About the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS)
Meghalaya stands as a leader in public healthcare with its pioneering **Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS)**, a universal program designed to cover all citizens of the state. This successful state scheme has been integrated with the central government's Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). This convergence creates a powerful and unified health safety net, offering a comprehensive cashless health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year.
This detailed 2025 guide provides the official list of all empanelled public and private hospitals under the MHIS-PMJAY scheme. Every resident, from major towns like Shillong, Tura, and Jowai to the most remote villages, can access high-quality secondary and tertiary care without the fear of crippling medical expenses.
MHIS & PMJAY: Meghalaya's Universal Health Shield
Understanding Meghalaya's model is simple: MHIS is the master scheme. It is a universal program that aims to provide health insurance to **every citizen of the state**, except for state and central government employees who have their own health benefits. The central PMJAY, which covers specific families based on the SECC 2011 census, is subsumed within the larger MHIS framework. This means the state uses PMJAY funds for its designated beneficiaries, but the overall benefit package, card, and hospital network are unified under the MHIS brand, ensuring a seamless experience and a standard ₹5 lakh cover for all.
How to Find a Network Hospital in Meghalaya
The state has a robust network of empanelled hospitals, including premier institutions and private facilities. To find a hospital near you:
- Visit the official PMJAY Hospital Search Portal.
- In the 'State' dropdown menu, select 'Meghalaya'.
- Choose your 'District' from the list (e.g., East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills).
- Enter the Captcha and click 'Search' to view the full list of approved hospitals.
At each network hospital, a dedicated "MHIS Mitra" (kiosk) is available to assist you with enrollment, card generation, and the cashless admission process. For assistance, you can call the national helpline at 14555.
Eligibility Criteria and Core Benefits
Who is Eligible for MHIS in Meghalaya?
Eligibility for the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) is designed to be universal:
- All citizens of Meghalaya are eligible to enroll under MHIS, regardless of their income or social status.
- The only exception is for permanent state and central government employees and their families, who have separate health schemes.
To get the benefit, every family must enroll and receive their MHIS card.
The Key Benefits of the MHIS-PMJAY Scheme
- Unified ₹5 Lakh Cashless Cover: Every enrolled family gets a high-value health cover of ₹5 lakh per year on a family floater basis.
- Universal Coverage for All Citizens: The scheme is not limited to the poor; it provides a health safety net to every citizen of the state, a pioneering step in public health.
- Comprehensive Treatment Packages: The scheme covers a wide range of medical and surgical procedures, including costs for diagnostics, medicines, and hospital stay.
- Pre-existing Diseases Covered: All pre-existing conditions are covered from day one of enrollment without any waiting period.
- National Portability: Beneficiaries can also avail cashless treatment at any PMJAY-empanelled hospital across India.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS)?
MHIS is the flagship universal health insurance scheme of the Government of Meghalaya. It has converged with the central PMJAY to provide a unified ₹5 lakh cashless cover to all citizens of the state (except government employees).
2. I am a resident of Meghalaya but not from a poor family. Am I still eligible for MHIS?
Yes, absolutely. MHIS is a universal scheme. Your income or social status does not matter. As long as you are a citizen of Meghalaya and not a government employee, your family is eligible to enroll.
3. How do I enroll my family for an MHIS card?
The government conducts regular enrollment drives across the state at the community level. You can also visit a designated MHIS kiosk at an empanelled hospital with your family's identification documents (like Aadhaar cards) to complete the enrollment process.
4. Is there any premium or cost to get the MHIS card?
There is a very nominal, one-time enrollment fee per family (e.g., ₹30) to get the smart card. After that, the scheme is premium-free for the beneficiaries, as the government pays the full premium to the insurance company.
5. Are major hospitals like NEIGRIHMS in Shillong covered?
Yes, the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) is a premier institution and is fully empanelled under the scheme. Beneficiaries can receive a wide range of super-speciality treatments there completely cashless.