Definition
CGHS
The Central Government Health Scheme provides comprehensive healthcare to serving and retired central government employees and their dependents.
CGHS offers outpatient and inpatient care, medicines, diagnostics and reimbursement for treatment at empanelled hospitals across many Indian cities, funded by the government with subscriber contributions linked to pay levels. It covers a wide range of treatments, including specialist and hospital care.
Unlike commercial health insurance, CGHS is a government-administered health benefit rather than a risk-transfer insurance contract. It is a key part of the social-security architecture for the central government workforce, complementing schemes like ESIC for the broader organised sector.
Related terms
- OPD CoverOPD cover reimburses outpatient medical expenses such as doctor consultations, diagnostics and pharmacy bills that do not require hospitalisation.
- Ayushman Bharat PM-JAYPradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is the government health-assurance scheme providing free secondary and tertiary hospitalisation cover to poor and vulnerable families.
- ESICThe Employees' State Insurance Corporation runs a contributory social-security scheme providing medical and cash benefits to organised-sector workers below an income threshold.
Plain-English explainer from The Dispatch Investors Encyclopedia. General information, not financial advice.