How to Use an ABHA Card in a Private Hospital?

Using ABHA Card for Quality Treatment in Private Hospitals

Using the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) card ensures hospitals comply with all rules and regulations and maintain transparency of payments. You must present your card with proof of identity to use an ABHA card in a private hospital. You have to inform the private hospital staff that you want to use the financial healthcare benefits as an ABHA beneficiary. After that, private hospitals will verify your card details and eligibility and access medical records to start treatment with your consent.  

Let's begin with a detailed discussion regarding ABHA card utilisation and benefits.

Explanation of ABHA Card  

ABHA card is a cashless digital healthcare identity card with a 14-digit number. It identifies individuals as members and allows the sharing of medical records in the Indian digital health ecosystem. This healthcare scheme was launched in September 2018 under the ABDM, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, to help economically weaker families.  

This healthcare account grants beneficiaries convenient access to free healthcare treatment at enlisted private and government hospitals across India. The ABHA card covers a maximum of Rs. 5 lakh per family yearly for better healthcare services and post and pre-hospitalisation expenses.  

Major Use of ABHA in Healthcare Services   

Once you register on the ABHA website and get your ABHA card or ID number, you can use the ID number for the following needs.

● To access and store your past and ongoing health records, including doctors' prescriptions, test reports, vaccination and hospitalisation reports, etc.

● Sharing access to an ABHA account allows you to consult healthcare professionals and receive treatment from the comfort of your home.

● You can use it to settle cashless payments for hospital treatment, health insurance claims and reimbursements.  

Process of Using ABHA Card in a Private Hospital

You can use this card outside Indian government hospitals since private hospitals may use ABHA to create and link medical records. Before discussing the benefits of ABHA, let us learn how to use ABHA cards in private hospitals from the steps below.

Step 1: Sign up to Government Portal

Make sure you have registered your ABHA number and linked and verified your Aadhaar Card or driving licence, as you prefer. You must sign up for the Ayushman Bharat Portal to access other Indian healthcare schemes.

Step 2: Profile Creation

To create your ABHA profile in the app, you must fill out essential details such as family details, medical history, etc.

Step 3: Linking Personal Health Records

You must upload your health insurance information, diagnostics reports, medical prescriptions, and vaccination certificates for easy understanding and access.

Step 4: Inform Hospital Staff and Provide Valid Evidence

You need to inform hospital staff about your ABHA card and your willingness to use it for financial benefits in treatment. The private hospital's helpdesk will start verifying your eligibility and personal details, including identity cards.

Step 5: Access Healthcare Services at Private Hospitals  

You can also link your ABHA number to private health insurance and utilise it in quality healthcare services at both private and public hospitals free of cost.

Step 6: Treatment and Healthcare Professional Registry Access

You can access the Healthcare Professional Registry, an experienced and licensed doctors' database for quality treatment. Find enrolled and verified healthcare professionals in the vicinity.  Get a treatment plan and meet the necessary clinical needs.

Benefits of Using ABHA Card

The following are the benefits of using an ABHA card:

● It provides secure and easy accessibility to healthcare records and works as a one-stop repository with authentic information.

● It includes facilities linked to health insurance schemes.

● Ensure compliance with government rules and transparency in treatment charges.

● The ABHA card grants users access to facilities like Ayushman Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga, Homeopathy and Siddha.

● It eliminates the hassle of setting up claims and reimbursements with health insurance policies.  

The ABHA card is a game changer in organising and sharing medical data and ensuring proper coordination between beneficiaries and hospitals. To use this digital healthcare card, individuals must sign up through the Ayushman Bharat Portal and link their profile with health insurance. Inform and verify accounts in private hospitals and experience cost-free quality treatment.