What is an ABHA Card?
An ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) card is a free 14-digit health ID issued by the National Health Authority under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) launched in 2021. With an ABHA card, you can:
Link and maintain digital copies of medical records like prescriptions, diagnostic reports, and discharge notes.
Share the records with a registered healthcare provider with your consent. Access your entire medical history from one place.
Access your health history over time from a single account.
You can create an ABHA number using your Aadhaar or mobile number through the official ABHA website or the ABHA mobile app. It carries no fee at creation or renewal.
ABHA is not the same as Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY
An ABHA card is a digital health ID under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is a separate government health insurance scheme that provides low-income families (eligible) with health coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. Having an ABHA card does not mean you're covered under PM-JAY.
What is Health Insurance?
Health insurance is an agreement between you and the insurance company, where you pay a premium, and the insurance company provides coverage for medical expenses that arise during the policy period. It exists to protect your savings from large, unexpected hospital bills. Health insurance covers the following:
Hospitalisation costs, including room rent, ICU, surgery, doctor charges, and medication while in the hospital.
Pre-and post-hospitalisation costs for a certain number of days before and after admission.
Day care procedures, which do not require a 24-hour admission.
Cashless treatment at network hospitals, where the bill will be settled by the insurer directly.
Health insurance coverage is subject to terms such as waiting periods for pre-existing diseases, sub-limits, and exclusions mentioned in the policy documents.
ABHA Card vs. Health Insurance: Key Differences
It may seem that the ABHA card and health insurance are similar in many ways, but there is quite a difference between the two.
| ATTRIBUTE | ABHA CARD | HEALTH INSURANCE |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Digital health ID and record locker | Financial policy that funds treatment |
| Issued by | National Health Authority (ABDM) | IRDAI-registered insurance companies |
| Main purpose | Store and share medical records | Pay hospital and treatment bills |
| Cost to you | Free | Annual premium |
| Pays your bills? | No | Yes, up to the sum insured |
| Requires eligibility? | No, any resident can create one | Subject to age, health, and underwriting |
| Renewal | Not required | Yearly, to keep cover active |
| What you get | A 14-digit ABHA number and card | A policy with a sum insured and terms |
Do You Need Both ABHA and Health Insurance?
Health Insurance is necessary to prevent yourself from expensive health care costs. The ABHA card is useful as it helps keep all your health data in one place.
If your objective is to prevent yourself from paying huge amounts at hospitals, you will need health insurance.
If your objective is to store all of your prescriptions, reports, and history in digital form and have it always accessible, get yourself an ABHA card.
Both cards aren’t substitutes for each other. Depending only on the ABHA card will leave you completely unprotected from hospital expenses.
Key Takeaways
An ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) card is a 14-digit health card offered for free by the National Health Authority under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
Health insurance is a paid policy from an IRDAI-registered insurer that pays your hospital and treatment costs up to a sum insured.
The ABHA card is offered at zero cost, while health insurance requires an annual payment to keep the policy valid.
The ABHA card under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is different from the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY government insurance scheme.
Frequently asked questions
No. An ABHA card is just a health ID which stores your medical records digitally. It doesn’t provide you with any health insurance coverage or financial support for treatment.
No. You can buy and use health insurance without an ABHA card. However, if you're admitted to a hospital, sharing your ABHA-linked health records can make the admission process smoother by giving the hospital and insurer quicker access to your medical history.
Yes, the process of creating an ABHA number or an ABHA card is free, and there is no charge for renewal, too.
No. The ABHA card is a digital health card that stores your medical records. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is a health insurance scheme offered by the Government, under which eligible families can avail of health cover up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year.
Yes. Linking or sharing your ABHA-enabled medical records will make it easy to verify your health records and process your admission and cashless claims smoothly.
About the authors
Neviya Laishram
Written by · Senior Editor – Health, Life and Group Health Insurance Content at ACKOWith a journalism background, she brings 9 years of experience in strategising and editing health, life, and group health insurance content. Having written for magazines and digital publications, she combines research and editorial expertise to create credible, useful content for readers.
Dr Nitin Kumar Gupta
Reviewed by · SVP – Health Underwriting & Claims at ACKO General InsuranceWith 20+ years of experience in digital transformation and growth, he is a leader specialising in health, life, accident, and disability insurance. Backed by an MBBS degree and insurance designations (FLMI, FALU, FLHC, ACS, ARA), he combines expertise with leadership.
