Quicker Medical Claims For Govt Staff, Pensioners As Centre Raises CGHS Approval Limits

Published 27 June 2026 · health

Quicker Medical Claims For Govt Staff, Pensioners As Centre Raises CGHS Approval Limits Reported By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 09:38 IST Claims of up

Quicker Medical Claims For Govt Staff, Pensioners As Centre Raises CGHS Approval Limits Reported By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 09:38 IST Claims of up to Rs 50 lakh can now be cleared at senior departmental levels, reducing the need for ministry approval. Rapid Read For medical reimbursement claims and hospital bills at approved rates, the additional director of CGHS for a city or zone can now approve claims of up to Rs 15 lakh. (Representative image) In a move to cut the time taken to settle medical reimbursement claims, the central government has decided to significantly raise the financial delegation limits under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). According to an office memorandum dated June 25, the revision is intended “to streamline procedures, reduce avoidable references and facilitate timely disposal of cases". With greater approval authority now vested at the additional director and director levels, central government employees and pensioners can expect faster settlement of claims for hospital bills and treatment expenses at non-empanelled facilities. According to the document, “the matter has been reviewed by the Ministry in view of the need to enhance and rationalize the financial delegations for expeditious settlement of claims and related approvals under CGHS." Cases involving unlisted investigations and procedures — those not covered under standard CGHS rates — will also be processed and approved at the departmental level without escalation.

What Does The New Order Say? The Department of Health and Family Welfare has increased the delegated financial powers across multiple administrative tiers. For medical reimbursement claims and hospital bills at approved rates, the additional director of CGHS for a city or zone can now approve claims of up to Rs 15 lakh, more than double the earlier limit of Rs 7 lakh. The director of CGHS has been empowered to approve claims of up to Rs 25 lakh, compared with the previous limit of Rs 15 lakh. The additional secretary and director general can now approve claims of up to Rs 50 lakh, against the earlier ceiling of Rs 25 lakh. For unlisted investigations, procedures and implants not covered under standard CGHS package rates, the increases are even steeper. According to the document, additional directors can now approve expenditure of up to Rs 2 lakh, up from Rs 1 lakh, while directors can sanction up to Rs 5 lakh, up from Rs 3 lakh. Additional secretaries have been granted a ceiling of Rs 10 lakh, double the earlier limit of Rs 5 lakh. The document specifies that “cases exceeding Rs 50 lakhs shall continue to be referred to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for approval with the concurrence of the Integrated Finance Division (IFD)." For unlisted investigations, “cases exceeding Rs 10 lakhs shall continue to require approval of the Ministry with the concurrence of IFD." Govt Expands Base Of Beneficiaries The revision expands permissions and e post facto approvals for treatments and investigations at non-empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres.