CGHS Healthcare: Complete Guide to Benefits, Eligibility and Cashless Treatment (2026)
Last reviewed: November 2026 by the CGHS Healthcare editorial team. Facts in this guide are based on the official CGHS website (cghs.mohfw.gov.in) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare orders.
CGHS healthcare is the network of wellness centres, polyclinics and empanelled hospitals run under the Central Government Health Scheme for central government employees, pensioners and their families. If you hold a CGHS card, understanding how the scheme works before you fall ill can save you money, time and worry. This guide explains eligibility, cashless treatment, referrals and emergency rules in plain language.
We maintain an independent directory of CGHS empanelled facilities, so the questions below are the ones beneficiaries search for most often. Each answer points to the official rule where possible, and we tell you clearly where you must confirm details with the hospital or your wellness centre.
What is CGHS healthcare and who can use it?
The Central Government Health Scheme, or CGHS, is a Government of India scheme that provides outpatient care, medicines, diagnostics and hospital treatment to eligible beneficiaries. Services are delivered through CGHS wellness centres and a network of empanelled government and private hospitals that treat beneficiaries at fixed CGHS package rates.
Who is eligible for CGHS?
Serving central government employees, pensioners and their eligible dependents are the main beneficiaries. Certain other categories notified by the government, such as former members of Parliament and freedom fighters, are also covered. Eligibility depends on the card issued to you and on whether you live in a CGHS covered city.
What does the colour of the CGHS card mean?
The colour strip on the card shows your beneficiary category. For example, pensioners hold a green strip and serving employees hold a blue strip. Your cashless entitlement can differ by category, so check your card type before you plan treatment.
What services does CGHS provide?
A CGHS card gives access to a wide range of services across the scheme.
- Consultations with doctors and specialists at wellness centres
- Medicines issued from CGHS dispensaries
- Laboratory tests, scans and other diagnostics
- Hospital admission and surgeries at empanelled hospitals
- Ayush and homeopathy treatment where available
Is treatment cashless at CGHS empanelled hospitals?
Cashless treatment depends on your beneficiary category and the procedure. Pensioners and other identified categories are entitled to cashless or credit treatment at empanelled hospitals for the procedures those hospitals are approved for. Serving employees may need an authorisation from their department in some cases, or they may pay first and claim reimbursement. Always confirm with the hospital billing desk before admission, because the final rule for your case is set by the scheme.
Bills at empanelled hospitals follow CGHS approved rates, which makes costs more predictable than in an unlisted hospital.
Do you need a referral for CGHS treatment?
For planned treatment, a prescription or referral from a CGHS medical officer or a government specialist is usually needed. The referral generally names the treatment and states that the beneficiary is referred to a CGHS empanelled centre, rather than naming one hospital. The scheme has relaxed referral rules several times, so some procedures and age groups follow different instructions. Check the latest order on the official CGHS website or ask your wellness centre.
What about medical emergencies?
In a medical emergency, a beneficiary can go directly to an empanelled hospital without a prior referral, and the hospital is expected to start treatment. If you are treated in a non-empanelled hospital during a genuine emergency, you can submit a claim for reimbursement under CGHS rules. Keep the emergency certificate, all bills and discharge papers safe.
How to find a CGHS empanelled hospital near you?
Searching long official lists can be slow, especially on a phone. Use the steps below to shortlist a facility quickly.
- Open the nearby hospital finder and allow location access, or choose your city manually.
- Filter by the category you need, such as hospital, eye centre, dental or diagnostic centre.
- Check the accreditation badge, for example NABH or NABL, and the facility details.
- View the location on the hospital map to see how far it is.
- Call the hospital to confirm that its empanelment is active for your city and procedure.
You can also browse the complete list of CGHS empanelled hospitals by state, city or treatment.
Types of CGHS facilities in our directory
As of November 2026, our directory lists 2,839 empanelled facilities across 23+ cities in 17+ states and union territories. These include 1,723 hospitals, 491 eye centres, 385 dental clinics, 211 diagnostic centres and 29 wellness centres. Each category has its own page, so you can go straight to the eye centres, dental clinics or diagnostic centres you need.
Documents to carry to the hospital
- Original CGHS card of the patient
- Photo identity proof such as Aadhaar or PAN
- Referral or prescription from the CGHS medical officer or specialist, for planned treatment
- Earlier prescriptions, test reports and discharge summaries
- Emergency certificate and bills, if you were treated in an emergency
How CGHS Healthcare keeps its directory reliable
Our data is compiled from the official CGHS empanelment lists published at cghs.mohfw.gov.in. We remove duplicate entries, add map coordinates so that every pin is searchable, and review the listings regularly. CGHS Healthcare is an independent website and is not affiliated with the Government of India. Empanelment can change at any time, so please verify the current status with the hospital or the official CGHS website before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my CGHS card in any private hospital?
No. The card works at CGHS empanelled hospitals. The only major exception is a genuine medical emergency, where treatment at a non-empanelled hospital can be claimed for reimbursement.
Is CGHS Healthcare an official government website?
No. CGHS Healthcare is an independent directory. For rules, rates and eligibility, the official CGHS website is the final authority.
How do I report a wrong hospital listing?
Use the feedback page to tell us about a wrong address, a removed hospital or a missing facility, and we will review it.
Final thoughts
CGHS healthcare works best when you prepare in advance: know your card category, keep your documents ready, use a referral for planned treatment and confirm cashless eligibility with the hospital before admission. Use our search, map and nearby tools to find the right empanelled facility and send an appointment request in a few minutes.