FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the ESIC Biometric/Pehchan Card?
The Pehchan Card is a multi-purpose plastic magnetic identification card issued to Insured Persons, replacing the existing conventional paper cards. Two identical cards will be issued: one for the insured person and the other for dependents/family members.
2. What are its uses?
The Pehchan Card can be used broadly to:
- Avail medical treatment at any ESI Hospital/Dispensary across the country.
- Claim and draw cash benefits at any ESI Branch Office across the country.
- Interface with any ESI institution.
3. When will the Pehchan Card be issued?
The Pehchan Card will be issued after necessary registration and capturing of biometric details of the insured persons and their eligible family members.
4. How many cards are issued?
Once registered, a person need not register again in case of a change in employment. The same registration can be transferred from one place to another. The employee can draw cash benefits from any ESI Branch Office throughout the country. Two sets of cards will be delivered/issued: one for the employee and the other for their respective dependents.
5. What are the key benefits of the ESIC biometric card?
- All Insured Persons (IP) will be issued two magnetic cards: one for the IP and the other for family members.
- A central database will be created with demographic and biometric details of IP and their families.
- IP and their family members can avail treatment in any ESI Hospital or dispensary across India.
- One-time registration allows employees to carry forward the same set of cards every time they change employment.
6. What is the registration of an Insured Person (IP)?
Registration is the process of obtaining and recording information about the entry of an employee into insurable employment for identification under the Act.
7. How are employees registered under the scheme?
At the time of joining insurable employment, an employee must fill in the declaration form (Form I) and submit a family photo in duplicate to the employer. The employee is then allotted an insurance number for identification under the scheme and issued a temporary identity card for availing medical benefits for self and family for three months. Thereafter, a permanent photo identity card is provided.
8. What are 'Contribution Periods' and 'Benefit Periods'?
Workers covered under the ESI Act must pay a contribution towards the scheme monthly. A contribution period means a six-month span from 1st April to 30th September and 1st October to 31st March. Thus, there are two contribution periods of six months each in a financial year. Cash benefits under the scheme are generally linked with contributions paid. The benefit period starts three months after the closure of a contribution period.
9. What are the benefits available under the ESI Scheme?
The various benefits available under the Scheme are:
- Medical Benefits
- Sickness Benefits
- Maternity Benefits
- Dependent Benefits
- Permanent Disablement Benefits
- Temporary Disablement Benefits
- Unemployment Allowances
- Funeral Benefits
10. What are the benefits available to family members?
- Family members are entitled to full medical care as needed.
- They are also entitled to artificial limbs, appliances, etc., as part of medical treatment.
- Medical benefits are admissible to the family during the period the insured person receives unemployment allowance. If he dies during this period, his family continues to receive medical benefits until the end of those twelve months.
- Reimbursement of expenditure incurred on the funeral of the deceased employee.
- In case of the death of the insured employee due to employment injury, the spouse, widowed mother, and children are entitled to dependent's benefits.
- Any benefit due to the insured employee at the time of death is paid to the nominee.
11. What are the benefits available after retirement?
An insured person who leaves insurable employment upon reaching superannuation age, retires under a Voluntary Retirement Scheme, or takes premature retirement after being insured for not less than five years, is eligible to receive medical benefits for himself and his spouse upon proof and payment of a nominal contribution of Rs. 120/- for one year. If the insured person expires, his spouse is entitled to medical benefits for the remaining period for which the contribution was made and can continue to receive medical benefits by paying the contribution of Rs. 120/- per annum for a further period.
From India, Delhi
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1. What is the ESIC Biometric/Pehchan Card?
The Pehchan Card is a multi-purpose plastic magnetic identification card issued to Insured Persons, replacing the existing conventional paper cards. Two identical cards will be issued: one for the insured person and the other for dependents/family members.
2. What are its uses?
The Pehchan Card can be used broadly to:
- Avail medical treatment at any ESI Hospital/Dispensary across the country.
- Claim and draw cash benefits at any ESI Branch Office across the country.
- Interface with any ESI institution.
