Significant Differences Between the Ayushman Bharat Card and the Health ID (ABHA)

In recent years, the Indian government has taken significant steps toward providing affordable healthcare to all citizens. Two such initiatives are the Ayushman Bharat Card and the Health ID (ABHA).

While both aim to improve access to healthcare, they differ in several ways. This blog post will explore the major differences between the Ayushman Bharat Card and Health ID for your understanding.

About the Ayushman Bharat card:

The Ayushman Bharat Card is available to families listed in the SECC (Socio-Economic Caste Census) database. Based on predefined criteria, these families are identified as vulnerable and economically weaker sections of society.

The enrollment for the Ayushman Bharat Card can be done online or offline through designated enrollment centers. Families can also check their eligibility for the scheme and apply for the card through the official website of Ayushman Bharat.

About ABHA Health ID Card:

Formerly known as Health ID, the full name of the ABHA is Ayushman Bharat Health Account. The Aadhar card is associated with this 14-digit, one-of-a-kind identifying number.

The AB-PMJAY Health ID is a unique health identification number assigned to every individual who is enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme. It is part of the digital health infrastructure being developed under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The ABHA Health ID is a digitized health record that will contain information about the individual’s health status, medical history, and treatments received. It will be a repository of all health-related information of the individual, including prescriptions, lab reports, diagnostic imaging, and other medical records.

Parameters of Ayushman Bharat Card:

1. Purpose: The purpose of the Ayushman Bharat Card is to provide health insurance coverage to vulnerable and economically weaker sections of the society.

2. Eligibility: The Ayushman Bharat Card is available to families listed in the SECC (Socio-Economic Caste Census) database. These families are identified as vulnerable and economically weaker sections of society based on predefined criteria.

3. Benefits: The Ayushman Bharat Card provides health insurance coverage up to INR 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization. This insurance coverage is available for both pre-existing conditions and new illnesses.

4. Coverage: The Ayushman Bharat Card covers expenses related to hospitalization, including pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization expenses. It also covers expenses related to diagnostics, drugs, and medical consumables.

5. Income group: The Ayushman Bharat Card is available to families listed in the SECC database. These families are identified as vulnerable and economically weaker sections of society based on predefined criteria.

6. Enrollment: The enrollment for the Ayushman Bharat Card can be done online or offline through designated enrollment centers. Families can also check their eligibility for the scheme and apply for the card through the official website of Ayushman Bharat.

Parameters of Health ID:

1. Purpose: The purpose of the Health ID is to create a digital health infrastructure that will enable seamless access to health services and medical records for every citizen of India.

2. Eligibility: The Health ID is available to every citizen of India.

3. Benefits: The Health ID will enable the creation of digital health records for every citizen, which will be accessible across the country. It will also enable the seamless exchange of health data between healthcare providers, leading to better coordination of care and improved health outcomes.

4. Coverage: The Health ID will cover all health services and medical records of every citizen of India.

5. Income group: it is available to every citizen of India.

6. Enrollment: The enrollment for the Health ID can be done through the official website of the National Health Authority. Citizens can also enroll for the Health ID through the Ayushman Bharat mobile application.

Over to you:

While both the Ayushman Bharat Card and Health ID aim to improve access to healthcare, they serve different purposes.

The Ayushman Bharat Card provides insurance coverage for specific medical procedures and treatments, while the Health ID provides a centralized database of an individual’s health information that can be accessed by healthcare providers.

Both initiatives have the potential to significantly improve the healthcare system in India. Still, it is essential to ensure that they are implemented efficiently, with a strong focus on privacy and security.