You can redeem a German e-prescription without using the e-prescription app (E-Rezept-App). This applies to people without a smartphone, to anyone who does not want to install the app, and to situations where the phone has no signal. The two routes without the app differ mainly in whether you bring your health insurance card or a printout.
Short answer: Yes, you do not need the app to redeem the prescription. According to the Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre), your electronic health insurance card in the pharmacy card reader is enough. Alternatively, you bring a paper printout with a prescription code, which the pharmacy scans. A single e-prescription can only be redeemed once. The consumer advice centre dates its information 6 September 2024.
The most important points at a glance
- Without the app there are two routes: the electronic health insurance card or a paper printout with a prescription code.
- You insert the health insurance card into the card reader at the pharmacy.
- The pharmacy scans the paper printout, and the prescription code is the essential part.
- A single e-prescription can only be redeemed once.
- For a multiple prescription, the consumer advice centre states a validity of one year.
Where does the paper printout come from?
The practice issues the prescription electronically. If you do not want to use the app, you ask the practice for a printout. According to the Verbraucherzentrale, the token, which is the key to the prescription, is transferred into the e-prescription app through the practice management system. Without the app, the paper route with the prescription code remains.
How do I redeem the e-prescription with my health insurance card?
This route is the simplest if you already carry your insurance card. The consumer advice centre describes it briefly: you insert the health insurance card into the card reader at the pharmacy. No app login is required.
- Take your electronic health insurance card to the pharmacy.
- Insert the card into the card reader that the pharmacy provides.
- Settle the co-payment and keep the receipt.
How do I redeem the e-prescription with a paper printout?
The printout shows a prescription code. The pharmacy scans this code and retrieves the e-prescription. The consumer advice centre names the code as the central element of the printout and does not describe further details on the sheet. Check therefore on receipt that your name, the prescription and the code are complete and easy to read.
| Route | What you need | What the pharmacy does |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance card | Electronic health insurance card | Reads the card at the card reader |
| Paper printout | Printout with prescription code | Scans the code |
| E-prescription app | Smartphone and app | Not needed for the two routes without the app |
What if I can no longer find the printout?
Without the printout, the paper route is not available. In that case, ask the practice for help before you go to the pharmacy. The consumer advice centre does not provide information on replacement printouts, so the practice is the best contact. A short call beforehand saves you a wasted trip.
How long is an e-prescription valid?
For a single e-prescription, the consumer advice centre does not name a fixed number of days. The practice sets a redemption deadline, which the article does not specify more precisely. For a multiple prescription, the consumer advice centre states a validity of one year. If you are unsure, ask the practice about the deadline before you plan the visit to the pharmacy.
| Type of prescription | Redemption | Validity according to the consumer advice centre |
|---|---|---|
| Single e-prescription | Once | Deadline set by the practice, no fixed number given |
| Multiple prescription | Several times within the prescription | 1 year |
What happens to my data after redemption?
According to the Verbraucherzentrale, the data are deleted 100 days after redemption. This figure describes the deletion and is not a validity period. Do not confuse it with the period in which you can redeem a prescription.
What to bring to the pharmacy
- Your electronic health insurance card if you use the card route.
- A complete paper printout with the prescription code if you use the paper route.
- Your identity card if the pharmacy asks for it during the dispensing process.
- A note with the question whether the pharmacy has the medicine in stock.
Typical pitfalls
The printout only helps if it is complete. If the prescription code is illegible or details are missing, the prescription cannot be retrieved reliably. Check that the printout is clean before you leave.
Without a health insurance card, the only route without the app is the printout. If you forget both, you have no way to redeem the prescription at the pharmacy. