Older adults receiving the Welfare Pension in 24 states of the country still have time to complete a procedure that will be key to accessing the new healthcare system. The procedure is the registration for the Universal Health Service Card, a document intended to facilitate access to different public healthcare services.
Registration will remain open until November 14, 2026, according to the Secretariat of Welfare. There are currently 2,136 Welfare Modules available for registration. Once this stage is completed, the first services under the new system are scheduled to begin operating in January 2027.
What Will the Universal Health Service Card Be Used For?
According to official information, one of the main objectives is for access to medical care to no longer depend solely on the institution with which each person is affiliated. Thus, as the Universal Health Service develops, beneficiaries will be able to access services from different public institutions.
The card will also allow users to:
- Identify their healthcare affiliation
- Consult the nearest health units
- Access their electronic medical record
- Facilitate access to medications and healthcare services
However, obtaining the card does not mean that all of these benefits will begin immediately. The first stage of the exchange of services is scheduled for January 2027.
These Are the 24 States Where Registration Is Available
The procedure is currently being carried out in the states where healthcare services have been federalized:
- Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Mexico City and Colima
- State of Mexico, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Morelos and Nayarit
- Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa and Sonora
- Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán and Zacatecas
The Day to Attend Depends on the First Surname
To organize the registration process, the Secretariat of Welfare established a schedule based on the initial letter of the person’s first surname.
During the first and third weeks of the month:
- Monday: A and B
- Tuesday: C
- Wednesday: D, E and F
- Thursday: G
- Friday: H, I, J, K and L
During the second and fourth weeks:
- Monday: M
- Tuesday: N, Ñ, O, P and Q
- Wednesday: R
- Thursday: S, T and U
- Friday: V, W, X, Y and Z
How to Register for the New Card
The process must be completed in person and begins by locating the Welfare Module corresponding to each person. The modules provide service Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Before going, applicants must check the registration schedule and prepare the required documents.
Once at the module, the procedure is as follows:
- Go to the Welfare Module assigned to you, taking into account the registration schedule.
- Submit the required documentation, including official photo identification and a certified CURP, as well as proof of address issued no more than six months earlier.
- Sign the consent form authorizing the registration of your personal and identity information.
- Staff will take your photograph and fingerprints to integrate the information into the card.
- You will then receive a notification by SMS or a call from 079 at the telephone number you provided, indicating when you can pick up the document.
- Finally, you must return to collect your printed card. When you receive it, you will also be given instructions on how to download its digital version.
For this reason, it is important to provide a current telephone number during registration, since it will be used to notify you when the card is ready.
Source: milenio
