Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) is about to get a lot bigger. On 19 August 2026 the Chief Minister announced in the Assembly that the annual cover will go up from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh. If you’re a Tamil Nadu family wondering whether you qualify, how to get the card, or what the new limit actually changes for you, here’s the plain version.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay made the announcement on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, under Rule 110 of the Assembly. The Tribune and ETV Bharat both quote the line that annual coverage under CMCHIS “will be increased to Rs 25 lakh from the present sum of Rs 5 lakh.” The same speech also announced a 400-bed multi-speciality hospital in Perambur and more cancer care centres.
Here’s the part most pages skip. As of 11 October 2026, the reports we found do not say when the new limit starts, whether you’ll need a new card, or whether the ₹25 lakh is a shared family limit or applies per person. The old ₹5 lakh was a family limit, so expect the same until the government order says otherwise. Until the implementation instructions are out, treat ₹5 lakh as what’s guaranteed and ₹25 lakh as what’s coming.
Start with the income certificate. It’s the one document you can’t produce on the day, and it’s where most delays happen.
This is the in-person route reported by DT Next. We couldn’t confirm a fully online application from an official source. Enrolment is free, so if anyone asks you to pay to get on the scheme, walk away and use the district collectorate or the official CMCHIS website (cmchistn.com).
A lot of people search for “CM health insurance card download”. The official app is listed on Google Play as CMCHIS-ABPMJAY, published by the Tamil Nadu Health System Society. With an OTP login you can see your coverage, validity and family members, track claim and pre-authorisation status, search for hospitals and lodge grievances. The listing doesn’t mention downloading the card itself, so don’t count on that. If you need the card, ask the registration centre.
The app name hints at a link with the national scheme. If you want to see how the central scheme works, read our Ayushman Bharat card guide.
CMCHIS pays for approved packages at empanelled hospitals. If you want a hospital that isn’t on the list, need a treatment that isn’t a package, or your family income is above the limit, the scheme won’t help you. That’s when many families look at a private policy. Our insurance basics page is a good place to start, and our e-Shram card guide covers another scheme for unorganised workers.
What is the CM health insurance cover in Tamil Nadu?
It has been ₹5 lakh a year. On 19 August 2026 the Chief Minister announced it will rise to ₹25 lakh. No start date has been reported yet, so check the official portal before relying on the new figure.
What is the income limit for CMCHIS?
Family income of up to ₹1.20 lakh a year, according to a September 2026 explainer. Older pages say ₹72,000. Families with a differently abled member may enrol without an income ceiling, subject to conditions.
How do I apply for the CM health insurance card?
Get an income certificate, then take your original family card, a photocopy and your family’s Aadhaar cards to the CMCHIS registration centre at your district collectorate. You’ll get a card after verification.
Do I need a new card for the ₹25 lakh cover?
That hasn’t been confirmed. Wait for the government’s implementation instructions and check your card status before any hospital admission.
Which hospitals accept the CM health insurance card?
Empanelled hospitals only. Use the hospital search in the official app or the list on the official portal, and confirm with the hospital’s insurance desk before admission.
Is the ₹25 lakh per person or per family?
The reports on the announcement don’t say. The earlier ₹5 lakh was a family limit, so wait for the government order to confirm.
Sources: The Tribune and ETV Bharat (19 August 2026), Outlook Money, GKToday and News Today (20 August 2026), DT Next (updated 8 September 2026), and the Google Play listing for the official CMCHIS-ABPMJAY app. Verified 11 October 2026. Scheme rules can change, so confirm current details with the official CMCHIS website or your district collectorate.
