Madurai’s Selvam, a daily wage worker, needed bypass surgery in 2025. The hospital bill was estimated at ₹3.8 lakh. His family had no savings. The Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam smart card — issued free through the ration shop — covered the entire surgery. Zero payment from his pocket. He returned home in 12 days.
Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam (கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம்) — Tamil Nadu Government’s flagship health insurance scheme. Also known as CMCHIS (Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme). Launched July 23, 2009. Managed by United India Insurance Company (till January 2027). Over 1.69 crore families covered across Tamil Nadu.
Official Portal: 👉 cmchistn.com
💡 Quick Answer (விரைவான பதில்): Coverage: ₹5 lakh per family per year — cashless Eligible: Ration card holders — family income below ₹1.2 lakh/year Card Status: cmchistn.com → Member Login → Ration Card Number Hospital: cmchistn.com → Hospital List → nearest empanelled hospital Helpline: 1800-103-7102 (Toll-Free 24×7)
What is Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam?
Different names — same scheme:
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam | Tamil (common name) |
| கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் | Tamil script |
| CMCHIS | English abbreviation |
| Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme | Full English name |
| Amma Maruthuva Kapitu Thittam | Earlier name |
All names refer to the same scheme — ₹5 lakh free health coverage for Tamil Nadu’s low-income families.
₹5 Lakh Coverage — What’s Included?
Per family per year — ₹5 lakh:
| Category | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Surgeries | Heart, kidney, brain, cancer, ortho — 1,300+ procedures |
| Diagnostics | MRI, CT scan, angiogram — pre/post surgery |
| Maternity | Normal delivery + C-section + complications |
| Newborn care | NICU treatment up to 30 days |
| Cancer treatment | Chemotherapy, radiotherapy |
| Kidney dialysis | Regular sessions covered |
| Follow-up care | 30 days post-discharge |
| Emergency transport | Ambulance — ₹2,000 per hospitalisation |
Important: Outpatient (OPD) — regular doctor visits, medicines — NOT covered। Inpatient (hospitalisation) only।
Eligibility — கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் தகுதி
Eligible:
- ✅ Tamil Nadu permanent resident
- ✅ Family listed in ration card (குடும்ப அட்டை)
- ✅ Annual family income below ₹1,20,000
- ✅ Sri Lankan Tamil refugees — rehabilitation camp certificate sufficient (no income certificate needed)
All family members covered:
- Head of family
- Spouse
- Children
- Dependent parents
Rule: Only family members whose name appears in the ration card are covered।
Not eligible:
- ❌ Government employees with official health benefits
- ❌ Income tax payers (family income above ₹1.2 lakh)
- ❌ Families not having ration card
Card Status Check — cmchistn.com
Method 1 — Online (Fastest):
Step 1: cmchistn.com open karein
Step 2: “Member Login” click karein
Step 3: Ration Card Number enter karein
Step 4: OTP verify karein
Step 5: Card status, coverage balance, claim history sab dikhega
Method 2 — Claim Status:
Step 1: cmchistn.com → “GRE Status” ya direct: cmchistn.com/greStatus.php
Step 2: Member ID + Password enter karein
Step 3: Claim status, approved/pending/rejected — sab dikhega
Card Status Meanings:
| Status | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Active ✅ | Card valid — cashless treatment available | Hospital jaayein with card |
| Inactive | Card expired ya not enrolled | Enrollment centre visit karein |
| Pending | Verification in process | 7-10 days wait |
| Balance Exhausted | ₹5 lakh used this year | Next year reset hoga |
How to Get the Card — Enrollment Process
Online Check:
Step 1: cmchistn.com → Enter Ration Card Number → Check if enrolled
Step 2: Already enrolled? → Card download available
Not enrolled — Offline Process:
Step 1: Nearest enrollment centre visit karein
- Ration shops
- Government hospitals
- CSC centres
- e-Sevai centres
Step 2: Documents submit karein (list below)
Step 3: Smart card issued — free of cost — on the spot or within 7 days
Documents Required:
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Ration Card | Original + photocopy — mandatory |
| Aadhaar Card | All family members |
| Income Certificate | Below ₹1.2 lakh — VAO/Revenue authorities se |
| Passport size photos | Family members |
| Bank Passbook | Optional — for claim settlement |
Sri Lankan Tamil refugees: Rehabilitation camp certificate only — no income certificate needed।
Card Download — Smart Card PDF
Step 1: cmchistn.com → Member Login → Ration Card Number
Step 2: “Download Card” option
Step 3: PDF download → Print karein
Digital card = physical card jaisa valid। Hospital mein present karein।
URN Number kya hai? URN = Unique Reference Number — enrollment ke time milta hai। Smart card par printed hota hai। E-Card download ke liye zaruri। Card nahi mila? → Enrollment centre se URN confirm karein।
