46.87 Lakh Beneficiaries: CGHS Eligibility Rules Changed
Central government employees outside covered areas can now opt for CGHS benefits, a move that affects nearly 46.87 lakh beneficiaries across 81 cities, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) has expanded its eligibility criteria, allowing central government employees posted or living outside covered areas to opt for CGHS benefits. This change was announced by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in an Office Memorandum dated 17 September 2026.
The CGHS is a government healthcare programme that serves nearly 46.87 lakh beneficiaries across 81 cities. It was launched in Delhi on 1 July 1954, with the primary goal of providing medical care and addressing difficulties employees faced in claiming reimbursement for outpatient medicines.
Central government employees who are already residing or posted in a CGHS-covered area will remain mandatorily covered under CGHS and cannot opt for Central Services (Medical Attendance) benefits instead. However, employees posted or living outside the geographical coverage of CGHS can now opt for CGHS benefits, subject to applicable conditions.
The option to opt for CGHS is not reversible once exercised. Eligible employees opting for CGHS must provide an undertaking that neither they nor eligible family members are going to claim medical benefits under both CGHS and the Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1944.
## What it means The change in CGHS eligibility rules is a significant development that affects a large number of central government employees and their families. The earlier geographical restrictions had created difficulties and complications for employees residing or posted outside the prescribed CGHS coverage. The revised rules permit eligible employees in such circumstances to opt for CGHS benefits, providing them with greater flexibility and access to healthcare services.
The expansion of CGHS eligibility criteria is a welcome move, considering the scheme's history and significance. Over the past few decades, CGHS has expanded beyond Delhi to several cities, providing services through Wellness Centres, polyclinics, laboratories, and empanelled hospitals. Its coverage has also widened to include eligible pensioners and certain other categories of beneficiaries.
## Why it matters The change in CGHS eligibility rules matters because it affects the lives of nearly 46.87 lakh beneficiaries across 81 cities. The revised rules provide greater flexibility and access to healthcare services for central government employees and their families, regardless of their place of residence or posting. This development is a significant step towards improving the healthcare benefits and services provided to central government employees, and it is likely to have a positive impact on their overall well-being.
