Key Benefits of ESIC Card

Employees' State Insurance is a government-backed health insurance and social security scheme for eligible employees in India. It provides medical care, sickness, maternity, disability, and dependent benefits for insured employees and their families.

In Summary

The Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) is a government social security programme that provides medical care and financial support to eligible employees. It helps protect insured employees and their families during illness, maternity, disability, and employment-related injuries.

Key takeaways

• ESIS is managed by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
• It provides medical, sickness, maternity, disability, and dependent benefits.
• Eligible employees earning up to the prescribed wage limit can receive coverage.
• Employers and employees both contribute to the scheme.
• The scheme supports employees and their families during eligible medical and employment-related situations.

The Employees' State Insurance Scheme offers valuable support for eligible employees during medical and financial emergencies. Understanding how it works can help you make informed decisions about your healthcare needs. If you are also looking to compare health insurance plans from leading insurers, Get Quote.

The ESI card means that those enrolled in the ESIC scheme are issued this card. It enables access to medical and sickness benefits at ESI network hospitals or dispensaries. These ESI benefits, part of the scheme, offer insurance coverage for medical expenses of the insured and their dependents.The card is a smart identity magnetic card that is provided to enrolled workers and includes cards for both the insured and their dependents. However, physical copies of the ESI card are required for availing medical facilities at hospitals. 

What is the Employee's State Insurance Act of 1948?
 

The Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 is a law that provides social security and health insurance benefits to eligible employees in India. Under this Act, employers and employees contribute to a fund managed by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).

The Act aims to reduce the financial burden caused by sickness, maternity, disability, or death resulting from employment-related injuries. It provides medical care, cash benefits, rehabilitation support, and other benefits according to the scheme rules. The Employees' State Insurance Scheme applies to eligible employees working in factories, businesses, hotels, transport services, cinemas, newspapers, educational institutions, medical institutions, shops, and other notified establishments with 10 or more employees. Employees earning up to Rs. 21,000 per month are generally eligible under the scheme, subject to applicable rules. 

Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS): Overview
 

The Employees' State Insurance Scheme provides healthcare services and financial support to eligible employees and their dependants. The table below gives a quick overview.

The scheme was first introduced in Kanpur and Delhi before expanding across India. Today, it covers eligible employees across most states and Union Territories. Over time, ESIC has expanded its healthcare services to meet the needs of a growing workforce.

What is ESIC full form?

ESIC stands for Employees' State Insurance Corporation. It is a statutory organisation established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The corporation manages the Employees' State Insurance Scheme and provides healthcare and social security benefits to eligible employees and their dependants. These benefits include medical care, sickness benefits, maternity benefits, disability support, and financial assistance for employment-related injuries as provided under the Act.

Discussed below are the ESIC card benefits:

• Insured person can utilise their original ESI card from their initial employment for medical benefits even after changing jobs, provided they inform the new employer and share their insurance number.
• Registration on the ESIC portal using the insurance number enables insured persons to adjust contributions and benefits.
• The ESI card facilitates swift access to medical facilities at ESI network hospitals and dispensaries.
• It serves as a repository for the insured person's medical history, aiding future treatment at ESI-affiliated hospitals.
• Maternity, disablement, medical, and sickness benefits are accessible through the ESI card.
• Biometric authentication secures the ESI card against misuse, reducing duplicity and ensuring transparency.

The ESI card, also known as the Pehchan card, serves as an excellent health insurance option, facilitating swift and hassle-free access to the benefits of the ESI scheme at network hospitals.

The different types of medical benefits provided in ESIC for families are as follows:
 

• Full medical care: It includes hospitalisation facilities with specialist services, medications, dressings, and tailored diets for in-patients.
• Expanded medical care: It encompasses specialist consultations, prescribed medicines, outpatient care, special laboratory tests, and X-ray examinations, along with family welfare services.
• Immunisation: The program covers preventive inoculation for diseases like diphtheria, pertussis, polio, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, and tuberculosis for insured persons' children.
• Family welfare services: It includes provision for tubectomy operations, with cash incentives for insured persons opting for sterilization, along with immunisation programs.
• Supply of special aids: It offers insured persons and their families artificial limbs, hearing aids, spinal supports, walking aids, and cardiac pacemakers as part of medical care under the scheme.

Given below are the key features of the Pehchan card issued by Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC):

• Each insured person will receive two magnetic cards, one for themselves and another for family members.
• A central database will store demographic and biometric information of insured persons and their families.
• Treatment can be accessed at any ESI network hospital or dispensary nationwide.
• Biometric details (fingerprints) are used to authenticate insured person and their families during card swipe.
• Employers can submit their Contribution Return online.
• Information on employees' benefits can be accessed by employers online.
• One-time registration ensures continuity of cards for employees, even with job changes.

Given below are the ESIC card details which are mentioned on the Pehchan card issued by Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC):

• Name of the insured person
• Insurance number
• Date of birth
• Address
• Photograph
• Biometric details 

Conclusion

The Employees' State Insurance Scheme provides medical care and financial support to eligible employees and their families. It covers benefits such as medical treatment, sickness, maternity, disability, and dependant support, helping reduce the financial impact of health-related situations.

Understanding the eligibility criteria, contribution rates, and available benefits can help employees and employers make informed decisions. If you are looking to compare health insurance plans from leading insurers for additional coverage, Explore Plans.