The Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana — commonly known as the Chiranjeevi Health Scheme — is the flagship universal health insurance programme of the Government of Rajasthan, initially launched by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on 1 May 2021 and significantly enhanced in subsequent years, providing cashless medical treatment for hospitalisation across hundreds of diseases, surgical procedures, and medical interventions at empanelled government and private hospitals throughout Rajasthan and beyond. The scheme’s most defining characteristic is its ₹25 lakh annual health coverage (enhanced from the initial ₹5 lakh and subsequently ₹10 lakh limits) per family per year — one of India’s most generous state-level health insurance coverages — whose breadth is designed to address the catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure that health emergencies impose on Rajasthan’s large rural, economically vulnerable, and geographically isolated population whose distance from specialised medical facilities and inability to finance emergency hospitalisation has historically been among India’s most acute healthcare access deficits.
Chiranjeevi’s philosophical foundation is universal health coverage without income restriction — unlike many health schemes that serve only BPL (Below Poverty Line) families or require means-testing, Chiranjeevi extends cashless hospitalisation to all Rajasthan resident families regardless of income, with free coverage for economically vulnerable categories and a nominal ₹850 annual premium for those above the free-coverage threshold, creating India’s most geographically comprehensive attempt at genuine universal health insurance at state level. The scheme’s ambition is explicit: that no family in Rajasthan should face financial catastrophe from health emergencies — the “Chiranjeevi” name itself meaning “immortal” or “long-lived” in Sanskrit conveys the government’s aspiration that access to quality healthcare, not income, determines a citizen’s health outcomes and life expectancy.
Chiranjeevi Scheme: Key Programme Parameters
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana |
| Launch Date | 1 May 2021 |
| Launched By | CM Ashok Gehlot, Government of Rajasthan |
| Annual Coverage | ₹25 lakh per family per year |
| Premium — BPL, Contractual, Small Farmers | Free — zero premium |
| Premium — Other Families | ₹850 per year (approximately ₹70 per month) |
| Package Coverage | 1,800+ medical packages and procedures |
| Empanelled Hospitals | 900+ government and private hospitals in Rajasthan |
| Out-of-State Coverage | Select empanelled hospitals in other states |
| Beneficiary Families | Approximately 1.35 crore families |
| Insurance Partner | New India Assurance, United India Insurance (rotational) |
| Implementing Department | Health Department, Rajasthan |
| Application Portal | chiranjeevi.rajasthan.gov.in |
| Helpline | 181 (Sampark), 14555 (National Health Helpline) |
Free Coverage: Who Gets Chiranjeevi Without Premium
A substantial proportion of Rajasthan’s families receive Chiranjeevi coverage at zero premium — the state government pays the insurance premium on their behalf:
| Category | Premium | Identification |
|---|---|---|
| BPL families (Below Poverty Line) | Free — state pays | BPL ration card, Bhamashah/Jan Aadhaar |
| Small and marginal farmers | Free — state pays | Kisan credit card, land record up to 2 hectares |
| State government contractual workers | Free — state pays | Contract employment certificate |
| State government daily wage workers | Free — state pays | Daily wage employment proof |
| Specially abled persons (Divyang) | Free — state pays | Disability certificate |
| Social security pension recipients | Free — state pays | Pension ID |
| COVID-19 affected families (during the epidemic period) | Free — special provision | Applicable during a declared epidemic |
| Families not covered above | ₹850 annually | Jan Aadhaar self-registration |
Coverage Architecture: What ₹25 Lakh Covers
1,800+ Medical Packages — Category-Wise:
| Medical Category | Package Count | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| General Medicine | 200+ packages | Fever, diabetes management, hypertension, and liver diseases |
| Surgery — General | 150+ packages | Appendectomy, hernia repair, cholecystectomy |
| Orthopaedics | 100+ packages | Hip replacement, knee replacement, fracture fixation |
| Cardiology | 80+ packages | Angioplasty, bypass surgery, valve replacement, and pacemaker |
| Oncology | 150+ packages | Cancer surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, palliative |
| Neurology, Neurosurgery | 80+ packages | Brain surgery, spine surgery, and epilepsy management |
| Maternal Health | 100+ packages | Normal delivery, C-section, high-risk pregnancy, NICU |
