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An ABHA Card is a digital health ID with a unique 14-digit number that helps simplify and organise healthcare access in India. ABHA stands for Ayushman Bharat Health Account and is part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). With an ABHA ID, you can store and manage your medical history online. With your permission, doctors, hospitals, labs, and clinics can view your past reports, prescriptions, and test results. This means you don’t have to carry old files or repeat tests every time you visit a new hospital.
It’s important to know that ABHA is not the same as the PMJAY Ayushman Card. ABHA is only a digital health ID; on the other hand, the PMJAY Ayushman Card is an insurance scheme that provides free treatment cover to eligible families.
The ABHA Card was launched on September 27, 2021, and is completely free. Any Indian citizen can create an ABHA ID.
ABHA ID creation is quick, simple, and completely free. You can create it using the ACKO app, the ACKO website (widget), or the official ABHA website. The entire process takes just a few minutes.
Open the ACKO app and go to your Profile.
Tap on “Your ABHA Cards.”
Enter the Aadhaar number and verify it using the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
Choose yourself or select a family member. You can also add new members by tapping “Add.”
Verify the Aadhaar details and tap “Get ABHA Card.”
That’s it. Your ABHA card will be created in a few seconds, and you can then complete the ABHA card download right away. You can repeat the same steps to create ABHA IDs for other family members.
Use the ABHA widget to start the process.
Enter your Aadhaar number and mobile number, then click on “Create ABHA.”
To complete the ABHA card registration, you will be guided to finish the remaining steps through the ACKO app.
If you want to complete ABHA ID creation directly through the government portal, you can do it in just a few minutes.
Go to the official ABHA card registration portal and tap “Create ABHA Number / Register.”
Enter your mobile number (the one you use regularly), fill in the captcha, and tap Next.
You’ll get an OTP on your phone, enter it to verify your number.
Now choose how you want to create your ABHA, either using your Aadhaar card or your personal driver's license. Most people pick Aadhaar (fastest). So, if you choose Aadhaar, then enter your Aadhaar details and verify with OTP (sent to the mobile number linked to Aadhaar).
Set your ABHA address (a simple username-style ID), confirm the details, and submit.
Your ABHA number (14-digit ID) gets created, and you can download the ABHA card right there.
The ABHA Card provides multiple benefits that help you manage your health records and healthcare services easily. Let’s look at some of them:
Your medical reports, prescriptions, and test results are stored digitally, so you don’t have to carry physical files. You can also link details such as health insurance and vaccination records.
You can view and use your health records whenever you need them, no matter where you are, using just your ABHA number.
No one can see your health details unless you allow it. You’re always in control.
You can share your records with any doctor or hospital in seconds. This saves time and paperwork.
Using ABHA is optional. You can opt in or opt out whenever you want.
There’s no cost to create or use an ABHA Card. It’s free for all Indians.
If you qualify for Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY), your ABHA ID makes it easier to use the scheme.
Get health cover of up to 5 lakh per year for hospital treatment. This includes medical examination, consultation, pre-hospitalisation, non-intensive and intensive care services.
Expenses are covered 3 days before and 15 days after hospitalisation.
Treatment is available for more than 50 types of cancer and many other serious illnesses.
Get cashless treatment at government and private hospitals that are officially approved by the government across India.
Below is the ABHA eligibility criteria you need to know:
The ABHA Card is available to all Indian citizens regardless of their caste.
There is no income limit, so anyone can create an ABHA ID.
There is no age limit, which means children, adults, and senior citizens are all eligible.
You also don’t need to submit any physical documents. The entire process is online and paperless.
PMJAY eligibility is decided by the Government of India using data from the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC). It is fully funded by the Government, and the cost of implementation is shared between the Central and State Governments.
The categories of eligible rural households are:
Only one room with kucha walls and kucha roof
Households with no adult member between the ages of 16 and 59.
Households with no adult male member between the ages of 16 and 59.
Households with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult member.
Households belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) or the Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Landless households where a major part of their income comes from manual casual labour.
In urban areas, families are eligible for PMJAY if the main earning member works in any one of these occupations:
Rag pickers
Beggars
Domestic workers
Street vendors, hawkers, cobblers, or other street service providers
Construction workers, plumbers, masons, labourers, painters, welders
Home-based workers, artisans, or handicraft workers
Washermen, chowkidars, sanitation workers
Drivers, conductors, helpers (auto, taxi, bus, truck, etc.)
