Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme is a proposed health insurance initiative announced by the Government of Kerala in the Revised Budget 2026-27. The scheme aims to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage of up to ₹25 lakh per family per year. At present, the scheme is under development, and the Government has allocated ₹10 crore towards its preliminary implementation. Detailed operational guidelines, beneficiary enrolment, and implementation procedures are yet to be officially notified.
Kerala Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme |
| Announced By | Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan |
| Announcement | Revised Budget 2026-27 (19 June 2026) |
| Proposed Beneficiaries | All families in Kerala (subject to official guidelines) |
| Proposed Health Coverage | Up to ₹25 lakh per family per year |
| Initial Budget Allocation | ₹10 crore |
| Current Status | Under development; beneficiary enrolment has not yet started |
| Official Updates | State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala and Department of Health and Family Welfare |
Introduction of Kerala Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme: A Brief Insight
Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme is a proposed universal health insurance initiative announced by the Government of Kerala in the Revised Budget 2026-27. The scheme aims to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage of up to ₹25 lakh per family per year. Once implemented, it is expected to become one of the largest state-sponsored health insurance programmes in Kerala by extending health coverage to families across the state.
The scheme has been named in memory of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, recognising his contribution to the state’s public welfare and healthcare sector. According to the Revised Budget 2026-27, the Government has proposed this scheme to strengthen financial protection against rising healthcare expenses and improve access to quality medical treatment for eligible families.
Unlike the existing Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), which primarily covers eligible families identified under the Socio-Economic Caste Census, the proposed Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme is intended to extend health insurance coverage to all families in Kerala. The Government has also made an initial budget allocation of ₹10 crore towards the preliminary implementation of the scheme.
At present, the Government of Kerala has not issued the detailed operational guidelines for the scheme. Important details, including the eligibility conditions, enrolment process, list of covered treatments, empanelled hospitals, claim procedure, and implementation framework, will be notified after the concerned departments complete the preparatory work and the scheme is formally launched.
Since beneficiary registration has not yet started, applicants should wait for the official notification before attempting to enrol. The Government is expected to announce the registration process, official portal, and other implementation details after the scheme is operational. Until then, beneficiaries should rely only on official updates issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala and the State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala.
Families looking for health insurance benefits that are already available may also explore the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which is implemented in convergence with Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi in Kerala, and the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card Scheme, which provides health insurance benefits to eligible senior citizens. These schemes continue to remain operational while the proposed Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme is under development.
Besides the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme, the Government of Kerala implements several welfare schemes for farmers, women, students, senior citizens, workers, and other eligible citizens. You can also explore our collection of Kerala Government Welfare Schemes to learn about other state government initiatives, their eligibility criteria, benefits, and application process.
Benefits Provided to Eligible Beneficiaries
According to the Revised Budget 2026-27 presented by the Government of Kerala, the proposed Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme aims to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage of up to ₹25 lakh per family per year. While the scheme has been announced, its detailed operational guidelines, treatment coverage, and implementation framework are yet to be notified.
- Health Insurance Coverage: Proposed coverage of up to ₹25,00,000 per family per year.
- Coverage for All Families: The scheme has been proposed to extend health insurance benefits to all families in Kerala, subject to the final guidelines issued by the Government.
- Free Health Insurance: The Government has announced the scheme as a free health insurance initiative for eligible beneficiary families.
- Initial Budget Allocation: The Revised Budget 2026-27 has allocated ₹10 crore towards the initial implementation of the scheme.
Eligibility Conditions Required to be Fulfilled
As of now, the Government of Kerala has confirmed only one key aspect of the proposed Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme in the Revised Budget 2026-27. The scheme is intended to extend health insurance coverage to all families in the state, unlike the existing Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), which primarily covers eligible families identified under the Socio-Economic Caste Census. Since the scheme is still under development, the detailed eligibility conditions have not yet been officially notified.
- Kerala Resident: The applicant family may be required to be a permanent resident of Kerala.
- Coverage for All Families: According to the Revised Budget 2026-27, the proposed scheme aims to provide health insurance coverage to all families in the state. However, the detailed eligibility guidelines are yet to be issued.
- Family-Based Eligibility: Beneficiary identification may be carried out on a family basis, similar to the existing health insurance framework followed in Kerala.
The above eligibility conditions are based on the information currently available in official government announcements. The Government of Kerala is expected to release detailed eligibility guidelines before the scheme is formally launched, and this section will be updated accordingly.
