8th Pay Commission medical allowance: pensioners living outside CGHS areas get a Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) of ₹1,000 a month, unchanged since 1 July 2017. Confirmed
Staff Side has asked for ₹3,000; the Cabinet Secretary said unions may take it to the 8th CPC. No decision or figure yet. Reported Pending
FMA order: DoPPW OM 4/34/2017-P&PW(D), 19.07.2017 · Updated 19 October 2026
8th Pay Commission medical allowance at a glance
| Item | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Current FMA | ₹1,000 a month, from 01.07.2017 (DoPPW OM 19.07.2017) | Confirmed |
| Who gets it | Central civil pensioners and family pensioners living in non-CGHS areas who do not use CGHS OPD | Confirmed |
| NPS retirees | Same ₹1,000, paid quarterly through the bank (DoPPW OM 07.02.2025) | Confirmed |
| Staff Side demand | ₹3,000 a month; Cabinet Secretary: may be taken up with the 8th CPC (49th NC-JCM, 11.05.2026) | Reported |
| Draft charter | ₹20,000 a month for non-CGHS areas (NC-JCM drafting committee, Feb 2026) | Demand |
| 8th CPC | Constituted 3 Nov 2025; no report, no recommendation on FMA | Pending |
What is Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA)?
FMA is a fixed monthly amount for day-to-day medical costs that do not need hospital admission. It is paid with your monthly pension by the bank or pension office.
It replaces CGHS outpatient (OPD) cover. You cannot take both FMA and CGHS OPD.
Who is eligible for medical allowance?
- Eligible: pensioners and family pensioners living in an area not covered by CGHS (or a similar health scheme), who do not use CGHS OPD.
- Option in non-CGHS area: take CGHS from the nearest city for hospital (IPD) care only, and still get FMA for OPD.
- Not eligible: pensioners living in a CGHS city who choose not to join CGHS.
- Two pensions (e.g. service + family pension): FMA from only one of them.
- NPS retirees: eligible since the DoPPW OM of 06.12.2023, at the same ₹1,000 rate.
Serving employees do not get FMA. They are covered by CGHS or by medical reimbursement rules. See our CGHS medical reimbursement guide.
How FMA has changed with each revision
| Year | FMA per month | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | ₹100 | Started (5th CPC) |
| 2008 | ₹300 | +₹200 |
| 19.11.2014 | ₹500 | +₹200 |
| 01.07.2017 | ₹1,000 | Doubled (7th CPC) |
| 8th CPC | Not decided | — |
FMA has stayed at ₹12,000 a year since 2017. In the same period DR on pension has risen to 60%. FMA does not rise with DR.
Will the 8th Pay Commission increase medical allowance?
Nothing is decided. The 8th CPC was set up on 3 November 2025 (PIB) and is still meeting unions. It has not issued a report.
- At the 49th NC-JCM meeting on 11 May 2026, Staff Side asked for FMA of ₹3,000, citing a Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendation. The Cabinet Secretary said associations may take it up with the 8th CPC (minutes, DoPT OM 03.06.2026). Reported
- The NC-JCM drafting committee’s draft charter proposed ₹20,000 a month for non-CGHS areas (Financial Express). Demand
These are demands, not government figures. We will update this page when the 8th CPC reports. Follow the 8th Pay Commission latest news and union demands tracker.
How to claim FMA
- Give your choice (FMA or CGHS) on the pension papers at retirement.
- Already retired? Give a written undertaking to your pension disbursing bank or office that you live in a non-CGHS area and do not use CGHS OPD.
- The bank adds ₹1,000 to your monthly pension (quarterly for NPS retirees).
- Moving to a CGHS city later? You can switch from FMA to CGHS under the DoPPW procedure (OM 23.03.2022).
Other medical help: CGHS rates and contribution · CGHS card application · pension calculator.
Medical allowance FAQs
What is the medical allowance for central government pensioners?
Fixed Medical Allowance of ₹1,000 a month, from 1 July 2017, for pensioners living in non-CGHS areas who do not use CGHS OPD.
Will the 8th Pay Commission increase medical allowance?
Not decided yet. Staff Side has asked for ₹3,000 a month, and the Cabinet Secretary said it may be taken up with the 8th CPC. The commission has not reported.
Can I get FMA and CGHS together?
Not for OPD. In a non-CGHS area you can take CGHS for hospital treatment only from the nearest CGHS city and still get FMA.
Do NPS retirees get Fixed Medical Allowance?
Yes. Since the DoPPW OM of 06.12.2023, NPS retirees in non-CGHS areas get ₹1,000 a month, paid quarterly through the bank.
Do serving employees get FMA?
No. FMA is only for pensioners and family pensioners. Serving staff use CGHS or medical reimbursement rules.
Is FMA increased with DA or DR?
No. FMA is a fixed amount. It changes only by a separate government order, the last one in 2017.
Official sources: DoPPW OM 19.07.2017 · DoPPW OM 07.02.2025 · DoPPW medical allowance orders · Rajya Sabha reply 15.12.2022 · DoPPW FAQ
Labels: Confirmed official order or release, linked · Estimate our calculation, not a government figure · Reported media or union report · Demand staff-side demand · Pending awaited
8thpaycalculator.in is an independent website, not a Government site. Check figures with your DDO, PAO or pension disbursing authority. Found an error? Report it. How we check facts: Editorial Policy. Updated 19 October 2026 by the 8thpaycalculator.in editorial team.
