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PM-RAHAT Scheme: Road Accident Victims Can Get ₹1.5 Lakh Cashless Treatment - Check Who Can Claim?

Trade Brains | Oct 8, 2026 6:40 AM EDT

PM-RAHAT was introduced to ensure that road accident victims can receive immediate medical treatment without worrying about the cost at a critical time . The scheme focuses on providing cashless treatment during the crucial early stages after an accident, helping victims access timely trauma care while reducing the financial burden on them and their families.
The Prime Minister – Road Accident Victims’ Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment (PM-RAHAT) Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 13 February 2026. With the scheme still not widely known, here are its key features at a glance.

Treatment cover of up to ₹1.5 lakh: Eligible road accident victims can receive cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim , subject to a maximum period of seven days from the date of the accident . The benefit applies to accidents caused by the use of motor vehicles on any category of road.
Immediate stabilisation treatment: Designated hospitals must provide stabilisation treatment for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to 48 hours in life-threatening cases , subject to the required police response.
Precedence over other schemes: As a statutory scheme, PM-RAHAT takes precedence over other Central or State government schemes where applicable.
Digital accident-to-claim process: PM-RAHAT integrates eDAR (Electronic Detailed Accident Report) , used by police to report accidents, with the National Health Authority's TMS 2.0 (Transaction Management System) , which enables hospitals to manage treatment, submit claims and process payments.

Who Can Avail PM-RAHAT?

Any Indian or foreign citizen who is a victim of a road accident involving a motor vehicle on any category of road in India can avail the PM-RAHAT scheme.
All Nationalities: PM-RAHAT covers Indian citizens as well as foreign nationals injured in road accidents in India.
No Insurance or Income Requirement: Victims do not need a BPL card, Ayushman card, or private health insurance to avail the scheme.
Accidents on Any Road: The scheme applies to accidents occurring on any category of road in India , including National Highways, State Highways and urban or rural roads.
Insurance Status Does Not Matter: Victims remain eligible whether the vehicle involved is insured, uninsured, or involved in a hit-and-run accident .

Eligibility Conditions

24-Hour Hospitalisation Rule: The victim's first hospitalisation must take place within 24 hours of the accident to qualify for PM-RAHAT. Cases where the first admission occurs after 24 hours are not covered under the scheme.
Injury Requirement: The victim must have injuries that require trauma or polytrauma care . Minor injuries that do not require hospitalisation are not covered under PM-RAHAT.
Motor Vehicle Involvement: The accident must be caused by or involve the use of a motor vehicle . Accidents involving only bicycles or falls without motor vehicle involvement do not fall under the scheme.

Documents to Avail PM-RAHAT
Victims do not need to carry specific documents to access treatment. The accident and victim details are recorded digitally through the eDAR and TMS 2.0 systems , while police and hospital authorities handle the required verification and registration process\
Which Hospitals Offer PM-RAHAT Treatment?
Under the PM-RAHAT guidelines notified on 4 June 2025 , hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) can provide PM-RAHAT treatment if they comply with the National Health Authority's guidelines for the scheme. States and Union Territories can also designate additional hospitals under the scheme. As of 9 March 2026, 36,112 hospitals were empanelled under AB PM-JAY.
How Can PM-RAHAT Be Availed?
PM-RAHAT does not require the accident victim to fill out a separate application before receiving treatment. Once a road accident occurs, the victim, a Good Samaritan, family member or anyone at the accident site can call 112 to get information about the nearest designated hospital and request ambulance assistance. The victim is then taken to a designated hospital, where treatment can be started without waiting for the completion of the verification process . The hospital registers the victim and generates a Treatment ID (TMS ID) . At the same time, the accident details are sent to the jurisdictional police for verification. The scheme uses two digital systems to coordinate this process: eDAR (Electronic Detailed Accident Report) , through which the police record and verify accident details, and TMS 2.0 (Transaction Management System) , which hospitals use to manage treatment, submit claims and process payments. This allows treatment, accident verification and claim processing to take place through a connected digital system.

Also read: Digital Life Certificate 2026 for Pensioners: Who Can Submit From October 1 and Who Must Wait Until November 1?

What Does the ₹1.5 Lakh PM-RAHAT Cover?
Under the scheme, an eligible road accident victim can receive cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh , for a maximum period of seven days from the date of the accident . The ₹1.5 lakh is a maximum treatment limit, not a fixed amount paid directly to the victim . Treatment is provided according to the Health Benefit Packages prescribed by the National Health Authority (NHA) , with the actual treatment costs processed through the scheme's digital claim system. The cover pays for eligible hospital treatment related to the accident , which can include procedures, diagnostic services, medicines and other medical care covered under the applicable NHA health packages, subject to the package rules and the overall ₹1.5 lakh limit.
Who Pays the Hospitals Under PM-RAHAT?
The treatment provided under PM-RAHAT is reimbursed through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF) . For accidents involving insured vehicles , the fund receives contributions from general insurance companies. In cases involving uninsured vehicles or hit-and-run accidents , the required funds are provided through the Government of India's budgetary allocation .
So, in simple terms, the hospital receives payment through the scheme's fund rather than collecting the treatment cost directly from the accident victim .
How Does PM-RAHAT Prevent Fraud and Misuse?
PM-RAHAT uses a digital verification and claim-processing system to track the accident victim, treatment provided and payments made under the scheme. Accident details are recorded and verified by the police through eDAR (Electronic Detailed Accident Report), while hospitals use TMS 2.0 (Transaction Management System) to register victims, record their treatment and submit claims.These two systems are integrated, creating a traceable digital record from accident reporting and hospital admission through treatment, claim processing and payment. This helps improve transparency and prevent misuse of the scheme.
Overall, PM-RAHAT is a Government of India initiative aimed at ensuring road accident victims receive timely medical treatment without worrying about immediate costs. With cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh for up to seven days , the scheme seeks to reduce financial barriers and ensure that critical treatment is not delayed after an accident.

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