How Long Does It Take for ESI Enrollment to Be Ready for Urgent Medical Needs?

Hi, I am associated with a financial services company as a Sr. HR. We have very recently started providing the ESI facility to the team members. In line with this, last month we collected all the documents pertaining to ESI enrollment. Due to some gaps, we could not issue the ESI cards.

One of our employees is suffering from appendicitis and wants to undergo surgery, asking for help in this process.

Question Regarding ESI Formalities

The question is: How much time will it take to proceed with all the formalities of ESI for an employee, and within how many days can an employee make use of the ESI hospital?

Please help me with your valuable information.

Thank you,

Vara

Hi! An employee is entitled to Medical Benefit from the very first day of his joining in insurable employment, i.e., from the date of joining in an establishment to which the ESI is applicable. His entitlement to Medical Benefit along with his family members is as follows:

1. From the date of joining: for a period of 3 months
2. Continues for 3 months or more in employment: Till the beginning of the corresponding contribution period.
3. Contributions paid for not less than 78 days in a contribution period: Till the end of the corresponding benefit period.

Contribution Periods and Corresponding Benefit Periods

1st April to 30th September: 1st Jan. to 30th June
1st October to 31st March: 1st July to 31st Dec.

If an employee requires medical treatment before he is registered and receives his identity card, the employer can provide him with a certificate of employment in a standard form ESIC-86 (available free of cost from the ESI Branch Office). By producing this form in the ESI Dispensary, the employee can avail the medical benefit for himself or for any of his family members until he gets his identity card.

It is mandatory for the employer to obtain and submit the declaration form for an employee to the concerned branch office within 10 days from the date of his appointment (Regulation 14 of ESI (General) Regulations, 1950).

Online Submission and Biometric Identity Cards

Now, ESI is introducing the submission of Declaration forms and payment of contributions online. Photo Pachan (identity cards) are issued to self and family under the biometric system, which can be utilized in any ESI Hospital/dispensary across the country. To know more about the Pachan cards, please log on to ESIC - Headquarters' Office.

Regards,
Ramana Murty