NEHS / EHS Health Card: How to Get Cashless Treatment in Telangana (7 Steps)
By Zishu · Published 3 October 2026 · Last updated: · 4 min read
What Is NEHS / EHS?
NEHS (New Employees Health Scheme), also called EHS, is a Telangana health scheme. It gives state government employees, pensioners and their eligible family members cashless treatment at empanelled (approved) hospitals. It is run by the Employees Health Care Trust (EHCT). This website is an independent directory, not a government office.
A Common Problem at the Hospital Counter
A retired teacher's husband needs a planned heart operation. They go to a big private hospital with a printout of the pension order, but without a health card. The counter staff say, “Bring the card first.” They go home worried and lose a whole week.
If they had called the hospital first, kept their Pensioner ID / PPO details ready and saved the 104 number on their phone, the day could have gone differently. (This is an example to help you understand, not a real named case.)
The steps below are written to help you avoid exactly this.
3 Ways to Use Your Health Card
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Through a Wellness Centre | Visit for an OP consultation. If admission is needed, you may be referred to an empanelled hospital as per the rules. |
| 2. Direct admission | The guidelines describe a direct-admission procedure, subject to EHS rules and requirements. |
| 3. Sick in another state | The guidelines have a separate procedure, which may include returning to Telangana for further treatment. |
Below, we explain the most common route: the Wellness Centre process.
From Wellness Centre to Discharge: 7 Steps
- Step 1: Visit your nearest Wellness Centre. Go to the EHS help desk and explain your health problem. Call 104 if you have any doubt. The number of centres is growing, so check the latest official list before you go.
- Step 2: Keep your documents ready. See the full list below.
- Step 3: Card verification. The staff check your name, whether you are an employee, pensioner or dependant, and your eligibility in the system.
- Step 4: Doctor and tests. The doctor may advise blood tests, X-ray, scans or a specialist consultation. Some centres do not have every facility, so you may be sent to another centre. This can mean extra travel.
- Step 5: Medical evaluation and pre-authorisation. If you need admission or surgery, the hospital starts the EHS approval process (where the rules require it). Keep asking the help desk for updates. Approval depends on the decision of the authorised officials.
- Step 6: Admission. Ask the hospital's EHS desk these 5 questions first:
- Is the hospital taking EHS patients right now?
- Is my treatment covered under EHS?
- Is pre-authorisation needed?
- Has the approval come?
- Is any other document or process pending?
- Step 7: Discharge. Before you leave, collect the discharge summary, medicine prescriptions, investigation reports, follow-up instructions and review appointment details. The hospital handles the EHS claim formalities as per the rules.
What to Carry to the Wellness Centre
- ☐ EHS health card (or a digital copy on your phone)
- ☐ Pensioner ID (for pensioners)
- ☐ Aadhaar or another valid photo ID, if asked
- ☐ Previous medical reports, prescriptions and investigation records
Tip: keep a copy of your health card on your phone. Illness never gives prior notice.
Check These 4 Things on Your Health Card
A card is useful only if its details are correct. Some people report that the card does not download or shows wrong details. There is an edit option on the portal.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Spelling of name and surname | A wrong spelling can cause trouble at admission and in the claim |
| Spouse and children | A missing family member may not get the benefit |
| Dependants | If a real dependant is left out, get it corrected |
| ABHA number (digital health ID) | May be needed for some steps |
If you cannot fix a mistake yourself, contact the concerned officer (STO or DO, as applicable).
Can I Get Treatment Without a Health Card?
Reports say yes, if you are eligible. Newspaper reports on the EHCT report say treatment should not be refused only because the card is not yet issued. Working employees can show their Employee ID, and pensioners their Pensioner ID / PPO details. Each hospital may follow the process a little differently.
- Carry a copy of your Employee ID or Pensioner ID / PPO, plus one photo ID.
- Ask the hospital's EHS or insurance desk which papers they accept.
- If they refuse, follow the steps below and call 104.
What If a Hospital Refuses NEHS Patients?
- Write down the hospital name, date, time and the name of the person who refused. Take a photo of any notice.
- Call 104 and explain the problem.
- File a complaint through the state government's official grievance channels.
- If needed, escalate through the central government health scheme channel.
- In a real emergency, take treatment first and sort out the papers later.
NEHS in Numbers: Latest Reported Figures
These figures come from the EHCT progress report, as shown in recent newspaper reports. They are reported numbers, not a live count.
| Item | Reported number | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Health cards made / downloaded | 12.56 lakh / 7,56,210 | Only about 6 in 10 were downloaded. Make and download your card. |
| Hospitals | 919 (778 private, 141 government) | About 85% are private, so their willingness matters. |
| Pre-authorised treatments | 15,395 (₹104.63 crore) | About ₹68,000 per treatment on average (our own calculation). Real patients are being treated. |
| Monthly fund / yearly budget | ~₹88 crore / ~₹1,056 crore | Hospitals say the real problem is delayed payment of bills. |
Note: A September 2026 report mentioned about 354 private hospitals, while the newer EHCT figure is 778. The reports may be from different dates or may count differently. Always call the hospital before you go.
