Digital Health Insurance ID Card

A digital health ID card, as the name suggests, is a unique digital ID card that contains your medical history and any data related to your health. The card has a 14-digit code ID linked to it. This code can be used to access your medical history by doctors and healthcare providers.

This includes your health insurance provider as well. So you'll be able to use your health ID card to apply for a health insurance policy. Additionally, it encourages the development of a digital ecosystem that benefits both patients and doctors, allowing both parties easy access to personal healthcare records.

Doctors can also register as Digi doctors along with their facilities to provide treatment to patients anywhere within the country. This allows them to go paperless and build an online presence as healthcare providers.

One significant benefit of having an ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) Health ID Card is that patients will no longer have to depend on paper-based documents. This means you won't have to carry all your previous reports and tests while visiting the doctor. Instead, doctors can access all this information through your health ID card.

It's instrumental during the pandemic since doctors can check the patient's vaccination status and previous treatments, making it possible for people to get Covid-19 treatments anywhere in the country.

Here are some other benefits of an ABHA card:

• It allows you to have a paperless experience and all your health records will have details from admission to treatment and discharge.

• You can link your PHR (Personal Health Records) with your digital ID to generate a long-term medical history.

• Allows access to verified digi doctors all across India.

• It can be used at AYUSH healthcare facilities. This includes Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Unani, Yoga, and Siddha services.

• All your data is private and secure, and your permission is required each time your personal health records are accessed. This also extends to requiring permission to share your healthcare data with other participants.

• You can revoke your consent at any point and manage it throughout the whole process.

• Easy and free sign-up process, where you can voluntarily opt in or out and request your data be erased at any point post-creation.

Any Indian citizen can apply for an Ayushman digital health card. There are no specific criteria required to generate this ID. The application process can be done entirely online and is free.

Anyone wanting to digitise their medical records can apply for this ID. It is fully voluntary and connects you to various healthcare providers all over India. The details can be easily accessed through the mobile app, where you can manage and share your relevant medical records.

You also have the option to opt out of this service at any point and have all your data erased.

Since the process is entirely online, you don't need to submit any physical documents during your application process. To generate your health ID, you only need these documents:

• Aadhaar number.
• Mobile number.
• Driving Licence (for generating the enrolment number).

There are three main ways to register for a digital health ID card and apply online for it:

1. Through the Health ID website.

2. Through the NDHM Health Records mobile app.

3. By participating in health facilities - like working at public or private hospitals, health/wellness centres, community health centres, etc.

As stated, you only need your Aadhaar number, mobile number, or Driving Licence to register for a health ID card. However, an important thing to note here is that you need a valid mobile number to register for an ABHA health ID, regardless of your application method.

You can register through the official website or the mobile app; the processes are nearly identical. Here's how to apply and register for one online with these documents.

Step By Step Application Process Using Aadhar Number

1. Visit the NDHM official website.

2. Click on the "Create ABHA Number" option on the homepage.

3. Select the "Using Aahdar" option.

4. Enter your Aadhar number in the field and type in the correct captcha after going through and accepting the terms and conditions.

5. After entering your details, click "Next."

6. You will receive an OTP (One-time password) on the number linked to your Aadhar that you'll need to enter onto the current page.

7. Fill in the fields with the relevant information, like your preferred username and password, to create your digital ID.

8. After registration, log in to your account with your newly created credentials and type in your current address.

9. Remember to download your digital id card for future reference.

Applying Via Driver's Licence

If you don't want to use your Aadhar to generate your ABHA card, you also have the option to use your Driver's license instead. Here's how you can do that:

1. Visit the NDHM official website.

2. Click on the create ABHA number option on the homepage and select "Using Driver's Licence".

3. Enter your mobile number and the correct captcha in the fields and click "Next".

4. You will get an OTP which you will need to enter in the given field on the next page.

5. Enter the relevant information and create your digital health ID.

6. Log in to your account and enter your current address.

7. Download your ID card for future reference.

You can download your health ID card once you've registered on the main website. Here is how you can download your digital ID card:

Login to your account on either the official website or mobile app using your login credentials - Your ID number and date of birth, and click submit.

Click on your ID card and select the "Download Health ID Card" option to download your ID card.

Since it's fully voluntary, applicants and cardholders can opt out of the program. In other words, they can deactivate their IDs and re-activate them when required. Here is a step-by-step process on how you can delete or deactivate your digital health ID card:

Login to your account using your Health ID code and date of birth on either the website or mobile app. You can log in through an OTP via your Aadhar or use your account password.

Click on the My Account option and click "Deactivate/Delete Health ID." Then, click on continue to either deactivate or delete your account.

Note here that de-activation is different from completely deleting your account. If you choose to deactivate your account, your account will still be available and can late be re-activated. On the other hand, deleting your account would require you to make a new one and start the application process from scratch if you want another digital health ID.

A digital health ID card is a valuable resource to have if you have any pre-existing health conditions that require you to make frequent hospital visits. Its primary purpose is to help bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers by creating a digital ecosystem and employing digital highways to streamline the healthcare process.

This can be paired with your health insurance policy to help support your medical expenses as well. For example, suppose you're looking to buy a mediclaim insurance plan. In that case, Tata AIG's health insurance premium calculator can help you determine the exact cost of various health insurance plans to choose the best one to fit your budget.