A Guide to Ayushman Bharat Health Account

The Indian government introduced Ayushman Bharat in 2018, a comprehensive healthcare plan aimed at providing financial security to disadvantaged and low-income households. The Indian government offers health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakhs to more than 10 crore Indian households through this plan. Together with this insurance policy, the government introduced the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) to assist the scheme's beneficiaries. In this article, we'll go over the Ayushman Bharat Health Account, its advantages, and how it works.

What is the Ayushman Bharat Health Account?

The Ayushman Bharat Health Account is a savings account related to the Ayushman Bharat scheme's health insurance coverage. The account is intended to assist recipients in meeting expenditures that are not covered by the insurance policy.

ABHA is a cashless and paperless account that is accessible via the beneficiary's mobile phone after generating a valid ABHA ID. The beneficiary's Aadhaar number is connected to the account, and all transactions are processed through the National Health Authority (NHA) portal.

How does the Ayushman Bharat Health Account work?

The Ayushman Bharat Health Account is credited with an initial amount at the time of opening. The amount is credited to the account within ten days of the beneficiary receiving her Ayushman Bharat e-card. The beneficiary can use this amount to pay for healthcare services that are not covered under the insurance policy. 

The amount can be used for outpatient services, diagnostics, and medicines. The ABHA also provides a top-up amount per year. Top-up amount is credited to the account on the beneficiary's birth date. This top-up amount can be used for preventive health checkups, the purchase of spectacles, and other health-related expenses.

What are the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Health Account?

The Ayushman Bharat Health Account provides several benefits to the beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Some of the key benefits are:

Financial protection: The ABHA provides an additional layer of financial protection to the beneficiaries. The account can be used to meet healthcare expenses that are not covered under the insurance policy.

Incentives for healthy behavior: ABHA incentivizes healthy behavior and encourages beneficiaries to take care of their health.

Cashless transactions: It is a cashless account, and all transactions are done through the NHA platform. This ensures transparency and reduces the risk of fraud.

Ease of use: Moreover, It can be operated through the beneficiary's mobile phone. This makes it easy for beneficiaries to access their account and use the funds for healthcare expenses.

Who is eligible for the Ayushman Bharat Health Account?

The Ayushman Bharat Health Account is available to all beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The scheme covers more than 10 crore households in India, and the beneficiaries are identified based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data. To be eligible for the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the household should fulfill the following criteria:

  • The household should not have any member who pays income tax.
  • The household should not own more than two hectares of agricultural land.
  • The household should not have any member who is a government employee.
  • The household should not have a member who owns a four-wheeler.
  • The household should not have a member who owns a motorized two-wheeler.
  • The household should not have a member who is a professional tax payer.
  • The household should not have a member who is a serving or retired member of the armed forces.
  • The household should not have a member who has a Kisan Credit Card with a credit limit of more than Rs. 50,000.

If the household fulfills the above criteria, they can apply for the Ayushman Bharat scheme and avail of the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Health Account.

How to apply for the Ayushman Bharat scheme and the Ayushman Bharat Health Account?

The Ayushman Bharat scheme may be applied for online via the scheme's official website. The website includes step-by-step directions for applying for the plan. The website also includes a list of empaneled hospitals that recipients can use.

The beneficiary must first download the ABHA app on their mobile phone in order to apply for the Ayushman Bharat Health Account. The app is available for both Android and iOS. The recipient must use their Aadhaar number and mobile phone number to register on the app. After registering, the recipient will be able to access their Ayushman Bharat Health Account and spend the cash for medical needs.

Conclusion

The Ayushman Bharat Health Account is a big achievement initiated by the Indian government to give financial security to vulnerable and low-income households. The account offers beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat initiative an extra layer of financial security and encourages healthy behavior. The account is simple to use and may be accessed via the beneficiary's mobile phone. Ayushman Bharat plan and Ayushman Bharat Health Account have the ability to overhaul India's healthcare industry and deliver quality healthcare to millions of people.

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