Documents Required to be Attached
As the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme is currently under development, the Government of Kerala has not yet released an official list of documents required for enrolment. However, based on the document verification process followed under the existing Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), applicants may be required to keep the following documents ready once the scheme becomes operational.
- Aadhaar Card: May be required for identity verification of all eligible family members.
- Ration Card: May be required to verify the family details and household information.
- Residence or Domicile Proof: May be required to establish the applicant family’s residence in Kerala.
- Hospital Diagnosis and Treatment Records: May be required while seeking cashless treatment or obtaining approval for eligible medical procedures, wherever applicable.
The above list is only indicative and has not yet been officially notified for the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme. This section will be updated after the Government of Kerala releases the detailed scheme guidelines and enrolment procedures.
How Beneficiaries Can Apply to Avail the Benefit of this Scheme
At present, the Government of Kerala has only announced the proposed Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme in the Revised Budget 2026-27. The scheme is yet to be implemented, and the enrolment process has not been notified. Based on the information currently available, the expected implementation process is outlined below.
Step 1: The Government of Kerala has announced the proposed Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme to provide health insurance coverage of up to ₹25 lakh per family per year.
Step 2: The concerned departments will prepare the detailed operational guidelines, including the eligibility criteria, treatment coverage, empanelled hospitals, enrolment procedure, and other implementation-related provisions.
Step 3: After the Government finalises the scheme framework, it is expected to officially launch the scheme and notify the beneficiary registration process.
Step 4: Once the enrolment process begins, eligible families will be able to complete the registration by following the procedure prescribed by the Government of Kerala.
Step 5: Until then, interested beneficiaries should wait for the official notification and avoid relying on unofficial application links or registration claims circulating online.
Important Links Available
As the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme is still under development, the Government of Kerala has not yet launched a dedicated scheme portal or application website. The following official links can be referred to for the latest announcements and future updates.
- Revised Budget Speech 2026-27 (Kerala Legislative Assembly)
- State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala
- Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala
Contact Details in Case of Help Needed
As no dedicated helpline has been announced for the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme, beneficiaries may contact the State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala, for general enquiries related to the state’s health insurance programmes.
- Organisation: State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala
- Address: 5th & 8th Floor, Artech Meenakshi Plaza, Opposite Government Women & Children’s Hospital, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram – 695014
- Phone: 0471-4063121 / Toll-Free: 1056
- Email: statehealthagencykerala@gmail.com
The Government of Kerala is expected to announce separate contact details for the scheme after its official implementation. This section will be updated once such information becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Has the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme been launched?
Ans. No. The Government of Kerala has announced the proposed scheme in the Revised Budget 2026-27, but it has not yet been officially implemented or opened for beneficiary enrolment.
Q. How much health insurance coverage has been proposed under the scheme?
Ans. According to the Revised Budget 2026-27, the proposed scheme aims to provide health insurance coverage of up to ₹25 lakh per family per year.
Q. Is the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme different from Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP)?
Ans. Yes. Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP) is the existing health insurance scheme in Kerala, whereas the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme is a newly proposed scheme announced by the Government of Kerala.
Q. Who is expected to be eligible for the scheme?
Ans. The Government has stated that the proposed scheme is intended to cover all families in Kerala. However, the detailed eligibility conditions are yet to be officially notified.
Q. How much budget has been allocated for the scheme?
Ans. The Government of Kerala has allocated ₹10 crore in the Revised Budget 2026-27 towards the initial implementation of the proposed scheme.
Q. Will beneficiaries have to pay any premium?
Ans. The Government has announced the scheme as a free health insurance initiative. However, detailed operational guidelines, including the financing model, are yet to be released.
Q. When will the beneficiary registration process begin?
Ans. The Government of Kerala has not yet announced the launch date or beneficiary registration process. Eligible families should wait for an official notification before attempting to register.
Q. Why has the scheme been named after Oommen Chandy?
Ans. The proposed health insurance scheme has been named in honour of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, recognising his contribution to the state’s public welfare and healthcare initiatives.
Tabassum is a government schemes researcher and writer with 5 years of experience tracking Central and State welfare scheme programmes across India. She has covered 500+ schemes spanning agriculture, women welfare, education, and housing, helping lakhs of beneficiaries understand their entitlements in simple language.