1800 202 8726
Aarogyasri & NTR Vaidya Seva

Aarogyasri Chemotherapy Packages: — How They Work and What They Cover

Both schemes pay for chemotherapy through pre-defined packages with fixed ceilings. When the ceiling does not cover your full regimen, there is a gap — and knowing how that gap works before treatment starts changes what your family needs to plan for.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh Gundu, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar) · DNB Internal Medicine (Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi) · DM Medical Oncology (AIIMS) · Last reviewed September 2026

  • Packages, not open-ended cover — Each scheme pays a set amount per package code. The code corresponds to your regimen and the number of cycles.
  • Gap is your responsibility — If your regimen costs more than the ceiling, your family pays the difference before the drug is prepared.
  • Pre-authorisation is required — The scheme approves each package before treatment begins. Without pre-auth, the cover does not apply.
  • Both schemes use the same logic — Aarogyasri (Telangana) and NTR Vaidya Seva (Andhra Pradesh) use the same package structure, though their ceilings differ.
4.8 · 800+ Google reviews · 15,000+ patients treated
Limited Slots Today

Get an indicative cost estimate

₹950   Today: FREE  ·  Including free written second opinion

Reply within 2 working hours
Reviewed by a senior medical oncologist
Confidential. No commitment to start treatment.
or
Call 1800 202 8726
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)

Aarogyasri and NTR Vaidya Seva pay for chemotherapy through pre-defined packages. Each package covers a fixed number of cycles of a specific regimen, up to a set ceiling. If your regimen costs more than the ceiling, your family pays the difference. Your treatment team will tell you the gap before your first cycle.

What does a chemotherapy package cover?

ComponentCovered by the schemeWhat you may pay
Chemotherapy drug(s)Up to the package ceiling for that regimenAny amount above the ceiling
Day-care admission and nursingIncluded within the packageNothing extra if within ceiling
Anti-nausea and support medicines (listed)Included for medicines in the approved listUnlisted medicines at your expense
Investigations on the day of treatmentIncluded for empanelled testsAny test outside the empanelled list
Medicines between cyclesNot includedFull cost
Response assessment scans (e.g. PET-CT)Only if separately pre-authorisedOut-of-pocket if not pre-authorised

Aarogyasri versus NTR Vaidya Seva: key differences

FeatureAarogyasri (Telangana)NTR Vaidya Seva (Andhra Pradesh)
Who it coversTelangana residents with a valid Aarogyasri cardAndhra Pradesh residents with a valid NTR Vaidya Seva card
Package structurePre-defined codes per regimen and cycle countPre-defined codes per regimen and cycle count
Pre-authorisationRequired before each cycleRequired before each cycle
Enrolment pointAarogyasri kiosk at empanelled hospitalsNTR Vaidya Seva kiosk at empanelled hospitals
Costs above ceilingFamily pays the gap directlyFamily pays the gap directly
CION empanelmentCION centres are empanelledCION centres are empanelled

How the package authorisation process works

  1. Regimen decided

    Your oncologist decides which chemotherapy regimen you need. The regimen maps to a specific package code in the scheme's catalogue.

  2. Package code identified

    The billing team identifies the code matching your regimen and the number of cycles planned. This determines the ceiling the scheme will pay.

  3. Pre-authorisation submitted

    The hospital submits a pre-authorisation request to the scheme before treatment begins. Claims cannot be filed retrospectively if this step is skipped.

  4. Approval and ceiling confirmed

    The scheme confirms the approved amount. Your team tells you the ceiling and, if the regimen costs more, the exact gap your family needs to cover.

  5. Treatment given and claim filed

    Chemotherapy is given. The hospital files the claim directly with the scheme; you do not handle that paperwork.

What will this actually cost you?

Costs depend on the regimen, the number of cycles and your scheme eligibility. Send your reports and we will give you an itemised, indicative estimate.

Meet the Specialists

17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.

Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.

Dr. Naresh Gundu
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Naresh Gundu

MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
Medical Oncologist

Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy

MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)

View Profile
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla

MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)

View Profile
Dr. Owais Mohammed
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Owais Mohammed

MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)

View Profile
Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy
Medical Oncologist

Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy

MBBS, DM (Medical Oncology), MD (Radiation Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. N. Kiranmayee
Medical Oncologist

Dr. N. Kiranmayee

MBBS, DM (Medical Oncology), MD (Internal Medicine)

View Profile
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty

MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)

View Profile
Dr. Raghavendra Naik
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Raghavendra Naik

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Mohammed  Imaduddin
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Mohammed Imaduddin

M.B.B.S, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Vinay Mamidala

MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)

View Profile
Dr. Paila Gowri Naidu
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Paila Gowri Naidu

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology), FMAS

View Profile
Dr. Venkata Sushma P
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Venkata Sushma P

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Kirti Ranjan Mohanty
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Kirti Ranjan Mohanty

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Gangadhar Vajrala
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Gangadhar Vajrala

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology), MPH

View Profile
Dr. Basudev Pokhrel
Hematologist

Dr. Basudev Pokhrel

MBBS, M.D (Immunohematology & Blood Transfusion)

View Profile
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Interventional Radiologist

Dr. Mohammed Imran

View Profile
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology

View Profile
Dr. Sridhar Kamani
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Sridhar Kamani

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology)

View Profile

Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.

Book Free Consultation

Know the cost before you commit

An itemised estimate, plus a check of which schemes you may qualify for.

Book Free Consultation Call 1800 202 8726

What to bring on your first visit

  • Original Aarogyasri card or NTR Vaidya Seva card — not a photocopy
  • Aadhaar card of the cardholder and the patient (if they are different people)
  • Ration card or other proof linking the patient to the cardholder
  • All previous prescription slips and investigation reports
  • Any previous oncologist letters or discharge summaries
  • A phone number that can be reached on the day

What happens when the package ceiling does not cover your regimen?

