Selvam from Madurai needed a bypass surgery. The hospital quoted ₹3.8 lakh. His family had no savings of that amount.
His daughter checked the Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam card status at cmchistn.com. Active. Cashless. She showed the card at the empanelled hospital. Surgery done. ₹3.8 lakh covered by the scheme. Zero payment from family.
The card had been sitting unused in a drawer for 3 years.
Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam (கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம்) — also called CMCHIS (Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme) and Maruthuva Kapitu Thittam (மருத்துவ காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம்). Launched July 23, 2009. Tamil Nadu Government’s flagship health insurance scheme. ₹5 lakh per family per year — cashless treatment at government and empanelled private hospitals. Managed by United India Insurance Company (2022–2027). 1.69 crore families covered across Tamil Nadu.
Official Portal: cmchistn.com Helpline: 1800-103-7102 (Toll-free, 24×7)
Quick Answer (விரைவான பதில்): Card Download: cmchistn.com → Beneficiary → E-Card → URN / Ration Card No Card Status: cmchistn.com → Member Login → Ration Card Number Hospital Search: cmchistn.com → Hospital List → District Coverage: ₹5 lakh per family per year — cashless Helpline: 1800-103-7102 (24×7 toll-free)
⭐ All Names — Same Scheme
Most searched confusion:
| Name | Tamil | Same? |
|---|---|---|
| Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam | கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் | ✅ Same |
| Maruthuva Kapitu Thittam | மருத்துவ காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் | ✅ Same |
| CMCHIS | — | ✅ Same |
| CM Health Insurance | — | ✅ Same |
| Amma Kapitu Thittam | — | Old name — now Kalaignar |
All refer to the same ₹5 lakh health insurance scheme.
⭐ Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam vs Ayushman Bharat — Critical Difference
Most important fact — Tamil Nadu specific:
Tamil Nadu did NOT adopt Central Government’s Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme. Tamil Nadu runs its own = CMCHIS (Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam). Both offer ₹5 lakh coverage — but different portals, different hospitals. Tamil Nadu residents: Use CMCHIS only = Ayushman Bharat card NOT valid here.
Eligibility
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Residence | Tamil Nadu permanent resident |
| Ration card | Must have valid ration card |
| Annual income | Below ₹1.2 lakh per year |
| Family | Entire family covered — head + spouse + children + parents |
| Sri Lankan refugees | Not eligible |
Government employees with separate medical benefits = check eligibility separately.
Coverage — What Is Covered?
| Category | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Annual limit | ₹5 lakh per family |
| Surgeries | 1,027+ procedures |
| Cancer treatment | ✅ Covered |
| Heart surgeries | ✅ Covered |
| Kidney dialysis | ✅ Covered |
| Organ transplant | ✅ Covered |
| Newborn care | ✅ Covered |
| Government hospitals | ✅ Free |
| Empanelled private hospitals | ✅ Cashless |
Full list of covered procedures: cmchistn.com → Package List
Card Download — Step by Step
Step 1: Open cmchistn.com
Step 2: Click “Beneficiary” → “E-Card / Member Search”
Step 3: Enter any one:
- URN Number (Unique Reference Number — on old card)
- Ration Card Number
- Phone Number registered with scheme
Step 4: Enter details → Submit
Step 5: E-Card appears → “Generate E-Card” → Download PDF
Step 6: Save and print — carry to hospital when needed
URN = 12-digit number on your CMCHIS smart card. Lost URN? Use Ration Card Number instead.
Card Status Check
Step 1: cmchistn.com → “Member Login”
Step 2: Enter Ration Card Number → Submit
Step 3: Status visible:
- Active ✅ = Card valid — use for cashless treatment
- Expired ❌ = Renewal required
- Not enrolled = Visit nearest e-Sevai centre
⭐ Aadhaar Link to URN
Required for smooth claim processing:
Step 1: cmchistn.com → Beneficiary → “Link Aadhaar to URN”
Step 2: Enter URN Number + Aadhaar Number
Step 3: OTP → Verify → Linked
Aadhaar-URN linking = faster claim processing at hospitals.
