Cashless admission, step by step.

How it works

1. 01

   Tell us before you're admitted

   For planned treatment, bring your policy card or number to the front desk as early as you can — ideally a few days ahead. For an emergency, tell the casualty desk you have insurance as soon as the patient is stable.

2. 02

   We send the pre-authorisation request

   The hospital sends your insurer or TPA the doctor's treatment plan and an estimate of the cost.

   To confirm

3. 03

   The insurer approves an amount

   Your insurer decides how much of the treatment it will cover. It may approve less than the estimate, or ask for more information first.

   To confirm

4. 04

   You pay only the balance

   The approved amount is settled directly between the hospital and your insurer. You pay what the policy doesn't cover — for example non-medical items, or anything above your cover limit.

5. 05

   If cashless isn't approved

   You pay the bill and claim reimbursement from your insurer afterwards. Keep the itemised bill, the discharge summary and all reports — your insurer will ask for them.

What to bring

• Insurance policy card, or the policy number
• Photo ID of the patient — Aadhaar, voter ID or similar
• Doctor's advice note for admission
• Ayushman, CGHS or ESIC card, if you have one

What insurance usually doesn’t cover

Almost no policy covers the entire bill. Knowing the gaps in advance is the difference between a manageable bill and a shock at discharge.

• Non-medical items — food for attendants, extra bedding, toiletries
• Anything above your policy's cover limit
• Treatment your policy excludes, or that falls in a waiting period
• Registration and record charges, on most policies

Schemes & insurers

• Ayushman Bharat PM-JAYEmpanelment to confirm
• CGHSStatus to confirm
• ESICStatus to confirm
• Private insurance & TPAsList to confirm