Some regimens — particularly those involving newer drugs — cost more than the scheme ceiling for their package code. The gap is real, and your family pays it directly.

Your billing team will calculate the exact gap before your first cycle and tell you the amount you need to bring. The drug is not prepared until that amount is confirmed.

The ceiling is set by the scheme. Neither the hospital nor your oncologist can change it. What they can do is tell you clearly what it is, and whether an alternative regimen covered fully by the scheme is clinically appropriate for your case.

If covering the gap is not possible, say so at the billing stage — not on the day of treatment. Social worker support, charitable funds, and NGO partnerships vary by centre; your CION team can tell you what is available.

Did you know?

Both Aarogyasri and NTR Vaidya Seva require a fresh pre-authorisation before each cycle, not just at the start of treatment.

A single missed pre-auth — even in the middle of a course — can make that cycle ineligible for reimbursement. Your hospital team manages this, but confirming at every visit that the next cycle is already approved is worthwhile.

Source: Aarogyasri Health Care Trust; NTR Vaidya Seva Authority, Government of Andhra Pradesh

Explore 93 more Chemotherapy in Hyderabad: Cost, Centres & Access topics

HUB — Chemotherapy Cost in Hyderabad

HUB — Chemotherapy in Hyderabad

HUB — Choosing a Chemotherapy Centre and Safe Administration

All Chemotherapy in Hyderabad: Cost, Centres & Access →

Next step

Still not sure what applies to you?

Send your reports across and a senior medical oncologist will go through what they mean, what is known, and what the options actually are.

Book Free Consultation Call 1800 202 8726
Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How do I know which package code applies to my chemotherapy?

Your oncologist decides your regimen, and the billing team maps it to its package code in the scheme catalogue. You do not need to find the code yourself. What helps is bringing a clear letter from your oncologist naming the regimen — so the billing team can confirm the match quickly and tell you the ceiling before you commit to starting.

Can I use Aarogyasri if I live in Andhra Pradesh?

No. Aarogyasri is a Telangana government scheme and covers only Telangana residents. If you are from Andhra Pradesh, your scheme is NTR Vaidya Seva. The two are separate schemes with different cards, administered by different state authorities. Check your card before you arrive — the scheme name is printed on it. Going to the wrong counter delays your treatment.

What if my drug is not in the scheme's approved list?

If your specific drug is not covered, the package will not pay for it. Your options are: ask whether a covered alternative is clinically appropriate for your case, pay for the drug privately, or ask whether charitable fund or NGO support is available at your centre. This is a question for the billing stage, not the day of treatment — raise it early so options can be explored.

Do I need a new pre-authorisation for every cycle?

Yes, in most cases. Each cycle requires a fresh pre-authorisation rather than a single approval for the full course. The hospital billing team handles the submission, but it takes a few working days. Treatment cannot proceed without it. Ask at each visit whether the next cycle is already authorised — do not assume it has been done automatically.

What if my income is above the eligibility threshold?

Both Aarogyasri and NTR Vaidya Seva have eligibility criteria based on income and ration card category. If you do not qualify, the scheme cannot be used. Private insurance, employer group cover, or ESIC (if applicable) may be alternatives. Ask the billing coordinator at your CION centre to go through the options — the right answer depends on your specific card and circumstances.

Can CION help if I cannot pay the gap?

Tell your CION social worker or billing team at the earliest stage — not on the day of treatment, when options are very limited. Some centres have access to charitable funds or NGO partnerships that can bridge part of the gap. This support is not guaranteed and varies by centre, but it cannot be arranged if it is not asked for. Asking early keeps more options open.

Full index

Browse all 579 chemotherapy topics

Every page in this section, grouped by the part of treatment it belongs to. Open a group to see what is in it.

Before You Start: Tests, Ports & Fertility42
Blood Counts, Infection, Fever & Emergencies73

Anaemia & Low Haemoglobin

HUB — Low Blood Counts, Infection and Fever During Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy and Supportive Medicines by Name75

Chemotherapy Drugs by Name

HUB — Chemotherapy Drugs by Name

HUB — Generic, Branded and Biosimilar Chemotherapy in India

HUB — Supportive Medicines Used With Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy at CION Cancer Clinics1
Chemotherapy by Cancer Type and Special Situations5

Special Populations & Comorbidities

HUB — Chemotherapy in Special Situations

Chemotherapy in Hyderabad: Cost, Centres & Access93

HUB — Choosing a Chemotherapy Centre and Safe Administration

Common Side Effects and How They Are Managed78
Food, Diet, Hydration & Household Safety6
How Chemotherapy Is Given: Regimens, Cycles & Infusion Days85

Other Ways Chemotherapy Is Given

HUB — Cycles, Schedules and What Happens on Infusion Day

Is It Working, Finishing Chemotherapy & Survivorship7

Is It Working? Response & Scans

HUB — Is Chemotherapy Working? Scans and Response

HUB — When Chemotherapy Stops Working

Nerve, Skin, Heart, Kidney and Cognitive Effects5

Skin, Nails & Hand-Foot Syndrome

Heart, Lung & Organ Toxicity

HUB — Effects on the Heart, Kidneys, Liver and Nerves

Understanding Chemotherapy, Myths & Trials97

HUB — Chemotherapy Myths and Alternative Treatment Claims

HUB — Clinical Trials in Cancer Treatment

HUB — What Is Chemotherapy and Why Has It Been Advised?

Work, Family, Relationships and Emotional Support12
Call now Book free consultation