Govt Notifies Guidelines for Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme 2025

The central government has notified a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims under Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Any person injured in a motor vehicle accident requiring hospitalisation within 24 hours is eligible for the scheme. The Scheme also notifies exclusion cases where the victim is hospitalised after 24 hours of the accident.

Whether insured or not, cashless treatment will be given up to Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim for up to 7 days from the date of the accident.

The Scheme includes hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and others notified by the National Health Authority (NHA). Non-designated hospitals, however, may provide initial stabilisation and refer to designated ones.

Anyone (victim, bystander, police) can report accidents via: 112 Emergency Response Helpline or eDAR mobile application, so that early reporting triggers ambulance dispatch and hospital allocation.

Police must verify within 24 hours whether the case is a genuine motor vehicle accident. If not verified, coverage under the scheme lapses unless extended under the life-threatening exception.

The treatment can start immediately, even without pre-authorisation. If the victim dies during treatment, the hospital is reimbursed for expenses incurred until death.

Hospitals must submit claims to the State Health Agency (SHA) for approval. Payment will be made in case of Insured vehicles by the insurance company. In case of Uninsured Vehicles or hit-and-run cases, payment will be made bythe  Central Government budgeted fund.