3. When will the Pehchan Card be issued?
The Pehchan Card will be issued after necessary registration and capturing of biometric details of the insured persons and their eligible family members.
4. How many cards are issued?
Once registered, a person need not register again in case of a change in employment. The same registration can be transferred from one place to another. The employee can draw cash benefits from any ESI Branch Office throughout the country. Two sets of cards will be delivered/issued: one for the employee and the other for their respective dependents.
5. What are the key benefits of the ESIC biometric card?
- All Insured Persons (IP) will be issued two magnetic cards: one for the IP and the other for family members.
- A central database will be created with demographic and biometric details of IP and their families.
- IP and their family members can avail treatment in any ESI Hospital or dispensary across India.
- One-time registration allows employees to carry forward the same set of cards every time they change employment.
6. What is the registration of an Insured Person (IP)?
Registration is the process of obtaining and recording information about the entry of an employee into insurable employment for identification under the Act.
7. How are employees registered under the scheme?
At the time of joining insurable employment, an employee must fill in the declaration form (Form I) and submit a family photo in duplicate to the employer. The employee is then allotted an insurance number for identification under the scheme and issued a temporary identity card for availing medical benefits for self and family for three months. Thereafter, a permanent photo identity card is provided.
8. What are 'Contribution Periods' and 'Benefit Periods'?
Workers covered under the ESI Act must pay a contribution towards the scheme monthly. A contribution period means a six-month span from 1st April to 30th September and 1st October to 31st March. Thus, there are two contribution periods of six months each in a financial year. Cash benefits under the scheme are generally linked with contributions paid. The benefit period starts three months after the closure of a contribution period.
9. What are the benefits available under the ESI Scheme?
The various benefits available under the Scheme are:
- Medical Benefits
- Sickness Benefits
- Maternity Benefits
- Dependent Benefits
- Permanent Disablement Benefits
- Temporary Disablement Benefits
- Unemployment Allowances
- Funeral Benefits
10. What are the benefits available to family members?
- Family members are entitled to full medical care as needed.
- They are also entitled to artificial limbs, appliances, etc., as part of medical treatment.
- Medical benefits are admissible to the family during the period the insured person receives unemployment allowance. If he dies during this period, his family continues to receive medical benefits until the end of those twelve months.
- Reimbursement of expenditure incurred on the funeral of the deceased employee.
- In case of the death of the insured employee due to employment injury, the spouse, widowed mother, and children are entitled to dependent's benefits.
- Any benefit due to the insured employee at the time of death is paid to the nominee.
11. What are the benefits available after retirement?
An insured person who leaves insurable employment upon reaching superannuation age, retires under a Voluntary Retirement Scheme, or takes premature retirement after being insured for not less than five years, is eligible to receive medical benefits for himself and his spouse upon proof and payment of a nominal contribution of Rs. 120/- for one year. If the insured person expires, his spouse is entitled to medical benefits for the remaining period for which the contribution was made and can continue to receive medical benefits by paying the contribution of Rs. 120/- per annum for a further period.
From India, Delhi
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ESIC Photograph Process Inquiry
I was told that the ESIC office itself takes photographs of employees, and employees have to go to the ESIC office along with their family members. Please let me know if this is true. Also, if the photo is taken by ESIC themselves, should the employee get the form back to have it attested by the employer?
Regards,
Trupti
From India, Bangalore
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15I was told that the ESIC office itself takes photographs of employees, and employees have to go to the ESIC office along with their family members. Please let me know if this is true. Also, if the photo is taken by ESIC themselves, should the employee get the form back to have it attested by the employer?
Regards,
Trupti
From India, Bangalore
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The employee visits the ESIC office carrying a duly attested TIC. The TIC should bear his complete family details and a family photograph. Then the ESIC officials will click the photograph, which is not supposed to be signed by the employer.
Thank you.
From India, Delhi
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Thank you.
From India, Delhi
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Dear Abhamethaila, Thank you so much for answering my query. And thank you for sharing above details regarding ESIC. It is of great help for me. Have a great day ahead! With warm regards, Trupti
From India, Bangalore
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From India, Bangalore
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