Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

• With the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections approaching, the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress (INC), released its set of five electoral guarantees known as the "Indira Guarantee".
• These five promises were formally announced by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, during the valedictory event of the Puthuyuga Yatra (March into New Era) in Thiruvananthapuram on 7 March 2026.
• Among the five guarantees, one of the most significant is the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme, which promises comprehensive health coverage to every household in Kerala.
• The scheme is named after the late Shri Oommen Chandy, a beloved and iconic former Chief Minister of Kerala, who passed away in July 2023. The naming is a tribute to his legacy of welfare-oriented governance.
• Under this scheme, every family in Kerala will be entitled to a health insurance coverage of up to Rs 25 Lakh per year, regardless of their income or social status.
• The announcement was further reinforced by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during the official UDF campaign launch rally in Kozhikode on 25 March 2026.
• The scheme is part of UDF's broader vision to strengthen the public health infrastructure and reduce the financial burden of medical expenses on Kerala's families.
• UDF's campaign slogan for the 2026 elections is "Keralam Jayikkum, UDF Nayikkum" (Kerala will win, and UDF will lead), under which these welfare guarantees are being promoted.
• Currently, the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme is part of the UDF election manifesto and is not yet a notified government scheme.
• It will be implemented only if the UDF wins the 2026 Kerala Assembly Elections held on 9 April 2026, with results on 4 May 2026.

Scheme Benefits

• Every household in Kerala will receive health insurance coverage of up to Rs 25 Lakh per year under this scheme.
• The insurance cover is intended to be universal, covering all families across economic categories in the state.
• The scheme will significantly reduce out-of-pocket medical expenditure for families dealing with critical illnesses, surgeries, and hospitalisation.
• Coverage is expected to include:
  • Hospitalisation expenses (government and empanelled private hospitals)
  • Critical illness treatment (cancer, cardiac procedures, dialysis, etc.)
  • Pre and post-hospitalisation costs
  • Surgical procedures and associated expenses
  • Day-care treatments and procedures

Eligibility Requirements

• The applicant must be a resident of Kerala.
• The scheme is proposed to be universal, covering every household in the state without income-based exclusions.
• One insurance policy per household unit is applicable.
• Both BPL and APL families are expected to be eligible for the scheme.
• Families already covered under existing state schemes may be migrated or integrated into this scheme upon formal launch.

Note: Detailed eligibility criteria of the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme will be officially notified upon formal implementation after UDF forms the government.

Required Documents

• The official list of required documents will be shared at the time of scheme implementation. The following documents are likely to be required:
  • Aadhaar Card
  • Ration Card
  • Residence Proof
  • Passport-size photograph
  • Mobile number linked with Aadhaar.

Steps to Apply

• The Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme is currently part of the UDF (Congress-led alliance) election manifesto and has not yet been officially launched.
• It will be implemented once the Congress-led alliance - UDF forms the government in Kerala following the April 9, 2026, elections.
• Applicants need to wait for the official launch notification from the newly formed government.
• Once formally launched, the government is expected to release the official notification with the application procedure, likely in both online and offline modes.
• Beneficiaries may need to register through a dedicated portal or Common Service Centres (CSCs / Akshaya Centres) across Kerala.
• After verification of documents, eligible families will be issued a health insurance card for cashless treatment.
• The card can be used at the government and empanelled private hospitals across the state for cashless hospitalisation up to Rs 25 Lakh.

Relevant Links

• UDF Election Manifesto.
• Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme Guidelines will be shared once the party forms the government.

Contact Information

• The Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme helpline number is currently not available.