Chandigarh, October 27 — Taking a major step toward making healthcare services more affordable and accessible, the Haryana government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini, has extended the benefits of the ‘Chirayu’ health scheme to families with an annual income exceeding Rs 3 lakh.
Dr. Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, stated that, in accordance with the Health Department’s notification dated October 13, 2026, the ‘Chirayu Vistar Yojana’ (Chirayu Extension Scheme) will come into effect on November 1, 2026.
Under this expanded scheme, eligible families will be able to avail of cashless hospital treatment—up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually—by making a nominal yearly contribution. This expansion will provide financial protection to more families—including those with middle and high incomes—against expenses incurred during hospitalizations. Under the scheme, families with a verified annual income exceeding ₹3 lakh up to ₹6 lakh will be required to pay ₹4,000 per year, while families with an annual income above ₹6 lakh will contribute ₹5,000 per year. Eligible families will be entitled to free (cashless) medical treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per annum at empanelled government and private hospitals. Eligibility will be verified through the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) database.
Dr. Mishra stated that this expansion will help reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses and provide better financial security to families facing sudden medical emergencies. By extending coverage beyond the existing income categories, the government aims to provide access to quality hospital care to as many residents of Haryana as possible. This scheme follows the framework of the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and encompasses secondary and tertiary healthcare. It includes 2,694 treatment packages, covering surgical procedures, medical treatments, and day-care procedures. The costs of prescribed medicines and diagnostic services under the applicable packages are also covered.
A significant feature of the scheme is that there is no limit on the size of an eligible family or the age of its members. All pre-existing medical conditions are also covered. The treatment procedures include diagnostic tests conducted up to three days prior to hospital admission, as well as eligible medical expenses incurred for up to 15 days following discharge.
Dr. Mishra stated that, under the national portability arrangement, beneficiaries can receive treatment at empanelled hospitals anywhere in India. A grievance redressal mechanism will operate at both the district and state levels to address complaints from beneficiaries. At the time of hospital admission, beneficiaries will be required to provide their Ayushman Bharat Golden Card number or PPP ID.
The enrollment process has been simplified and made convenient. Eligible families can pay their annual contribution online via the official portal: https://chirayuayushmanharyana.in/. The State Health Agency will share details of eligible beneficiaries and successful payments with CRID Haryana and the National Health Authority for the purpose of database integration.
Beneficiary cards will be issued through government hospitals, Common Service Centres (CSCs), village-level CSC operators, and ASHA workers. Each card will be valid for one year, with a policy term spanning from November 1st to October 31st of the following year. The government will determine and announce the timelines for payments for future years.
The notification also specifies certain exemptions/exclusions. Individuals covered under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Railway Health Services, or other medical attendance schemes—as well as those covered by health facilities provided by the Armed Forces or Paramilitary Forces—will not be eligible.
Haryana Government employees, retired State Government employees, and their dependents—who are entitled to medical reimbursement or cashless medical treatment from the government—are also excluded from this scheme. Similarly, employees and pensioners of other state governments and Union Territory administrations—as well as their dependents—are not eligible if they are already receiving medical benefits from their respective governments.
Beneficiaries aged 70 years or older will be covered under the ‘Vay Vandana Yojana’ (Senior Citizens’ Scheme), in accordance with the provisions notified and amended by the Government of India from time to time.
This expansion extends the existing ‘Chirayu’ system to include families with a verified annual income exceeding Rs 1.80 lakh and up to Rs 3 lakh; such families can avail the benefits of this scheme by making a payment of Rs 1,500 per family per year. With these new arrangements coming into effect from November 1 (Haryana Day), this expansion marks another step in the state government’s ongoing effort to broaden access to affordable healthcare services and provide financial protection to a large segment of the population against the costs of hospital admission.
