Although the U.S. does not have a national healthcare program, health insurance companies and hospitals typically provide you with a health insurance card.  Traditionally, these are low cost, low technology cards with very little security features to protect your privacy - an individual photo is not even included.  Today the health insurance industry is beginning to add security features, such as including a mini computer or microprocessor chip right on the card, known as a smart card. A smart health card uses technology that securely stores your personal health information. A microprocessor chip is embedded into the card, making it a "smart" card. The security features inherent in smart card technology can reduce or eliminate fraud, including medical identity theft.