How to keep medical records on your phone

The simplest way to keep medical records on your phone is to scan your papers into one Health folder and download what you can from your patient portal, so everything is searchable in one place. ScanMojo does this free on iPhone and Android, with no ads and no account, and your scans stay on your phone unless you share them or turn on sync.

  1. 1

    Make a Health folder

    In Files, tap New Folder and name it Health. The free app includes three folders of your own, and a broad one is easier to keep up than one for every doctor.

  2. 2

    Scan your insurance cards

    Choose ID under the viewfinder and scan the front, then the back. ID mode fits any standard-size card, and the card goes into the built-in IDs folder, which can be locked with your face or fingerprint.

  3. 3

    Scan the paper pages

    Tap Scan and hold the phone over the page. Put every page of a visit summary or bill into one document. ScanMojo names it from the text on the first page, so rename it if a date or doctor's name would help.

  4. 4

    Bring in what's already a PDF

    Open Tools › Import a file to add lab results or letters you downloaded from a patient portal. Imported files are made searchable like a new scan.

  5. 5

    File it and search later

    Choose Move to Folder and pick Health. When you need something, type any word printed on it, like a drug name or the clinic's name.

What's worth keeping

Insurance: the front and back of every medical, dental, vision and prescription card, plus your plan summary. If your plan changes at open enrollment, scan the new card when it arrives.

Medications: your current list, with doses and the prescribing doctor. A pharmacy printout scans well. When the list changes, scan the new one and delete the old one, so you never read out an outdated dose.

Visits: after-visit summaries, referrals, test results, vaccine records and anything a new doctor is likely to ask for.

Money: explanation-of-benefits letters, itemized bills and claim forms. Keep them until the claim is settled, or longer if you're tracking medical costs for taxes.

If you help a parent or child with their care, a separate folder for each person keeps their papers apart.

Getting records you don't have on paper

Most hospitals and clinics offer a patient portal where you can read and download visit notes and test results. Download the PDFs you want to keep and import them, so they sit next to your paper records and you can reach them without signing in each time.

If there's no portal, ask the provider's medical records department. In the US, you generally have a right to a copy of your records under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, though a provider may charge a reasonable fee and can take up to 30 days.

Showing your insurance card on your phone

Many offices will take a card shown on a phone, but not all, and some want to copy the physical card. Keep the plastic card in your wallet and treat the scan as a backup. If an office asks you to send a copy, open the card and share it as a PDF.

Your insurer's own app or website may also offer a digital card. A scan is still handy when you have no signal, because it's stored on your phone.

Keeping health papers private

ScanMojo reads your pages on your phone, there's no account, and your scans aren't stored on our servers. A document leaves your phone only if you share it or turn on sync to your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive. Your phone's own backups follow your backup settings.

The IDs and Passports folders can be locked, but regular folders like Health open with the app, so use a passcode on your phone. Locked items also aren't included in search. When you email a record, a password helps: Tools › Protect PDF is part of ScanMojo Pro. A patient portal is usually safer than email for sending records to a provider.

ScanMojo is for keeping your own copies. It isn't a medical records system, and it doesn't give medical advice.

Questions

How do I keep medical records on my iPhone or Android phone?

Scan paper records with a scanner app, import PDFs from your patient portal, and keep them in one folder. ScanMojo does this free on iPhone and Android, with no ads and no scan limit.

Can I show my insurance card on my phone?

Often, yes, but it's up to the office, and some want the physical card. Keep the card with you and use the scan on your phone as a backup.

How do I keep a medication list on my phone?

Scan your current list or pharmacy printout into a Health folder and replace it when your medications change. Printed names are the easiest to find with search.

Are my medical records uploaded when I scan them?

No. Scans are processed and stored on your phone and never sent to ScanMojo. They leave your phone only if you share them or turn on sync to your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive.

Related guides

More everyday paperwork guides