What is Health Insurance Card: Types, Importance and Benefits

Health Insurance Card

A health insurance card is more than a mere piece of plastic or a digital ID. It is an indispensable piece that fits into your healthcare journey. Whether you use it for emergency hospitalisation or planned treatments, it helps you access medical and healthcare services without a hitch.

Of course, as an informed policyholder, you are responsible for knowing its purpose, use, and maintenance. Such knowledge will save time, reduce stress, and get you the medical care you need.

Fortunately, this guide covers everything you need to know about a Mediclaim card. So, keep reading as we demystify the health insurance card.

What is a Health Card?

An insurance card/mediclaim card/policy card/policy Id is a document that your insurance company provides to help you access the benefits associated with your health insurance policy.

Think of it as the keycard to medical and healthcare. Whether it is a cashless hospitalisation or reimbursement process, this card is a gateway to your insurance policy entitlements at network and non-network hospitals. It contains crucial policy-related details that help the healthcare provider verify your eligibility for the services to be provided.

Anatomy of a Health Insurance Card

As mentioned, an insurance card contains key pieces of information about you, your insurance plan, etc., making it easier for you to access healthcare facilities. Here’s a breakdown of the different sections of a health insurance card:

• Personal information: Your name, gender, date of birth, and details of family members covered by the health insurance policy.

• Policy number of ID: Policy number or unique plan ID linked to your health insurance. Hospitals and healthcare providers can run this number to verify coverage and check eligibility.

• Insurance provider information: Name and logo of the insurance company, along with the emergency or toll-free number and other contact information for claims-related inquiries or customer support.

• Coverage information: Some medical health cards may contain brief details of the policy coverage and limits, such as the sum insured, specific treatments covered, hospitalisation types, etc.

• Validity period: Expiry date of the health insurance card. This typically coincides with the policy renewal date.

Different Types of Health Insurance Cards

1. Employer-provided Health Card

This is issued to employees covered under health insurance offered by their organisation. The employer chooses the insurance provider and the insurance plan.

In some cases, this health insurance policy may also offer coverage to your dependents, such as your spouse, children, and parents. The employer-provided health card is typically used for planned and emergency treatments at the network or non-network hospitals that partner with the insurance provider.

Suggested read: What is Employer Employee Insurance?

2. Government-Issued Health Card

Government-backed health insurance cards are provided under government schemes like Ayushman Bharat, ESIC, or State-sponsored programs. Such insurance plans are geared towards making healthcare accessible to the citizens, especially for those belonging to the economically weaker sections. These cards offer access to healthcare benefits in government hospitals and empanelled private hospitals.

3. Private Health Insurance Cards

You’ll get a private health card when you purchase an individual or family health insurance policy. This card is linked to the policy purchased and can be used for cashless treatment and claim reimbursement within the network and non-network hospitals.

4. Digital Health Insurance Cards

With the digitisation of insurance, insurance providers are now also offering digital health cards. These are essentially digital counterparts of physical insurance cards that offer the same benefits. You can access them through the insurance provider’s mobile app or download a copy of it for convenience.

Also read: Different Types of Health Insurance

Importance and Benefits of a Health Insurance Card

Let’s explore the importance and benefits of a medical health card:

1. Easy Access to Healthcare

The health insurance card simplifies access to services attached to the policy. Whether you need urgent care or are undergoing planned procedures, the card ensures swift and hassle-free servicing.

2. Cashless Hospitalisation

The health card allows you to avail cashless treatment at network hospitals. This means that you don’t have to go through the hassle of paying the medical bills and then raising claims – the network hospital directly settles the medical expenses with the insurance provider.

3. Proof of Coverage

The unique policy ID or health card number available on the card is the proof of your insurance coverage. Hospitals or clinics can quickly verify your policy details and claim eligibility using this number and reduce delays or obstacles.

4. Access to Network Hospitals

You can identify the network hospitals that have partnered with the insurance provider and offer cashless treatment. Then, it is only a matter of using your health insurance card while availing healthcare services or treatments from this hospital without incurring any out-of-pocket expenses.

5. Readily Available Policy Information

The card contains essential details related to your health insurance, such as the policy number, insurer’s contact details, validity or policy renewal date, coverage limits, etc. This makes it easier for you and the healthcare provider to get critical details, especially in an emergency.

6. Emergency Contact Details

Most health insurance cards include toll-free numbers, emergency support numbers, and other contact details. You can use them to contact your insurer for assistance, queries, and support at any time.

7. Hassle-free Claims

Whether you’re opting for cashless or reimbursement claims, many companies now offer features like zero paperwork claims, real-time claim tracking, and dedicated claim assistance, such as Onsurity. These thoughtful services are designed to make things easier for you or your loved ones during such a stressful time.

How to Obtain a Health Insurance Card?

Getting your health insurance card is a fairly straightforward process. However, it also depends on the type of health insurance that you’ve purchased. Here’s a quick guide on how to obtain your health card – both physically and digitally:

Getting Your Health Insurance Card After Policy Purchase

Once you’ve purchased the health insurance policy, contact your insurance provider to obtain your health insurance card. The process would look something like this:

1. After enrolling in or purchasing a health insurance plan, the insurer will process your application and approve the policy.

