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About OverCharged

Last updated: October 2025 · Dataset: Revised CGHS Rates w.e.f. 13 October 2025 (as notified 03.10.2025)

What this tool is

OverCharged is an independent, non-commercial public interest reference tool. It publishes official CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) medical procedure rates in a searchable, mobile-friendly format so that any Indian citizen can look up what the government pays for a medical procedure at CGHS-empanelled hospitals.

The tool allows users to enter what they actually paid for a procedure and see the numerical difference against the CGHS reference rate. This comparison is presented as factual arithmetic — no editorial claim is made about whether any hospital has acted wrongly.

What this tool is NOT

  • It is not a legal claim that any hospital has overcharged any patient.
  • It is not a regulatory body or consumer grievance forum.
  • It is not affiliated with the Government of India, CGHS, or any ministry.
  • It does not collect, store, or share any user data.
  • It does not verify what any individual user actually paid.
  • CGHS rates are not mandatorily applicable to general patients — they apply only to CGHS scheme beneficiaries.

Data sources

Primary dataset: Revised CGHS Package Rates 2025

Office Memorandum F.No.5-16/CGHS(HQ)/HEC/2024(Part I), dated 03 October 2025, issued by the Directorate General of CGHS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

Effective date: 13 October 2025

Scope: 2,584 procedures and investigations across all medical specialities

Official source: cghs.mohfw.gov.in

Methodology

  • Base rates: Tier X (metro) NABH semi-private ward rates from the October 2025 OM, as the primary reference.
  • Tier adjustment: Tier Y cities = 10% below Tier X; Tier Z cities = 20% below Tier X (per the official OM formula).
  • NABH vs Non-NABH: Non-NABH rates are 15% below NABH rates (per the official 2025 OM).
  • Ward type: Rates shown are for semi-private ward entitlement. General ward = −5%; Private ward = +5%.
  • Super speciality: Super speciality hospital rates are 15% above NABH rates for applicable specialities.
  • Flat rates: Consultations, investigations, imaging, and certain procedures carry uniform rates across all tiers, as notified.
  • Comparison calculation: Arithmetic difference only — user-entered amount minus the applicable CGHS reference rate.

Known limitations

  • CGHS rates change periodically. This tool will be updated when a new rate notification is officially published.
  • This tool does not map hospitals to procedures — it shows city-level rates only.
  • Implant costs, consumables, and certain add-ons are not included in package rates and are billed separately under CGHS rules.
  • Emergency and non-empanelled hospital reimbursement rules differ — this tool does not cover those scenarios.
  • Rate accuracy depends on correct parsing of the official PDF — minor discrepancies may exist for complex multi-line entries.

Legal context

In 2024, the Supreme Court of India urged the Centre to take a decision on standardising hospital charges or implementing CGHS rates universally. CGHS publishes official rates for 2,584 medical procedures, and the court flagged the gap between CGHS reference rates and what many private patients are charged.

Read the Supreme Court order → (media summary)

Disclaimer

All CGHS rates shown on this website are reproduced from official government-published documents for public information purposes. This tool makes no claim against any hospital, doctor, or healthcare provider. The difference figures shown are arithmetic comparisons only and do not constitute evidence of wrongdoing. Users are advised to verify all rates independently at cghs.mohfw.gov.in before taking any legal or regulatory action. This tool is provided as-is, with no warranties of any kind.

Technical

This is a fully static website — no user data is collected, stored, or transmitted. The tool runs entirely in the browser. Source: CGHS OM F.No.5-16/CGHS(HQ)/HEC/2024(Part I) dated 03.10.2025.