A CGHS card after retirement is a new pensioner card, not your serving card carried over. You can apply up to six weeks before your retirement date, and the card is issued the day after you retire. If you pay ten years of contribution in one go, the card is valid for life. How much you pay depends on your pay level when you retired: ₹30,000 for Levels 1 to 5, and up to ₹1,20,000 for Level 12 and above.
Lifetime and yearly contribution by pay level
The monthly rates come from the Health Ministry’s OM No. S.11011/11/2016-CGHS(P)/EHS dated 09.01.2017. The yearly and lifetime totals are that rate multiplied by 12 and by 120. A November 2022 clarification confirmed the rates have not changed.
| Pay level at retirement | Monthly rate, yearly and lifetime (10-year) payment |
|---|---|
| Level 1 to 5 | ₹250 a month. ₹3,000 a year, or ₹30,000 once for life. |
| Level 6 | ₹450 a month. ₹5,400 a year, or ₹54,000 once for life. |
| Level 7 to 11 | ₹650 a month. ₹7,800 a year, or ₹78,000 once for life. |
| Level 12 and above | ₹1,000 a month. ₹12,000 a year, or ₹1,20,000 once for life. |
| Family pensioners | Pay at the rate the government servant was paying at retirement or at death, as it stands on the day you apply. |
| Payment method | Only through Bharatkosh, to “P.A.O. CGHS Delhi” in Delhi or to the Additional Director of your CGHS city elsewhere. Save the receipt and the challan it generates. |
Important Links
| Resource | Link and status as on 11.09.2026 |
|---|---|
| CGHS portal | cghs.mohfw.gov.in. Live. Has the “Apply for CGHS card (New)” option. The older cghs.gov.in address did not load on 11.09.2026. |
| CGHS card FAQ | Download FAQ PDF. Opens, checked 11.09.2026. Covers the document list, contribution and ward rules. |
| Contribution OM, 09.01.2017 | Download OM PDF. Opens, checked 11.09.2026. It is a scanned copy. |
| Ward entitlement OM, 28.10.2022 | Download OM PDF. Opens, checked 11.09.2026. Includes the clarification of 22.11.2022. |
| Bharatkosh | bharatkosh.gov.in. Live. The only payment route CGHS accepts for pensioner contributions. |
Documents for the pensioner card
You submit these to the office of the Additional Director, CGHS of the city where you will live, not to your old office.
| Document | What CGHS asks for |
|---|---|
| Application | The prescribed form, with a separate passport photo for each family member to be covered. |
| PPO and LPC | Self-attested copies of the Pension Payment Order and the Last Pay Certificate. |
| Surrender certificate | Needed only if you held a CGHS card while in service. |
| Residence proof | Your proof of residence, and proof that your dependants live with you. |
| Son aged 25 or more | Proof of the son’s age. If he is disabled, a disability certificate from a government hospital’s medical board, for a disability that began before 25. |
| Payment proof | The Bharatkosh receipt and challan. |
Stages after the application
A printout you can use starts working on the same day. The plastic card follows later.
| Step | What the CGHS FAQ says |
|---|---|
| Same day | The Additional Director’s office uploads your data and gives you a printout. CGHS treats this as a valid card straight away. |
| Plastic card | Sent to your wellness centre. You get an SMS to collect it. Pensioner cards carry a green strip. |
| Applying before retirement | Allowed from six weeks before superannuation. Your department forwards the form and the payment proof, and the card is issued one day after you retire. |
| Print your own card | Available on the CGHS portal. A laminated colour printout works as a card. |
| Lost card | Apply to the Additional Director with two photos, an FIR copy and a ₹50 postal order for a duplicate. |
Ward entitlement and who counts as family
Your ward entitlement in empanelled private hospitals depends on your basic pay, not on how much contribution you paid.
| Rule | Current position |
|---|---|
| General ward | Basic pay up to ₹36,500 a month. |
| Semi-private ward | Basic pay from ₹36,501 to ₹50,500, the band set by the OM of 28.10.2022. |
| Private ward | Basic pay above ₹50,500. |
| Dependants | Spouse, plus dependants whose income from all sources is below ₹9,000 plus DA a month. You can cover either your own parents or your parents-in-law, not both. A son is covered until 25, marriage or earning, whichever comes first. A daughter is covered until marriage or earning. |
| Living outside a CGHS city | You can register in the nearest CGHS city and give up Fixed Medical Allowance, or keep FMA for OPD and use CGHS only for hospital treatment. |
Last checked on 11.09.2026 against the CGHS card FAQ and the OMs of 09.01.2017, 28.10.2022 and 22.11.2022. The 24×7 CGHS helpline is 1800-208-8900.
Covers government employee finance topics — loans, insurance schemes, salary and pension tools — for Global Drishti, sourcing every figure from RBI, IRDAI, CGHS, DoPT and other official portals. Numbers are re-verified before publish; see our editorial policy for sourcing standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the CGHS lifetime contribution for pensioners?
Ten years of the monthly rate paid once: ₹30,000 for Level 1 to 5, ₹54,000 for Level 6, ₹78,000 for Level 7 to 11 and ₹1,20,000 for Level 12 and above, based on the rates in the OM of 09.01.2017.
Can I apply for a CGHS pensioner card before retirement?
Yes, up to six weeks before superannuation. The department forwards the form and payment proof, and the card is issued one day after the retirement date.
How is the CGHS contribution paid by pensioners?
Only through the Bharatkosh portal, in favour of P.A.O. CGHS Delhi in Delhi or the Additional Director of the CGHS city elsewhere.
Where do I apply for a CGHS card after retirement?
At the office of the Additional Director, CGHS in the city where you will live, with the PPO, LPC, surrender certificate if any, photos, residence proof and the Bharatkosh receipt.
Which hospital ward is a CGHS pensioner entitled to?
General ward up to ₹36,500 basic pay, semi-private from ₹36,501 to ₹50,500, and private above ₹50,500, under the OM of 28.10.2022.