Electricians, mechanics, repair workers
Shop workers or assistants
Delivery agents, peons, helpers, and other informal service workers
After creating an ABHA card you can easily download it from the ACKO app. Here are the steps on how to download your ABHA card for free.
Open the ACKO app
Tap on “Discover” at the bottom of screen
Go to “Set up ABHA” and tap on the ABHA card you want to download
Tap on “Download”
An ABHA account is useful for anyone who wants to keep their healthcare simple and organised. It’s especially helpful for:
People who visit doctors, hospitals, or labs often
Anyone who wants all their medical records in one place
Those who change cities, doctors, or hospitals
Families managing health records for children or elders
People using health insurance or government health schemes
Anyone who wants less paperwork and faster hospital visits
Using an ABHA Card is easy and takes only a few minutes. Once it’s created, you can start using it right away.
The first step is to create your ABHA number. You can do this online through the official ABHA website or the ABHA mobile app. Then, choose the “Create ABHA Number” option and follow the process with your government-issued ID, such as your Aadhaar card. If you want to perform this offline, you can visit a registered hospital or health centre with your Aadhaar card. Provide them with the necessary information, and they will help you generate your ABHA number.
Once your ABHA number is created, you can set up your profile in the app or on the portal. Add basic details like your name and contact information. You can also add medical history or family details if you want. This part is completely optional.
Use your registered mobile number and OTP for ABHA card login. From here, you can manage your account, view your health records, and control who can see your information.
You can upload or link your prescriptions, test reports, vaccination certificates, and insurance details.
Share your ABHA number at empanelled government or private hospitals to make ABHA card registration quicker and easier access to healthcare services.
ABHA also helps you find verified doctors and healthcare providers nearby, so you can choose the right care with confidence.
You can also use ABHA for online consultations. With your permission, doctors can view your medical records, so you don’t have to share everything again.
You can link your vaccination records to your ABHA ID, making them easy to access and share whenever required.
If you ever wish to stop using ABHA, you can deactivate or delete your ABHA account through the portal. This is completely optional.
An ABHA Card is a digital health ID with a unique 14-digit number that helps simplify and organise healthcare access in India.
ABHA stands for Ayushman Bharat Health Account.
An ABHA number is a 14-digit unique health ID that helps store and link your health records digitally.
You can create an ABHA health card online on the official ABHA website, the ABHA mobile app or through the ACKO App.
After creating your ABHA card, you can easily complete the ABHA card download from the ACKO app, ABHA portal or mobile app anytime.
Yes, you can. ABHA can also be created using other valid IDs, like a driving licence.
An ABHA address is a username-style ID (like name@abha) that makes it easier to share your ABHA details.
There are no conditions to abha card apply. It’s open to all Indian residents.What are ABHA card benefits?
With an ABHA health card, you will have a digital record of your medical history and can eliminate the use of physical documents. It allows you to visit a hospital more quickly and easily and to share your medical history with your doctor.
No. ABHA is a digital health ID, while the Ayushman Card (PMJAY) is a health insurance scheme.
No. The ₹5 lakh cover comes under PMJAY, not ABHA.
You can check your ABHA status by logging into the ABHA portal using your registered mobile number.
No, the ABHA health card is not mandatory. But having one can make things much easier, like keeping your medical records in one place and sharing them with doctors without carrying files.
For ABHA card login, you need to go to the ABHA portal and enter the mobile number, which will then be confirmed or verified via the OTP received on your phone.
You can change details like your mobile number and address by accessing the ABHA portal.
Yes. Deactivation or deletion of the ABHA account can be done anytime through the ABHA portal.
To get an ABHA card, you primarily need your Aadhaar card (linked to a mobile number for OTP) or an alternate ID such as a PAN/Voter ID, along with your mobile number.
No, the ABHA card is not mandatory. But having one will help you store all your medical records in one place, and you will not need to physically bring them to the doctors.
Yes. The ABHA card is completely free for all Indian residents.
An ABHA address is a username-style ID (like name@abha) that makes it easier to share your ABHA details.
After logging in, you can upload or link your prescriptions, reports, and vaccination certificates directly to the ABHA portal or app.