| Paediatrics | 80+ packages | Child surgery, paediatric ICU, newborn care |
| Urology | 80+ packages | Kidney stone, prostate surgery, dialysis |
| Ophthalmology | 50+ packages | Cataract, retinal surgery, and glaucoma |
| ENT | 50+ packages | Cochlear implant, tonsillectomy, sinusitis surgery |
| Burns and Trauma | 60+ packages | Burn management, major trauma, skin grafting |
| COVID and Infectious | 100+ packages | ICU management, ventilator care, and special infections |
| Emergency Ambulance | Included | 108 emergency ambulance transport |
₹25 Lakh Enhancement Significance: The escalation from the initial ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh represents the most significant state health insurance coverage enhancement in India:
- ₹5 lakh (initial 2021): Covered most standard hospitalisations
- ₹10 lakh (2022 enhancement): Added complex surgery and cancer treatment
- ₹25 lakh (2023 enhancement): Added catastrophic illness — organ transplants, advanced cancer, complex cardiac procedures — whose cost regularly exceeds ₹10 lakh and whose financial catastrophe risk the ₹25 lakh limit specifically addresses
Empanelled Hospital Network: Where Chiranjeevi Works
Government Hospitals (Free access, priority empanelment):
| Hospital Type | Count | Location |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Jodhpur | 1 | Jodhpur — premier central institution |
| SMS Hospital Jaipur | 1 | Jaipur — Rajasthan’s largest government hospital |
| Medical College Hospitals | 8 | All divisional headquarters |
| District Hospitals | 33 | All 33 Rajasthan districts |
| Community Health Centres | 700+ | Block level across Rajasthan |
| Urban Health Centres | 300+ | Urban areas |
Private Hospital Empanelment:
| Private Hospital Category | Empanelment Requirement | Count in Rajasthan |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-specialty (100+ beds) | NABH accreditation preferred | 200+ |
| Specialty hospitals (50+ beds) | Qualification criteria | 300+ |
| Diagnostic centres (partner) | NABL accreditation | 150+ |
| Out-of-state hospitals | Specific tertiary referrals | 100+ empanelled nationally |
Out-of-State Treatment: For procedures unavailable in Rajasthan, Chiranjeevi covers treatment at empanelled hospitals in:
- Delhi (AIIMS Delhi, Safdarjung, major private hospitals)
- Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, for super-speciality procedures
- Any state where the specific procedure requires referral
Jan Aadhaar: Chiranjeevi’s Unique Rajasthan Integration
Jan Aadhaar Card — Rajasthan’s Family Identity: Unlike other states’ welfare schemes that use national Aadhaar as the primary identity, Chiranjeevi is deeply integrated with Jan Aadhaar (Rajasthan’s own family identification card) — the state’s comprehensive family welfare identity system:
- Every Rajasthan family receives a Jan Aadhaar card containing the family’s complete profile
- Chiranjeevi’s enrollment links directly to Jan Aadhaar family ID
- Hospital admission under Chiranjeevi requires a Jan Aadhaar card presentation
- Jan Aadhaar links simultaneously to Chiranjeevi, Mukhyamantri Nibari Ration, Palanhar Yojana, and other Rajasthan schemes
How to Register for the Chiranjeevi Scheme
For Free Category Families (No Premium): Registration is largely automatic through Jan Aadhaar:
Step 1 — Verify Jan Aadhaar Status: Check your Jan Aadhaar card’s Chiranjeevi linkage at janaadhaar.rajasthan.gov.in — if your family is in BPL, small farmer, or government contractual category, Chiranjeevi coverage is automatically activated.
Step 2 — Update Category if Required: If your BPL ration card, kisan data, or contractual employee status is not yet linked to Jan Aadhaar, visit the nearest E-Mitra kiosk for database update — E-Mitra operators can link ration card, land records, and employment records to Jan Aadhaar within the same session.
For ₹850 Premium Families:
Step 1 — Visit E-Mitra Kiosk: Rajasthan’s E-Mitra system — approximately 75,000 E-Mitra kiosks across Rajasthan’s urban and rural areas — is the primary Chiranjeevi ₹850 premium registration channel:
- Visit the nearest E-Mitra kiosk
- E-Mitra operator accesses chiranjeevi.rajasthan.gov.in
- Enter Jan Aadhaar number
- Verify family members listed on Jan Aadhaar
- Pay ₹850 premium through E-Mitra (cash, UPI, debit card accepted)
- Receive Chiranjeevi registration certificate
Step 2 — Online Self-Registration: At chiranjeevi.rajasthan.gov.in:
- Log in with your Jan Aadhaar number and Aadhaar-linked OTP
- Select “Register for Chiranjeevi”
- Verify family members
- Pay ₹850 through the Rajasthan government’s payment gateway (RPAS)
- Download registration confirmation
Step 3 — Registration Renewal: Chiranjeevi registration for ₹850 premium families is renewed annually — renewal window typically April to June for the following year’s coverage.
