Ayushman Card vs ABHA Card: Key Differences

Posted on: Dec 5, 2023 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Ayushman Card vs ABHA Card: Key Differences

The Ayushman Card is a health insurance card that allows eligible families to get free treatment up to INR 5 lakhs per year under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. On the other hand, the health ID, also called ABHA ID, is a digital ID that stores your medical records like prescriptions, diagnostic test results and doctor visits in one place online. While the Ayushman Card helps you pay for healthcare, the health ID helps you keep track of your health history.

The health infrastructure in India is always under immense pressure. To make healthcare more accessible to all sections of society, the government keeps launching various schemes. The Ayushman Bharat Card was also one such initiative. But the introduction of a new scheme also brings along with it many queries and doubts. For instance, Is ABHA Card and Ayushman Card same, or do they serve a different purpose? Well, let’s try and clear up this confusion.

What is the Ayushman Bharat Card?

Ayushman Bharat Card is given to beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Yojana, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), to avail healthcare services in government and private hospitals. The government scheme was launched in 2018 to make healthcare affordable and accessible for the economically backward sections of society. Beneficiaries can avail of cashless treatment at any of the network hospitals with an Ayushman ID card.

Features of the Ayushman Bharat Card

The key features of the Ayushman Bharat Card are:

• Health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisations.

• Beneficiaries can avail of cashless treatments at empanelled public and private hospitals pan India. They don’t have to pay anything upfront.

• Wide network of hospitals (both government and private) across India, allowing beneficiaries to have access to quality healthcare services, irrespective of the location.

• Covers over 1900 medical treatments and procedures.

• Focuses on preventive healthcare and wellness, such as screenings, regular checkups, vaccinations, etc.

What is the ABHA Health ID Card?

ABHA (i.e., Ayushman Bharat Health Account), launched under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission of the Government of India, is a repository storing the health records of individuals. To access the account from anywhere in India, every person is allotted an ABHA health ID card with a 14-digit unique identification number. The card stores your medical history and health record, including diagnostic tests, lab reports, consultations, prescriptions, etc. With ABHA number, you can safely access your health records and easily share them with doctors and insurance providers without having to carry your medical files each time you visit the hospital.

Features of the ABHA Health ID Card

The key features of the ABHA Health ID card are:

• ABHA health ID card has a 14-digit unique identification number to access and retrieve health records.

• The medical records, including medical history, lab reports, and prescriptions, are digitally and securely stored in one centralised location. It can be easily accessible and shared with healthcare providers when needed.

• Using the ABHA number, beneficiaries can register themselves at hospitals and book appointments with ease.

• The consolidated health records help to make an accurate diagnosis.

Difference Between ABHA Card and Ayushman Card

Every ABHA beneficiary gets an ABHA card with a 14-digit unique identification number, storing the medical records in one place. Anyone can apply for an ABHA card, irrespective of income. However, the Ayushman card is meant only for the economically weaker sections of society. Let’s take a look at ABHA card vs. Ayushman card:

Parameters	ABHA Card	Ayushman Card
Purpose	ABHA card digitally stores all health records in one place, making it easy to access and share.	Ayushman card is issued to beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to avail of cashless treatment in network hospitals.
Eligibility	All Indian nationals.	The health scheme is meant for the economically weaker sections of society.
Benefits	Unique 14-digit identification number to access medical records.	Cashless hospitalisation.
Coverage	Access to health records from anywhere.	Every family gets up to Rs 5 lakh per year.
Enrolment	Voluntary	Mandatory for eligible individuals.
Year of Launch	2021	2018
Issuing Authority	ABHA card is issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India.	Ayushman card is issued by the National Health Authority (NHA) in India.
Income Criteria	There is no strict income limit to apply for an ABHA card. While the government encourages economically weaker sections (with an annual family income of INR 2.5 lakh or less) to register, this is not a restriction. Individuals from higher-income groups can also apply.	There is no specific income limit to get the Ayushman Card. People from rural and urban areas can apply if they meet the required eligibility conditions. However, households with a monthly income above INR 10,000 are generally excluded.

Need for Integrating ABHA Card with Health Insurance Plan

A healthcare plan provides financial security against unexpected medical expenses, making quality healthcare affordable and accessible. With medical inflation, any health emergency can drain your savings if you are not covered by health insurance. A healthcare plan can ease your stress by taking care of the medical expenses, and if you get treated in a network hospital, you can avail of cashless treatment.

By integrating the ABHA card with a health insurance plan, insurance companies will have access to the policyholder’s medical records, expenses, lab tests, etc., and it will be easy to get the claims settled. The policyholder need not provide physical documents to the insurer. The ABHA card will safely and securely store and manage the medical records of patients digitally.

Conclusion

Both the healthcare initiatives of the Government of India are meant to provide better healthcare services, but each has a different purpose. While Ayushman Bharat Yojana offers affordable healthcare services only to the economically weaker sections of society, the ABHA card is a centralised repository to store and manage the health records of anyone, irrespective of economic background. If you are not eligible for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana or any other healthcare scheme, make sure you buy a health insurance policy to stay financially covered.

FAQs

1. What are the eligibility criteria to get enrolled in Ayushman Bharat Yojana?

Ayushman Bharat Yojana serves as a health insurance scheme launched by the Government of India for the economically weaker sections of society.

2. What is the difference between the Ayushman Bharat card and the ABHA health ID card?

Here is the difference between ABHA Card and Ayushman Card:

The Ayushman Bharat card provides healthcare services to Ayushman Bharat Yojana beneficiaries. The beneficiaries can avail of cashless treatment in government and private hospitals with the help of an Ayushman card. On the other hand, the ABHA health card has a 14-digit unique identification number to manage and store your medical records digitally in one place.

3. Is it compulsory to enrol for an ABHA card?

No, it is not compulsory.

4. Do I need both ABHA and Ayushman Cards?

No, it is not mandatory to have both an ABHA and an Ayushman card, but having both can be beneficial. The Ayushman Card helps hospitals check your details quickly and makes it easier for you to get free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme if you qualify. On the other hand, the ABHA Card is a digital health ID that lets you store and manage your medical records online. While they serve different purposes, having both can make accessing and managing your healthcare simpler and more efficient.

5. Who issues the ABHA and Ayushman Cards?

The ABHA card is issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, whereas the Ayushman card is issued by the National Health Authority.

6. Is health insurance still needed with Ayushman Card?

The Ayushman Card provides free health coverage of up to INR 5 lakh per family per year for eligible beneficiaries at empanelled hospitals. However, it only covers specific treatments and is limited to public and empanelled private hospitals.

You may consider additional health insurance coverage along with the Ayushman Card if:

◦ You require coverage beyond the annual limit of INR 5 lakh.

◦ You need coverage for conditions and procedures not covered under the scheme.

◦ You want more freedom to choose any hospital or doctor.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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ABHA Card Eligibility: Criteria and Required Documents

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What is a Cashless Health Card?

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