Haryana Opens Chirayu Health Cover to Middle-Class Families — What ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 a Year Buys, and Who Should Sign Up Before November 30
Haryana · Health Cover · From Nov 1, 2026
Haryana Opens Chirayu Health Cover to Middle-Class Families — What ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 a Year Buys, and Who Should Sign Up Before November 30
Families in Haryana earning above ₹3 lakh a year can now join the Chirayu-Ayushman scheme for ₹5 lakh of cashless hospital cover, paying ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 a year depending on income verified in their Parivar Pehchan Patra.
A salaried family in Gurugram or Karnal earning ₹5 lakh a year has often fallen into a gap. Too well-off for free government health cover, but not comfortable enough to pay ₹20,000 or more for a private family policy. One hospital admission can wipe out a year of savings.
From November 1, 2026, Haryana is offering that family a third option. The state has opened its Chirayu-Ayushman scheme to families earning more than ₹3 lakh, for an annual contribution of ₹4,000 or ₹5,000. Here is what the cover includes, who qualifies, how to apply before the deadline, and where it falls short of private insurance.
Four Slabs, One Benefit
Chirayu works as a layered system. The poorest families get the same ₹5 lakh cover free. As income rises, families pay a contribution, but the benefit does not change. Every slab gets the same cover, the same hospitals and the same treatment packages.
| Verified family income | Yearly contribution | Per month | Cover per family | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹1.8 lakh | Free | ₹0 | ₹5 lakh | Since November 2022 |
| ₹1.8 lakh to ₹3 lakh | ₹1,500 | ₹125 | ₹5 lakh | Since 2023 |
| ₹3 lakh to ₹6 lakh | ₹4,000 | About ₹333 | ₹5 lakh | New, from Nov 1, 2026 |
| Above ₹6 lakh | ₹5,000 | About ₹417 | ₹5 lakh | New, from Nov 1, 2026 |
| Aged 70 and above | Free | ₹0 | ₹5 lakh | Under Vay Vandana |
The slab boundary that catches families out
What people often get wrong is assuming they will be charged according to their actual income. The slab is decided by the income recorded in the family’s Parivar Pehchan Patra, Haryana’s family ID database. If the PPP shows ₹3.1 lakh when the family really earns ₹2.9 lakh, it will be asked for ₹4,000 instead of ₹1,500. Scheme guides advise checking and correcting PPP income on the Meri Parivar portal before paying.
What ₹5 Lakh of Chirayu Cover Includes
Chirayu is Haryana’s extension of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, so it works the same way. Treatment is cashless at empanelled hospitals, using fixed treatment packages rather than reimbursing whatever a hospital bills. According to the official statement, the scheme covers 2,694 packages for surgical, medical and day-care treatment.
Two features stand out for middle-class families. First, there is no cap on family size or age, so a household of six with two elderly members under 70 pays the same as a couple. Second, the official statement says all pre-existing diseases are covered. Private policies typically make you wait up to three years before covering conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
The limits to know
Pre- and post-hospitalisation cover is shorter than in most private plans: investigations up to 3 days before admission, and eligible expenses up to 15 days after discharge, according to the statement. Treatment is limited to empanelled hospitals, and to the listed packages. The ₹5 lakh is a floater for the whole family, not per person.
Is It Better Value Than Private Health Insurance?
On price per rupee of cover, Chirayu is far cheaper. ₹4,000 for ₹5 lakh works out to ₹800 per ₹1 lakh of cover. For comparison, Ditto’s 2026 examples put a ₹15 lakh private family floater for a young couple at about ₹21,500 to ₹22,000 a year, or roughly ₹1,435 to ₹1,470 per ₹1 lakh, and more for older members.
But price per lakh is not the whole story. Private plans offer higher cover, longer pre- and post-hospitalisation periods, wider hospital choice with reimbursement, and features like restore and no-claim bonuses. Chirayu offers a fixed ₹5 lakh, package rates and a narrower hospital list, but covers pre-existing conditions and has no age or family-size limit.
| Feature | Chirayu, above ₹3L income | Typical private family plan |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly cost | ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 | About ₹21,500 to ₹26,000 for ₹15 lakh, younger family |
| Cover | ₹5 lakh per family | Usually ₹10 lakh and above, with bonuses |
| Pre-existing diseases | Covered, per official statement | Usually after a wait of up to 3 years |
| Family size and age | No limit; 70+ under Vay Vandana | Priced per member and age |
| Hospitals | Empanelled only, cashless | Network cashless plus reimbursement anywhere |
| Pre and post hospitalisation | 3 and 15 days | Often 60 and 180 days |
| Tax deduction | Not stated in reports | Section 80D, old regime |
Using Chirayu as a first layer
For families who want more than ₹5 lakh, Chirayu can work as the bottom layer of a two-tier plan. A private super top-up with a ₹5 lakh deductible pays only after a year’s bills cross that amount, so it is much cheaper than a full private policy. Whether a particular super top-up accepts claims paid under a government scheme towards its deductible varies by insurer, so ask before buying. Keep in mind that Chirayu pays only at empanelled hospitals and at package rates, so the bills it settles may not match what a private insurer counts towards the deductible.
How to Apply Before November 30
Registration and payment are online through the official portal, chirayuayushmanharyana.in, which scheme guides say has been open since September 15, 2026. You do not need to upload an income certificate, because income is taken from the PPP record.
- Check your Parivar Pehchan Patra first, especially the family income and member list, and correct errors on the Meri Parivar portal if needed.
- Keep the mobile number linked to your PPP handy, since the OTP goes only to that number.
