Ayushman, ABHA, And Vaya Vandana Cards: How Do They Differ?

Health is wealth, but not everyone realises this before experiencing health issues. While people are generally aware of health insurance, buying a health insurance policy with adequate coverage remains an unfulfilled goal for many. The challenge becomes more critical in old age, especially when there is no pension security and insurance premiums increase with age. For those in the economically weaker section of society, the government offers Ayushman Bharat Yojana to provide healthcare services and an annual health insurance cover up to Rs 5 lakh per family. On October 29, 2024, this service was extended to all senior citizens, irrespective of socioeconomic status, to ensure access to essential medical care in their later years.

The question is how to avail of these services? The answer is a card. However, there remains confusion about which card to apply for: Ayushman Bharat card, Ayuhshman Vaya Vandana card, or Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) card?

Let us see.

Ayushman Bharat Card:

One needs this card to avail of the healthcare services offered under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). However, this is only for those identified and listed in the SECC 2011 data. So, only those people from economically weaker sections listed in the 2011 data are eligible for the scheme and, thus, for the card. Using the card, they become eligible to avail of more than 1900 medical procedures and rehabilitative and palliative care.

Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card:

After this scheme was extended to all Indian resident Indians, aged 70 and above, in October 2024, the elderly became eligible to avail of healthcare benefits under the PM-JAY scheme. It includes both the Rs 5 lakh insurance for seniors in the family and tertiary care at the arogya mandirs, the health care centres.

A distinct card is issued to such seniors (70 and above) which is called the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.  Seniors can avail of all the scheme’s services using this card. Note that the insurance of Rs 5 lakh is for all seniors in a family. For instance, if there are two seniors 70 and above, the insurance amount will be divided between them leaving them eligible for Rs 2.5 lakh insurance each.

ABHA Card:

Taking care of health is important so is maintaining the health records. In old age, maintaining the record, expecially, the medical history, prescriptions, various reports, doctors’ contacts, etc., may be cumbersome and to save from these hassles comes the ABHA card.

ABHA health card facility was launched on September 27, 2021, under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Under this facility, an eligible resident Indian can apply for an ABHA health card using an Aadhaar number or driving licence. The card bears a unique 14-digit identification number that is linked to the applicant’s Aadhaar. It stores cardholder’s medical history and health records so that these are readily available when needed.   

The idea is to strengthen the digital healthcare ecosystem and provide cardholders a single point access to health records without any requirement of carrying the paper files of medical history or email print outs.