How to Set Up Medical ID and Emergency Contacts on iOS
Setting up your medical info is easy on iOS. All the information here is optional. You don’t have to add anything to your medical ID that you aren’t comfortable with. Just remember to add any key information you want medical personnel to be aware of in case of an emergency.
How to Set Up Medical ID and Emergency Contacts on Android
Android doesn’t have the same Medical ID feature that iOS has, but it does have built-in ways to store your health information and emergency contact data. This will vary based on your phone’s manufacturer, so we are focusing on the stock Android features.
Adding COVID-19 Vaccine Information to Your Medical ID
If you have verifiable COVID-19 vaccine records, you can add them to your phone. This can help you get into events where vaccinations are required, for example. If you have a QR code on your vaccination card or you were given a downloadable file, you’re ready to go. If your vaccination record doesn’t have either of these or the place requiring you to show it isn’t set up to read digital records, you’ll still need to carry it with you.
Add COVID-19 Vaccine Information on iPhone
With iOS 15.1 and up, it’s easy to add verifiable COVID-19 vaccination information to your phone in two ways. You can add the information to both the Health and Wallet apps. For a QR code: If you received a downloadable file instead of a card with a QR code, it’s even easier to add your COVID-19 vaccine information.
Add COVID-19 Vaccine Information on Android
To add COVID-19 vaccine info to Android, you’ll need to be running Android version 5 or higher, and your device will need to be Play Protect certified. The process is similar to the second method we looked at on the iPhone.
Making Everything Available on Your Lock Screen
One of the biggest reasons to add your medical information to your smartphone is so that anyone around will know key medical information should something happen to you. If your phone is locked, nobody around you can see anything except what you make available here, so it’s important to configure your phone to show your Medical ID and contacts on the lock screen.
Lock Screen Setup for iPhone
This process is simple on iOS, and you can even do it when first setting up your medical ID.
Lock Screen Setup for Android
Setting up your lock screen on Android is simple, but it can vary depending on the manufacturer of your phone. Again, we are focusing on the stock Android experience, but the instructions may vary slightly for you. For Google phones, you’ll find the settings in “Display -> Advanced -> Lock screen display -> Lock screen message.” On other devices, your lock screen may have its own section in Settings or be in a section like “Lockscreen, Launcher and Theme.” Some phones will automatically integrate your COVID-19 vaccination information, but again, this will vary by manufacturer. On some phones, you may only be able to enter a message to display on the lock screen to help you find a lost phone or communicate key medical info.
How to Sign Up as an Organ Donor
In addition to other health information, you can also volunteer as an organ donor if you wish. These instructions are only for organ donors in the United States. Outside the U.S., you’ll need to look into your own local regulations around this.
Organ Donor Info on iPhone
On iOS, this is right in your Medical ID, along with your other information.
Organ Donor Info on Android
Unlike iOS, there is no built-in function for communicating your organ donation preferences. That doesn’t mean you; can’t let the right people know your organ donation status using your phone. There are numerous apps available for Android. Two of the most popular are Body Organ Donation and Organ Donation App. Both of these apps are basically portals to organizations where you can sign up as a donor, similar to Apple’s “Donate Life” option for iPhone that is mentioned above.
1. Does using Medical ID mean that Apple can access my health data?
When setting up Medical ID on your iPhone, a prompt will ask if you want to share data with Apple. This information is anonymized, so the company cannot access your personal data directly. If you opt out of this, none of your information is shared.
2. Do I still need to carry my vaccination card with me?
If you don’t have vaccine information that was shared with you either by QR code or by downloadable file, you’ll definitely need to carry your card. Otherwise, your phone is probably fine for getting into concerts or using public transportation. For medical appointments or other more serious situations like a job interview or travel, you’ll probably want to have your card handy. Also note that not all organizations are set up to read QR codes, and in that case, you’ll need to carry your hard copy.
