits under the scheme involves the following steps:
1. Identification of eligible family
The identification of eligible families will be done using the Aadhaar card number, policy documents. Therefore, when the patient is admitted to the hospital, they should provide this information to the health counsellor present at the scheme's counter so that the eligibility of the family can be ensured.
2. Identification of the beneficiary
After ensuring the eligibility of the family, the eligibility of the patient will be checked. For this, the software will display the category of the family and details of the members based on entering the Jan Aadhaar card number or registration number. The patient will be identified, and their biometric verification will be conducted. A live photo will also be taken in front of the webcam at the time of admission and discharge from the hospital. Treatment will be initiated for the patient as per the available package under the scheme.
3. Provision for treatment of children under one year
Even if the name of the child up to one year of age is not included in the details of the family's Jan Aadhaar card, provision has been made under the scheme to provide treatment to such children for up to one year. For this, the child's TID can be generated using the name of any available member of the family in the Aadhaar card. However, treatment under the scheme can only be provided after the child's name is linked to the Aadhaar card.
4. Provision for treatment of children up to five years
It is not mandatory to present biometric verification and photo identification for the treatment of children up to five years of age. The child's TID can be generated using biometric verification of any other member of the family included in the family identification document.
Chiranjeevi Yojana: How does it work?
The Chiranjeevi Yojana provides eligible families with health coverage by offering cashless treatment at empaneled hospitals. Beneficiaries can check their Chiranjeevi Yojana status online to verify their enrollment and access details about their coverage and benefits.
Why is health insurance important for every citizen?
Health insurance is vital for every citizen, whether through government schemes or private plans. It provides financial security during medical emergencies, covering expenses for treatments, hospitalisations, and medications. Without insurance, healthcare costs can be crippling, leading to financial instability or even bankruptcy. Whether it's routine check-ups or unexpected illnesses, having health insurance ensures access to quality healthcare without the burden of exorbitant expenses.