Wellness Centres and Doctor Visits (OP)
Wellness Centres can offer a doctor, basic tests and medicines. Centres are in places such as Khammam, Warangal and Karimnagar.
How many centres? Reports differ. Our earlier information said 12 are working and 9 more are planned (about 21 in total). A recent Trust report reportedly mentioned 13 more centres (25 in total), and officials have spoken of 32 to 35. Please do not treat new centres as operational until they are officially confirmed.
OP services (seeing a doctor without an overnight stay) are being started. Whether you must always visit a Wellness Centre first is still under discussion. Until the government changes or confirms an alternative, follow the current Wellness Centre process and check with 104.
Private Hospitals and Package Rates
Private hospital groups have raised concerns about the fixed treatment prices (package rates), pending bills, how many private hospitals take part, and the lack of a proper complaint system for hospitals.
A package rate is the single price fixed by the government for each treatment. Some private hospitals say it is lower than their actual cost. For some treatments, the rates are reported to follow the central government health scheme. This is one reason some hospitals are slow to join. A fair price agreement would make treatment easier for patients.
Who Is Covered Under NEHS / EHS?
- State government employees and their eligible family members
- Pensioners and their eligible family members
- Police Department employees, reported to have been added from 1 September
Rules can change. Please confirm your eligibility on the official portal.
Pensioners' Problems and Demands
Source: a public poster by the State Pensioners' Joint Action Committee. These are the group's claims, not an official government statement.
The group says 1.5% of pension is deducted every month for the scheme, but NEHS is not yet working properly for pensioners.
Problems
- Card: does not download, wrong photo / name / date of birth, family members missing, old cards stopped but new ones not issued.
- Not cashless: some listed hospitals do not accept the card, and people pay from their own pocket in emergencies.
- Wellness Centres: some have doctors but no medicines, others have medicines but no doctors.
- OP is difficult: no OP without a Wellness Centre referral, and pensioners aged 70 to 80 travel 30 to 40 km every month.
Demands
- Run NEHS properly and strictly, and give pensioners an option
- Direct OP at listed hospitals, without a Wellness Centre letter
- Full scheme from 1 June 2026, and reimbursement of private treatment bills after that date
- New cards for all pensioners and clear orders to hospitals for cashless treatment
Compare Health Schemes
| Scheme | Who it is for | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|
| NEHS / EHS | State government employees and pensioners | Cashless treatment at network hospitals |
| Rajiv Aarogyasri | Eligible white ration card holders | Medical cover up to ₹10 lakh |
| CGHS | Central government employees, pensioners and dependants | Cashless treatment at CGHS hospitals at CGHS rates |
See also: Rajiv Aarogyasri hospitals · CGHS hospitals
Checklist Before Planned Treatment
- ☐ Card is downloaded and details (names, family, dependants) are correct
- ☐ Copy of Employee ID or Pensioner ID / PPO is in your bag
- ☐ ABHA details are ready
- ☐ You have called the hospital and it is offering the NEHS service you need
- ☐ You know whether pre-authorisation is needed
- ☐ You have called 104 if in doubt
In an emergency, seek emergency medical help first.
How to Use the Hospital Finder (5 Steps)
- Choose your card type (NEHS / EHS).
- Select your district.
- Pick hospital type and speciality (for example heart or bone).
- Use GPS to see the nearest hospitals (optional).
- Call to confirm that the hospital is taking NEHS patients today.
Need to find an approved hospital quickly?
Search by district, speciality and nearby location. Always confirm your eligibility and treatment details before you go.
Open Hospital Finder ToolHelpdesk, Official Links and 104 Helpline
For card registration, official updates or complaints, use these government websites:
On the portal you can log in, search hospitals, check pre-authorisation and claim status, see treatment packages and file complaints (depending on which features are switched on).
Have You Used NEHS? Tell Us in the Comments
Did you get your card? Was your treatment cashless? Which hospital said yes or no? Your answer can save another family a wasted trip. (Please do not share phone numbers or medical details.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NEHS / EHS?
A cashless treatment scheme for Telangana government employees, pensioners and their eligible family members at empanelled hospitals.
What is the process to get treatment with an EHS health card?
Visit a Wellness Centre, submit your documents, get your card verified, consult the doctor and complete tests, get pre-authorisation if needed, then be admitted to an empanelled hospital and discharged.
Can I get treatment without a health card?
Reports say yes, if you are eligible. Show your Employee ID or Pensioner ID / PPO details and confirm the process with the hospital desk.
Which documents do I need at the Wellness Centre?
Your EHS health card, pensioner ID (for pensioners), Aadhaar or another photo ID if asked, and previous medical reports and prescriptions.
What is pre-authorisation?
Getting approval from the scheme before treatment starts, wherever the rules require it. The hospital starts this process.
Is every treatment at an empanelled hospital covered?
No. Coverage depends on the scheme rules and approved packages. Ask the hospital's EHS desk before admission.
What if a hospital refuses NEHS?
Note down the details, call 104 and file a complaint through the official grievance channels. In an emergency, take treatment first.
Must I visit a Wellness Centre first?
Follow the current Wellness Centre process until the government confirms a change. Check the latest rule with 104 or the official portal.
What is the EHS helpline number?
Call 104 for any doubt or complaint.