Digitale Krankenkasse

What can the electronic health card do – and how secure is it?

Some people are concerned about their personal data – for example, in relation to the electronic health card (eGK). But Kevin Röthel knows that there is a secure system behind it all. We’ll explain how the card works and what benefits it offers you.

What are the benefits of the electronic health card?

The electronic health card (eGK) is the official proof of your health insurance – as a person with statutory health insurance, it gives you access to all the services provided by your health insurance fund at doctors’ surgeries or in hospital. It is used to verify your details and confirm your insurance cover at the doctor’s surgery. It also has many other advantages: “The eGK serves as a service platform for many digital applications, such as the paperless redemption of an e-prescription at a pharmacy,” says Kevin Röthel, team leader of the Telematics-eSolutions department at AOK Rheinland/Hamburg. “It is small, handy and yet secure. And it enables service providers and health apps to quickly retrieve insured persons’ data.” Since the eGK was introduced in 2014, it has replaced many paper-based processes and driven forward digitalisation in the healthcare sector.

What is the difference between this and the electronic patient record (ePA)?

ePA, eGK – there’s a risk of confusion. What exactly is the difference between these two digital applications? “The data on the eGK mainly relates to the customer’s so-called insured person’s master data, such as their name, date of birth and address,” explains Röthel. “In the electronic patient record, on the other hand, medical data relating to both the insured person and the healthcare providers is stored.” The eGK therefore functions as a key to other applications such as the ePA or the e-prescription.

Is the electronic health card compulsory?

You may be wondering whether you are obliged to use the eGK. The answer is: yes. Because “the law stipulates that the eGK is to be used as a form of identification”, says Röthel. You will receive the card automatically from your AOK without having to apply for it. Should it expire, your AOK will provide you with a new one straight away. “If you lose it, all it takes is a few clicks on the online portal or a phone call to one of our service centres.” Even though not everyone is aware of it: “Every customer of AOK Rheinland/Hamburg has a valid electronic health card.”

How secure is the card?

Many insured people are concerned about the security of their data stored on the health card. However, this is a very secure system: “Access to insured persons’ master data is via what is known as the telematics infrastructure (TI) – this is the secure data highway within the healthcare sector. It guarantees that data is exchanged between customers, health insurance funds and service providers in compliance with data protection regulations. Thanks to the certificates on the card’s chip, combined with your photograph, the card protects against misuse by third parties.” According to Kevin Röthel, there is therefore no cause for concern.

Will the eGK remain secure in future?

As the digitalisation of the healthcare system progresses, the health card is also constantly evolving. In future, insured persons will be able to choose between the eGK and an alternative: the GesundheitsID. “This is a kind of digital account within the healthcare system. The security of the IDP will be every bit as good as that of the eGK. In the interests of sustainability, the aim should be to replace the popular card – which is now made from recycled plastic – with the digital identity; however, the choice, of course, lies with our insured persons.”