Objecting to ePA: How to lodge an objection with the AOK

Data sovereignty always remains with the insured

The ePA enables insured persons to store and manage their health data digitally. Doctors and other healthcare professionals can access this information quickly and comprehensively in the context of treatment. Insured persons retain full control over their electronic patient record at all times: they decide what information is uploaded and who is permitted to access it.

Objection via the ‘opt-out’ provision

The opt-out procedure means that consent to the use of the ePA is assumed unless the insured person actively objects. This facilitates access to the ePA and ensures that as many people as possible benefit from the advantages of a centralised, digital health record. The use of the ePA therefore remains voluntary, and insured persons can decide at any time not to use the ePA or to have an existing record deleted. Should they later wish to have an ePA after all, a new record can be created at any time. Under the Digital Act, the regulations apply uniformly to all health insurance funds.

How does an ePA appeal work?

Options for raising objections and access rights in detail

Insured persons may not only object to the creation of an ePA, but may also, for example, restrict or prevent access to their ePA by certain healthcare providers. Even after the ePA has been set up, patients determine which documents healthcare providers are permitted to upload to the ePA. This ongoing control over the use of the data remains an integral part of the electronic patient record. It is regulated in more detail in the Digital Act.

Will I face any disadvantages if I decide against the ePA?