The Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) in India’s Tamil Nadu state has provided health insurance benefits to over 1.45 crore families. The state government has paid an annual premium of ₹1,237.80 crore to the United India Insurance Company, which includes ₹1,173.66 crore for the coverage period from January 11, 2026, to January 10, 2027, and ₹64.13 crore as the remaining 5% premium from the previous year. The CMCHIS was launched in 2009 by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and has since expanded to cover more families and provide additional benefits.
According to Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, the scheme has been steadily growing, with the annual premium increasing over the years. In the last three years, the premium paid was ₹1,200 crore in 2023, ₹1,228.27 crore in 2024, and ₹1,262.91 crore in 2025. The minister also mentioned that the government has included new categories of persons under the scheme, such as orphans, persons with disabilities, and construction workers, which has resulted in 7,56,873 people being brought under CMCHIS coverage.
The scheme has also seen an increase in the number of treatments covered, from 1,090 to 2,053, and the number of government and private empanelled hospitals has increased from 970 to 2,157. Additionally, the number of high-end procedures covered under the scheme has increased from two to eight. The government has also increased the premium per family from ₹699 to ₹849 and the annual income limit from ₹72,000 to ₹1.20 lakh.
In recent months, the government has implemented initiatives such as Ungaludan Stalin and Nalam Kaakkum Stalin, which have resulted in the enrolment of 2,77,735 new beneficiaries under CMCHIS. The minister acknowledged the efforts of hospitals and doctors who have performed well in the scheme and presented awards to them. The CMCHIS has been a significant step towards providing health insurance benefits to the people of Tamil Nadu, and the government’s efforts to expand and improve the scheme are commendable. With its increasing coverage and benefits, the scheme is expected to continue making a positive impact on the lives of the people in the state.