- On the portal, accept the declaration, enter your PPP ID, verify the OTP and view your eligibility and premium.
- Fill in the application, pay the premium online and save the receipt and transaction ID.
- If you are not comfortable online, visit a Common Service Centre with your family ID and registered mobile, as guides suggest.
- When admitted to a hospital, show your Ayushman Bharat Golden Card number or PPP ID at the help desk.
At the Hospital: How a Chirayu Claim Works
Chirayu is designed to be cashless, so the main thing a family needs to do at the hospital is identify itself correctly. According to the official statement, patients need their Ayushman Bharat Golden Card number or PPP ID at admission. Empanelled hospitals usually have an Ayushman help desk that checks eligibility and links the treatment to a listed package.
The hospital then seeks approval for the package from the scheme, and the cost is deducted from the family’s ₹5 lakh yearly limit. For covered treatment within the package, the family should not be asked to pay. Medicines and tests within 3 days before admission and eligible expenses up to 15 days after discharge are part of the cover.
If something goes wrong
The statement says grievances can be raised at district and state levels. Families should keep copies of the admission papers, the package details and any bills they were asked to pay. If a hospital refuses cashless treatment for a covered package or asks for money, the district grievance officer is the first stop. Because the scheme follows Ayushman Bharat rules, treatment can also be taken at empanelled hospitals in other states under national portability.
Five Households, Five Decisions
Whether to join depends on your family’s situation. These examples show how the new slabs fit common cases. They are illustrations, not individual advice.
Income ₹2.5 lakh, no insurance
This family is in the existing ₹1,500 slab and was eligible before. If it has not enrolled, ₹1,500 a year for ₹5 lakh of cover is among the cheapest health protection available anywhere.
Income ₹4.5 lakh, no insurance
This is the household the expansion targets. For ₹4,000 a year, it gets cover that would otherwise require a private policy costing several times more. Joining is a straightforward decision unless the family is excluded.
Income ₹9 lakh, with employer cover
A salaried family with a ₹3 lakh or ₹5 lakh group policy from work can use Chirayu as a second layer for ₹5,000 a year. It also protects the family if the job, and the group cover, ends.
A parent aged 72 in the household
The parent is covered separately under Vay Vandana, so enrol them there. The rest of the family can still join Chirayu under its income slab.
A state government employee
Employees and pensioners who receive equivalent medical benefits are excluded, according to the statement. Check your department’s medical rules before applying.
After Year One: Renewal and Records
Chirayu is an annual scheme. The current policy year runs from November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027, so families will need to renew for the following year. Unlike private plans, there is no no-claim bonus that increases cover over time; the limit stays at ₹5 lakh per family per year.
The contribution is tied to the PPP income record, so a change in income or family composition may change the slab at renewal. Keep the PPP updated when members are added, when someone turns 70 and moves to Vay Vandana, or when income changes. Save every payment receipt and transaction ID, since they are the proof of enrolment if a hospital or official questions coverage.
Who Is Left Out
The expansion is broad, but not universal. According to the official statement, families already covered by CGHS, ECHS, railway health services, armed forces and paramilitary health schemes, and Haryana or other state government employees and pensioners who receive equivalent medical benefits, are excluded. People aged 70 and above are covered separately under the central Vay Vandana scheme.
How Chirayu Grew Into a Middle-Class Scheme
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Chirayu Ayushman scheme in Haryana?
Haryana families with a Parivar Pehchan Patra are eligible. Families earning up to ₹1.8 lakh get free cover, and those above that pay ₹1,500, ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 a year depending on income. Families covered by CGHS, ECHS or equivalent government schemes are excluded.
How much is the Chirayu premium for income above ₹3 lakh?
Families with verified income above ₹3 lakh and up to ₹6 lakh pay ₹4,000 a year. Families above ₹6 lakh pay ₹5,000 a year. Both get ₹5 lakh of cashless cover per family per year.
What is the last date to apply for Chirayu in 2026?
Scheme guides list November 30, 2026 as the last date to register and pay for the policy year running from November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027.
How do I apply for Chirayu online?
Visit chirayuayushmanharyana.in, click Apply, enter your PPP family ID, verify the OTP on the linked mobile, check your premium slab, fill in the form and pay online. Save your transaction ID.
Does Chirayu cover pre-existing diseases?
Yes. The Haryana government’s statement says all pre-existing diseases are covered, and there is no limit on family size or age.
Can I use Chirayu outside Haryana?
Yes, at empanelled hospitals elsewhere in India under Ayushman Bharat’s national portability, according to the official statement. Treatment is cashless at empanelled hospitals only.
What if my income in the Parivar Pehchan Patra is wrong?
Your premium slab is based on PPP income, so an error can put you in a higher slab or make you ineligible. Correct it on the Meri Parivar portal before paying, as scheme guides advise.
Should I drop my private health insurance for Chirayu?
Not necessarily. Chirayu offers ₹5 lakh at a low cost with pre-existing diseases covered, but private plans offer higher cover, wider hospital choice and longer pre- and post-hospitalisation periods. Many families may benefit from keeping both.
The Short Version
From November 1, 2026, Haryana families earning more than ₹3 lakh a year can join Chirayu-Ayushman for ₹5 lakh of cashless hospital cover per family. The contribution is ₹4,000 a year up to ₹6 lakh of income and ₹5,000 above that, with no limit on family size or age and pre-existing diseases covered. Income is taken from the Parivar Pehchan Patra, so check it first. Register and pay on chirayuayushmanharyana.in by November 30. It is cheap, solid first-layer cover, though it does not replace a higher private policy.