How to Avail Cashless Treatment at an Empanelled Hospital
Step 1 — Choose Empanelled Hospital: Visit any hospital in Rajasthan’s Chiranjeevi empanelled list — available at chiranjeevi.rajasthan.gov.in/hospital-list. Government hospitals are always covered; private hospitals require checking the current empanelment status.
Step 2 — Present Jan Aadhaar at Hospital’s Chiranjeevi Desk: Every empanelled hospital maintains a Chiranjeevi Desk — the dedicated counter for scheme beneficiary admission, whose staff:
- Verify Jan Aadhaar in the Chiranjeevi database
- Confirm the required treatment is in the scheme’s package list
- Initiate cashless admission authorisation
- Coordinate with the insurance company’s pre-authorisation helpdesk
Step 3 — Pre-Authorisation for Planned Surgery: For non-emergency planned surgery or treatment:
- Submit treatment request at the Chiranjeevi Desk 24 to 48 hours before admission
- The insurance company reviews and approves the specific package claim
- Pre-authorisation approval is sent to the hospital electronically
- Patient admitted under the cashless scheme
Step 4 — Emergency Admission — Direct: For medical emergencies:
- The hospital admits immediately without pre-authorisation
- Chiranjeevi Desk initiates post-admission registration within 24 hours
- Emergency packages (trauma, MI, stroke) are pre-approved for immediate treatment
Step 5 — Discharge — Zero Payment for Covered Packages: At discharge:
- Hospital raises the bill directly with the insurance company through the Chiranjeevi portal
- Patient pays nothing for packages within the ₹25 lakh annual limit
- Patient pays only for uncovered items (personal comfort items, non-medical consumables)
- Discharge summary includes Chiranjeevi’s claim reference number
Key Features That Distinguish Chiranjeevi
No Waiting Period: Unlike most health insurance products with 30 to 90-day waiting periods for specific conditions, Chiranjeevi provides immediate coverage from registration day — particularly important for families with known health conditions.
Pre-Existing Conditions Covered: Chiranjeevi covers treatment for pre-existing conditions — diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, cancer — without the exclusion period that private health insurance typically imposes, making it genuinely accessible for families whose most pressing health need is an ongoing chronic condition.
NICU and ICU Coverage: Chiranjeevi’s coverage includes:
- Neonatal ICU (NICU) care for premature or sick newborns — ₹9,000 per day NICU package
- Medical ICU care for critical illness — ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 per day packages
- Ventilator support — included in critical care packages
- Dialysis — up to specified sessions per year
Mental Health Coverage: Chiranjeevi includes packages for inpatient psychiatric treatment — one of the few state health schemes to specifically include mental health hospitalisation in its package list, reflecting India’s Mental Healthcare Act 2017’s requirement for equal treatment of mental and physical health.
Rajasthan’s Healthcare Infrastructure Context
| Indicator | Rajasthan Situation | Chiranjeevi Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor-patient ratio | Below national average in rural districts | Scheme covers referral to better hospitals |
| Infant mortality | Higher than national average | Maternal and NICU packages directly address |
| Malaria, dengue burden | Desert and seasonal disease burden | Infectious disease packages |
| Tribal health — Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh | Indigenous community health deficit | Tribal area hospital empanelment |
| Rajasthan area — largest state | 34 lakh sq km — distance from hospitals | Ambulance, out-of-district treatment covered |
| Cancer burden — tobacco use | High oral cancer, lung cancer | Oncology packages including chemotherapy |
Five Strategies for Maximum Chiranjeevi Benefit
Strategy 1 – Keep Jan Aadhaar Updated
Ensure all family members, including newborns, newly married women, and elderly parents, are listed in the Jan Aadhaar record. Updates can be made at an E-Mitra centre and usually reflect in Chiranjeevi coverage within 48–72 hours.
Strategy 2 – Prefer Government Hospitals
Government hospitals generally provide completely cashless treatment under the scheme, with medicines, tests, and procedures covered. This often reduces out-of-pocket expenses compared to private hospitals.
Strategy 3 – Check Package Coverage Before Treatment
Before any planned hospitalisation, verify whether the required treatment is included in the Chiranjeevi package list. This helps avoid unexpected medical expenses.
Strategy 4 – Renew Coverage on Time
Families in the premium category should renew their policy at the beginning of the financial year to enjoy a full year of coverage and avoid any lapse in benefits.
Strategy 5 – Contact Chiranjeevi Mitra for Assistance
If you face difficulties during admission or claim processing, seek help from a Chiranjeevi Mitra at the hospital. They can guide beneficiaries through the scheme’s procedures.
