Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) remains a major public health challenge in India and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare is essential for reducing its health and economic burden. The Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) in Tamil Nadu provides financial risk protection to economically disadvantaged and vulnerable households by covering expensive life cardiac procedures such as angioplasty and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery, thereby contributing to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This study examined patient experiences, satisfaction levels and barriers encountered while accessing CHD-related healthcare services under the CMCHIS. A cross-sectional study was conducted using telephone surveys among 95 CMCHIS beneficiaries with CHD, selected from a sampling frame of 1,600 CMCHIS beneficiary CHD patients obtained from five hospitals. The sample size was calculated using Fisher’s formula for a finite population with a 10% margin of error. Data were collected on participants’ awareness of the scheme, enrolment process, quality of healthcare services, out-of-pocket expenditure and overall satisfaction. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, proportions and means, were used to summarize the data, while an independent samples t-test was performed to compare group means. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.0. The findings revealed that CMCHIS substantially reduced the financial burden of CHD treatment for most beneficiaries, thereby promoting health equity and improving healthcare accessibility. However, 6.3% of respondents reported incurring out-of-pocket expenses for medicines, diagnostic tests or post-operative care. Overall satisfaction with the scheme was high (77.9%), particularly regarding the quality of treatment received. Nevertheless, challenges remained in terms of waiting time, clarity of information and administrative procedures. Strengthening beneficiary awareness, streamlining administrative processes and integrating digital follow-up systems could further enhance quality health services, improve continuity of care and contribute to health system strengthening, supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through inclusive healthcare and Universal Health Coverage.
