The Indian government has introduced two significant healthcare initiatives, the Ayushman Bharat Health Card and the ABHA Health ID Card, to improve its citizens' access to quality healthcare services. While both cards aim to streamline healthcare delivery, they serve distinct purposes and offer different benefits. In this comprehensive blog post, we will explore the difference between Abha and Ayushman Cards, their features, eligibility criteria, and application processes.
Ayushman Bharat Card, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) card, is a health card introduced by the Indian government in 2018. Ayushman Card helps people with Ayushman Card to have access to affordable healthcare services. Significantly, through the Ayushman Card, the Ayushman Health Card holders can have financial security when it comes to health care services.
An Ayushman health card ensures its beneficiaries have access to health care services worth Rs 5,00,000 per annum anywhere in the empanelled public and private hospitals across the country. It is important to note that the Ayushman health card also includes pre-existing diseases.
ABHA Health ID Card is another health card recently introduced by the Indian government. This card comes with a unique digital health identification number that contains a person's complete health information. Significantly, it is a health ID card that focuses on creating a comprehensive digital health record for every citizen in India.
The Abha Card acts as a digital health account for people from all over the country. Also, with the Abha Card, all medical requirements and needs can be reformed online when necessary treatment is required. The health card also helps in ensuring that medical service providers from all over the country are vigilant about your health.
While both the Abha Card and Ayushman Card terms are part of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana pivotal roles, here are the differences between the Abha and Ayushman Card:
1. Main function:
Ayushman Bharat Card focuses on providing affordable healthcare services in times of need and protective finances in case of critical and emergency times. ABHA Card is a digital health identification number.
2. Cover provided:
Ayushman Card will provide hospital expenditure for hospitalisation for a particular time limit. ABHA Card does not cover expenses; it updates and holds health details in a digital form.
3. A person can apply for:
Ayushman Card concurred with the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) in the country. ABHA Card is available to every cardholder without putting any economic status factor for the cardholder.
4. Data to be stored:
It will store and have data services in healthcare terminology in regard to the individual's health history. Where barring the Ayushman Card, it does not have any data function in the Ayushman Bharat Card.
The features of each are compared as follows:
The ABHA health card is available to every citizen of India irrespective of their area of residence and economic status, etc. Any individual who has a digital health record can apply for an Abha card voluntarily.
Primarily, two categories of people can apply for an Ayushman Bharat card as follows
To get an ABHA card, you can follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Visit the official website on the internet.
Step 2: Alternatively, look for and download the ABHA mobile app.
Step 3: Create and register yourself to the respective website or app.
Step 4: You will have to provide a few basic personal information and undertake an Aadhar authentication to create your account with them.
Step 5: Once your account is successfully created, you will be given your own unique ABHA number, which would, in turn, be your digital health ID.
The process of getting an Ayushman card may differ from state to state or even union territory to union territory, but the major step normally remains the same. Here are the steps to obtain the Ayushman card:
Step 1: First of all, the individual must check whether they are eligible to apply. The criteria to be eligible are that the family must have a lower income, and there is only one card per single family.
Step 2: The next obvious step is to visit the designated Ayushman Bharat registration centre in your locality.
Step 3: Otherwise, you can get in touch with the local area authorities for the same. They may guide you with the needed information.
Step 4: Then, you have to give your details and submit copies of your Aadhar card, proof of income, and family details.
The benefits of the Abha card and Ayushman Bharat card are designed to enhance the overall healthcare experience for Indian citizens.
With the Ayushman Card, beneficiaries can access cashless hospitalisation services at empanelled hospitals, reducing the financial burden of medical expenses. The card also ensures the portability of benefits, allowing individuals to seek treatment at any empanelled hospital across the country.
On the other hand, the ABHA Card facilitates seamless sharing of health data among healthcare providers, ensuring continuity of care and efficient management of medical records. It promotes transparency and accountability in the healthcare system, enabling individuals to access their complete medical history digitally.
By leveraging the unique features of both the Abha and Ayushman cards, individuals can enjoy improved access to quality healthcare services, financial protection, and streamlined management of their health records.
In conclusion, while the Abha and Ayushman cards are part of the same Ayushman Bharat program, they serve distinct purposes and offer different benefits to Indian citizens. Understanding the differences between these cards and their respective features, eligibility criteria, and application processes is crucial for individuals to make the most of these healthcare initiatives and take control of their overall well-being.
FAQs
1. Is the Ayushman Card and ABHA Card the same?
No, the Ayushman card and ABHA card are not the same. They serve different purposes under the Ayushman Bharat program.
2. How do I link my Ayushman Card to ABHA card?
To link your Ayushman card to your ABHA card, you can visit the nearest Ayushman Bharat registration centre or contact the local authorities, who will assist you in linking the two cards.
3. How do I update or correct information on my Abha and Ayushman Card?
You can update or correct your information on the ABHA Card through the ABHA mobile app or website. For the Ayushman Card, you should visit the nearest registration centre or contact the local authorities to update or correct your information.
4. What are the renewal requirements for the Abha and Ayushman Cards?
The ABHA card does not require renewal as it is a unique digital health identification number. However, the Ayushman Card may need to be renewed periodically, and the renewal requirements may vary depending on your state or union territory.
5. Does ABHA card provide free treatment?
No, the ABHA card itself does not provide free treatment. It is a digital health identification number that facilitates the creation and management of a comprehensive digital health record. The Ayushman Card, on the other hand, provides financial protection and access to affordable healthcare services.