Card Renewal —
Card validity = sirf 1 saal। Expire hone ke baad cashless treatment nahi milega।
Renewal Process (same as enrollment):
Step 1: Nearest CSC / e-Sevai centre / ration shop jaayein
Step 2: Existing card + Ration Card + Aadhaar saath leke jaayein
Step 3: Renewal form fill karein → Submit
Step 4: Updated card same din ya 7 din mein milega
Card ka validity date cmchistn.com → Member Login → Card Details mein check karein।
How to Use at Hospital — Cashless Treatment
Step 1: Nearest empanelled hospital jaayein — list at cmchistn.com → Hospital List
Step 2: Hospital reception par Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam card / smart card dikhayein
Step 3: Hospital TPA (Third Party Administrator) ko details send karta hai
Step 4: Approval milne ke baad — treatment shuru
Step 5: Discharge ke time — zero payment (within coverage limit)
Emergency mein: Card nahi hai bhi toh Ration Card number se identify ho sakta hai।
Empanelled Hospital kaise dhundhe: cmchistn.com → “Hospital List” → District select → Nearest hospitals + specialities
1,300+ Procedures Covered — Key Examples
| Speciality | Procedures |
|---|---|
| Cardiac | Bypass surgery, valve replacement, angioplasty |
| Cancer | Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery |
| Ortho | Hip/knee replacement, fracture surgery |
| Neuro | Brain surgery, spine surgery |
| Kidney | Dialysis, transplant |
| Eye | Cataract, retinal surgery |
| Maternity | Delivery, C-section, complications |
| Paediatric | NICU, complex surgeries |
Complete list of 1,300+ procedures: cmchistn.com → Procedure List
Claim Filed — Track Status
Step 1: cmchistn.com/greStatus.php open karein
Step 2: Member ID + Password enter karein
Step 3: Claim number → Status check
Claim status meanings:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Submitted | Hospital ne claim bheja |
| Under Review | TPA reviewing |
| Approved ✅ | Payment processing |
| Rejected | Reason check karo → appeal |
Common Problems + Fix
“Card not found / not enrolled”: Ration card se enrollment check karo cmchistn.com par। Nahi mila → nearest enrollment centre jaao।
“Card inactive”: Re-enrollment karwao — documents update ho sakta hai। Nearest CSC ya e-Sevai centre।
“Hospital ne card accept nahi kiya”: Empanelled hospitals ki list cmchistn.com par hai — sirf listed hospitals par valid। List check karo।
“Claim rejected”: Rejection reason portal par dikhega। Appeal: District Health Officer ya CMCHIS helpline। Documents resubmit।
“Balance ₹5 lakh se zyada treatment chahiye”: Top-up coverage apply kar sakte hain — scheme ke bahar treatment ke liye — State Government ke paas special cases review hote hain।
FAQ
Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam kya hai? (கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் என்றால் என்ன?) Tamil Nadu government ki free health insurance scheme। ₹5 lakh per family per year — cashless treatment। 1,300+ procedures covered। Ration card holders ke liye।
Card status kaise check karein? (கார்டு நிலையை எவ்வாறு சரிபார்க்கலாம்?) cmchistn.com → Member Login → Ration Card Number enter karein → OTP → status dikhega।
CMCHIS aur Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam ek hi hai? Haan — dono same scheme hain। Tamil mein Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam, English mein CMCHIS।
Card kaise milega? Nearest ration shop, CSC, ya e-Sevai centre jaao — Ration Card + Aadhaar + Income Certificate leke jaao — free mein smart card milega।
Ayushman Bharat aur Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam mein kya fark hai? Tamil Nadu ne central government ki Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme adopt nahi ki है। Tamil Nadu mein sirf CMCHIS (Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam) valid hai। Dono alag schemes hain — Tamil Nadu residents ke liye Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam hi use karein।
Card expire ho gayi — kya karein? (கார்டு காலாவதியானால் என்ன செய்வது?) Har saal renewal zaroori hai। Nearest CSC / e-Sevai centre jaayein — existing card + Ration Card + Aadhaar leke → Renewal form submit karein → Updated card milega।
Helpline: 1800-103-7102 (Toll-Free 24×7)
Official Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| CMCHIS Official Portal | cmchistn.com |
| Card Status | cmchistn.com → Member Login |
| Claim Status | cmchistn.com/greStatus.php |
| Hospital List | cmchistn.com → Hospital List |
| Procedure List | cmchistn.com → Procedure List |
| Helpline | 1800-103-7102 (Toll-Free 24×7) |
Selvam’s bypass surgery — ₹3.8 lakh — covered completely। Zero payment. Card made the difference.
Tamil Nadu mein hain — ration card hai — cmchistn.com par card status check karein aaj। கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் உங்கள் குடும்பத்தை பாதுகாக்கும்।
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Information based on cmchistn.com official portal, United India Insurance Company, and Tamil Nadu Health Department notifications.