2. The health insurance company will then generate your health insurance card. In the case of a physical health card, this will be mailed to your residential address (private card) or distributed at work (employer-provided card). In the case of digital health cards, you’ll have to download them from the insurer’s mobile app or website (refer to below).

3. Verify that the details on your health card are correct in relation to the policy.

Downloading Your Digital Health Insurance Card

There is a rising demand for a digital insurance card, given their convenience and accessibility. If your insurance provider offers the same, here’s how you can download it:

1. Log in to your insurance provider’s mobile app or online portal using your policy credentials.
2. Locate the “Health Insurance Card” section that contains your health insurance documents.
3. Click on the download button next to the health card. Save it to your device. You may also print a copy.
4. Some insurers may allow you to import the card in your Digilocker app for quick and convenient access during hospital visits.

#Note: The steps may vary from insurer to insurer for more details check the insurer’s app or website or connect with the customer support team.

Quick read: Health Insurance with OPD Cover

Onsurity Health Insurance Card

Onsurity issues an employer-provided health insurance card to all policyholders. To access your health card, visit the Onsurity portal or mobile app and navigate to the “Policy Details” icon under the insurance section on the home screen. You’ll find the health card at the top containing the following information:

• Policyholder name
• Gender
• Validity
• Employee member ID
• Health card number

Swipe left to view the other side of the card. It contains information such as directions for use and terms and conditions.

You’ll also find the option to download your insurance health card as a PDF, which you can share as email, through WhatsApp, and other channels.

How Does a Health Insurance Card Work?

Here’s a simplified breakdown of how an insurance card works:

• When visiting a hospital or a healthcare provider, show your health insurance card at the time of admission.

• The hospital will contact your insurance provider and confirm details of the health insurance policy, such as the type of coverage, validity of the plan, etc.

• If you’re admitted to or being treated in a network hospital (a hospital that has tied up with the insurance provider), you’ll be eligible for cashless treatment. This means that the hospital will raise the claim directly with the insurer and you don’t have to make any upfront payment for the treatments covered by the policy.

• If you’re admitted to or being treated in a non-network hospital, you’ll have to pay the medical bills from your pocket. Depending on the terms of the policy, you can later submit these bills to the insurance provider for reimbursement.

• In emergency cases, the health insurance card grants you quick and hassle-free access to medical care without the paperwork or administration delay that goes into verifying insurance coverage.

Recommended read: 10 Unique Benefits of Healthcare Membership from Onsurity

Tips for Maximising Your Health Insurance Benefits with the Card

Let’s check out some tips for getting the most out of your health insurance coverage with the health card:

• Always carry your health insurance card with you – whether it’s a digital copy or a physical version. This is even more important during medical emergencies or unplanned hospital visits.

• Familiarise yourself with network hospitals that offer cashless services for your insurance policy. Knowing about these hospitals and their processes will make it easier for you to avail of healthcare services, raise claims efficiently, and avoid unnecessary payments.

• Read up on the terms and conditions of your health insurance policy, including information about your coverage, such as the permissible treatments and services that are covered or excluded. Knowing such details will save you from nasty surprises while availing medical care.

• Ensure that your health insurance card is valid and up to date, especially after you renew your policy.

• Several health insurance companies offer free preventive health check-ups with their policies. Review the terms and conditions and coverage for these services, then use your card to access preventive healthcare.

• Save the contact details of the insurer on your phone for easy access during medical emergencies.

Also read: Top 5 Group Health Insurance Companies in India

Common Issues with Health Insurance Card

Although the health insurance card makes medical care more accessible, you may experience the following challenges or setbacks while using it:

• Lost or stolen cards could delay access to healthcare, especially during emergency conditions. Contact your insurer immediately to report a lost or stolen card and request a replacement.

• Your health insurance card may contain incorrect information, such as a misspelt name or incorrect policy details. Verify all details and highlight any discrepancies with your insurer for prompt action.

• Obtain or download the latest health card, especially after you’ve renewed a policy. Get rid of expired health cards to avoid confusion.

• Some healthcare providers may not accept your card because they no longer service the insurer’s network or because of technical issues. Confirm with the network hospital beforehand to avoid such instances.

Conclusion

Whether you’re seeking treatment for a minor condition or are getting admitted in an emergency, a health insurance card ensures a smooth and hassle-free experience. It ensures that you effortlessly get the coverage you’re entitled to.

Hopefully, you now have more insight into how to use and maintain your Mediclaim card and get the most out of it. Remember always to keep it at hand and update it periodically for smooth, frictionless access to medical care.

Want to maximise the benefits of your health card? Consider trustworthy brands like Onsurity to guide you in this matter. Onsurity aims to help MSMEs prioritise employee health with their simplified healthcare products.

Schedule a demo with Onsurity to learn more about how you can get the most out of your health insurance.

FAQs: