PM RAHAT scheme: Who can apply, what is covered, how cashless care works and how claims are settled

Road accident victims will now be able to access cashless medical care under the Pradhan Mantri Rahat – Road Accident Victim Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment (PM RAHAT) scheme.

PM RAHAT scheme: Eligibility and Coverage

The coverage applies irrespective of the type of road and is designed to ensure that financial assistance is available immediately following the accident.

Stabilisation treatment will be covered for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to 48 hours in life-threatening cases, subject to police authentication on an integrated digital system.

PM RAHAT scheme: How cashless care works

The scheme eliminates the requirement of upfront deposits or advance payments at hospitals. By providing assured financial coverage, PM RAHAT protects families from sudden out-of-pocket expenditure, distress borrowing, or depletion of savings during medical emergencies.

PM RAHAT scheme: How claims are settled

Reimbursement to hospitals will be made through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF). In cases where the offending vehicle is insured, payment will be drawn from contributions made by General Insurance Companies. In uninsured and hit-and-run cases, payment will be made through budgetary allocation by the Government of India, as per a release from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

Claims approved by the State Health Agency will be paid within 10 days, providing financial certainty to hospitals and ensuring uninterrupted cashless treatment for victims.

Digital processing and financial transparency

PM RAHAT is implemented through a technology-driven framework integrating the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) platform with the Transaction Management System (TMS 2.0) of the National Health Authority. This integration enables seamless digital processing from accident reporting to claim settlement, ensuring transparency, accountability, and timely financial reimbursement.

Grievance redressal

Grievances related to financial coverage or claims will be addressed by a Grievance Redressal Officer nominated by the District Road Safety Committee, chaired by the District Collector / District Magistrate / Deputy Commissioner, ensuring accountability in fund administration at the district level.

The launch of PM RAHAT reflects a citizen-first financial protection approach, reducing catastrophic health expenditure, minimising economic shock after road accidents, and strengthening household financial resilience through assured cashless support.