Pmjay Vs. Cghs: Understanding The Differences In Healthcare Benefits

Access to affordable healthcare is a fundamental right of every Indian citizen. Despite several initiatives taken by the government to improve the healthcare infrastructure in the country, the reality is that the majority of the population still struggles to afford quality healthcare. Two healthcare schemes initiated by the government, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) and the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), offer comprehensive healthcare coverage to eligible individuals. In this article, we will explore the differences between the two schemes and their respective benefits.

PMJAY Registration:

PMJAY is a national health protection scheme launched by the government of India in September 2018. The scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to families that require hospitalization, surgeries, and treatment for certain ailments. The benefits of the scheme are extended to eligible individuals who are listed under the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) database. The SECC database is a comprehensive list of households that have been categorized based on their economic status, living conditions, and occupation. The primary objective of the PMJAY scheme is to provide health protection to the underprivileged sections of society.

To avail the benefits of the pmjay registration scheme, eligible individuals need to register themselves on the official PMJAY website. The registration process is simple and requires the individual to provide their Aadhaar number, mobile number, and other relevant details. Once the registration process is complete, the individual will be provided with a unique PMJAY ID card that can be used to access the scheme’s benefits. The PMJAY ID card is an important document that should be kept safe as it will be required to avail of the benefits of the scheme.

Benefits of PMJAY:

The PMJAY scheme provides financial assistance of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per annum to eligible families. The benefits of the scheme are extended to both public and private hospitals that are empaneled under the scheme. The scheme covers the cost of hospitalization, surgeries, and treatment for certain specified ailments. The scheme is primarily designed to provide financial assistance for secondary and tertiary care treatment, which means that the scheme does not cover the cost of primary healthcare services.

One of the key benefits of the PMJAY scheme is the cashless treatment facility that is available to eligible individuals. The scheme allows eligible individuals to avail of cashless treatment at empaneled hospitals, which means that the individual does not have to pay any upfront costs for the treatment. The reimbursement for the treatment cost is directly paid by PMJAY to the hospital, which ensures that the treatment for the individual is not delayed due to a lack of funds.

Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS):

The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is a comprehensive healthcare scheme launched by the government of India to provide healthcare services to eligible central government employees and pensioners. The scheme offers a range of healthcare benefits to its beneficiaries, including medical consultation, hospitalization, medicines, and other medical services. The scheme is managed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is available in select cities in India.

Eligibility for CGHS:

The CGHS scheme is available to central government employees and pensioners who are residing in cities where the scheme is operational. The scheme is also available to some autonomous organizations that fall under the central government. The eligibility of an individual to avail of the benefits of the scheme is determined by their post-retirement status, which means that once an individual retires from their post, their eligibility to avail of the benefits of the scheme will be determined.

Registration for CGHS:

To avail of the benefits of the CGHS scheme, eligible individuals need to register themselves under the scheme. The registration process requires the individual to provide their personal details, including their name, age, gender, and address. Once the registration is complete, the individual will be provided with a unique CGHS ID card that can be used to avail of the benefits of the scheme.

Benefits of CGHS:

The CGHS scheme provides comprehensive healthcare benefits to eligible central government employees and pensioners. The benefits of the scheme are provided through a network of empaneled hospitals, dispensaries, and medical practitioners. The scheme covers the cost of medical consultation, hospitalization, medicines, and other medical services. The scheme has a comprehensive list of empaneled hospitals that offer quality healthcare services to its beneficiaries.

One of the key benefits of the CGHS scheme is that it covers the cost of primary healthcare services. The scheme provides coverage for preventive healthcare services such as vaccinations, health check-ups, and regular medical consultations. This ensures that the beneficiaries of the scheme have access to quality healthcare services that help prevent illnesses and diseases.

Differences between PMJAY and CGHS:

Both PMJAY and CGHS are comprehensive healthcare schemes launched by the government of India. However, there are several differences between the two schemes. The primary difference between the two schemes is their target beneficiaries. PMJAY is designed to provide healthcare benefits to underprivileged sections of society, whereas CGHS is designed for central govt health scheme employees and pensioners.

Another significant difference between the two schemes is the coverage of primary healthcare services. While PMJAY provides coverage for secondary and tertiary care treatment, CGHS covers the cost of primary healthcare services such as vaccinations, health check-ups, and regular medical consultations.

Conclusion:

Access to affordable healthcare is a fundamental right of every Indian citizen. The government of India has launched several healthcare schemes to ensure that every individual has access to quality healthcare services. PMJAY and CGHS are two such schemes that offer comprehensive healthcare benefits to eligible individuals. The PMJAY scheme is designed for underprivileged sections of society, whereas CGHS is designed for central government employees and pensioners. Understanding the differences between the two schemes and their respective benefits can help eligible individuals make an informed decision and choose the scheme that best suits their healthcare needs.