How to Use at Hospital
Step 1: Go to empanelled hospital (check list at cmchistn.com)
Step 2: Show CMCHIS smart card / e-card to hospital front desk
Step 3: Hospital verifies with TPA (Third Party Administrator)
Step 4: Treatment authorised → Cashless — no upfront payment
Step 5: Hospital claims directly from insurance company
Always go to empanelled hospitals only — non-empanelled hospitals = not covered. Emergency? Any government hospital in Tamil Nadu accepts CMCHIS.
Hospital Search
cmchistn.com → “Hospital List” → Select District → List of empanelled hospitals
1,400+ empanelled hospitals across Tamil Nadu. All government hospitals = automatically covered.
Renewal — Annual Process
Card valid for 1 year from enrollment date:
Step 1: Visit nearest CSC / TN e-Sevai Centre or Government Hospital Enrollment Counter
Step 2: Carry:
- Existing CMCHIS card / URN number
- Ration Card (original)
- Aadhaar Card
Step 3: Fill renewal form → Submit → Updated card issued
No online renewal currently — physical visit required. Renewal = free of charge.
New Enrollment
Not enrolled yet?
Step 1: Visit nearest Government Hospital or TN e-Sevai Centre
Step 2: Carry documents:
- Ration Card (family’s)
- Aadhaar cards (all family members)
- Passport photos (all members)
- Income certificate (below ₹1.2 lakh)
Step 3: Fill enrollment form → Submit → Smart Card issued within 15 days
Enrollment = free. No agent fee.
Common Problems + Fix
“E-card not generating”: URN or Ration Card entered correctly? Try Chrome browser. Helpline: 1800-103-7102.
“Hospital says card not valid”: Check card status first — cmchistn.com → Member Login. Expired? Renew at e-Sevai. Or call helpline immediately from hospital.
“Treatment not covered”: Check package list at cmchistn.com. If covered but hospital refusing — call 1800-103-7102 immediately.
“Card expired”: Annual renewal required. Visit nearest e-Sevai centre with Ration Card + old card + Aadhaar.
“Aadhaar not linked to URN”: cmchistn.com → Beneficiary → Link Aadhaar to URN → Enter URN + Aadhaar → OTP → Done.
FAQ — அடிக்கடி கேட்கப்படும் கேள்விகள்
Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam card download எப்படி செய்வது? (How to download card?) cmchistn.com → Beneficiary → E-Card → URN or Ration Card number → Generate E-Card → Download PDF.
Kapitu Thittam card status எப்படி பார்ப்பது? (How to check status?) cmchistn.com → Member Login → Ration Card Number → Status visible.
Ayushman Bharat card Tamil Nadu lo valid aa? (Is Ayushman Bharat valid in Tamil Nadu?) No. Tamil Nadu has its own scheme — CMCHIS (Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam). Ayushman Bharat card not valid here.
எந்த மருத்துவமனையில் பயன்படுத்தலாம்? (Which hospitals accept the card?) cmchistn.com → Hospital List → District select → List of 1,400+ empanelled hospitals.
Coverage எவ்வளவு? (How much coverage?) ₹5 lakh per family per year — cashless — 1,027+ procedures covered.
Helpline: 1800-103-7102 (24×7 Toll-free) | cmchistn.com
Official Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| CMCHIS Portal | cmchistn.com |
| Card Download | cmchistn.com → Beneficiary → E-Card |
| Hospital List | cmchistn.com → Hospital List |
| Helpline | 1800-103-7102 (24×7) |
| TN Health Dept | tnhealth.tn.gov.in |
Selvam’s surgery was covered. ₹3.8 lakh. Zero payment. Card made the difference.
Tamil Nadu families — check your Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam card status today at cmchistn.com. If expired — renew at nearest e-Sevai centre. கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் — இன்றே cmchistn.com இல் உங்கள் கார்டு நிலையை சரிபாருங்கள்।
Related Articles: