Major Differences Between Ayushman Bharat Card and Health ID (ABHA)

The Ayushman Bharat Card and the Health card of the Ayushman Bharat Health Account are two critical components of the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The Ayushman Bharat Card is a physical card supplied to the recipient that acts as identification in order for the beneficiary to benefit from the plan.

The health ID is an electronic identification that acts as a portal to a range of health services and information for the recipient.

Both of these components have distinct characteristics and advantages. This essay will highlight the key distinctions between the Ayushman Bharat Card and the Health card of the ABHA.

Ayushman Bharat Card Information

The Indian government has launched the Ayushman Bharat project to offer health insurance to the underprivileged and weaker members of society. It provides coverage for more than 500 million people and is the biggest health insurance program in the world.

The service provides the most vulnerable and underprivileged members of society financial protection against catastrophic medical expenses. It is subsidized by the government and pays for some diagnostic tests, pre- and post-hospitalization costs, and inpatient hospitalization. The program also includes a provision for routine health examinations. The cards are qualified for cashless care at any of the hospitals on the list.

ABHA Health Card Information

All Ayushman Bharat plan recipients in India receive the Ayushman Bharat Health Account health card. The Card is required to access the program’s healthcare benefits. The beneficiary’s name, date of birth, gender, location, type of scheme, and length of the health benefits validity term are all listed on the Card. A distinct 14-digit ID number that is used for identification is also included on the Card. 

The Card may be used to get free medical services such as consultations, tests, hospital stays, and medication. The Card also includes a special QR Code that can be scanned to access the beneficiary’s health account and contains their personal information and health account number.

Let us look at the differences between a Health ID and an Ayushman Bharat card. 

Ayushman Bharat card

1. The Indian government has created a portable health insurance card called the Ayushman Bharat Card, which offers financial security to millions of Indians. The Card is free and may be used to access government-funded healthcare services.

2. It offers financial security against unforeseen medical costs. The Card can be used to access government-funded healthcare services.

3. This Card provides coverage to the nation’s low-income and vulnerable households. The Card pays for all medical costs, such as hospital stays, 

consultation fees, medication, diagnostic procedures, etc.

4. Citizens with needy homes or those who fall below the poverty threshold are given this Card. It is a government-issued, free health insurance card.

Health ID

1. It is a digital health identification platform introduced by the Indian government that offers an isolated location for residents to examine and track their health data and access their medical records.

2. Citizens may examine and track their health information on a single platform that gives them access to their health records. It is a digital platform enabling users to maintain their medical records safely.

3. People may safely use the Card to save their health data in a centralized database. Additionally, it enables citizens to share their health records with approved healthcare experts and access them anytime they need to. 

4. Everyone who is included or cannot afford health care services will receive financial support through this.

Overall, the health ID and the Ayushman Bharat Card offer two different ways to obtain healthcare services. While the ABHA enables users to retain and manage their health information and make payments for healthcare services online, the Ayushman Bharat Card is a physical card that may be used to access healthcare services covered by the plan.

While both offer access to healthcare services, their methods of obtaining those services and the data they hold is different. The user’s preference and the required services ultimately determine which option they will use.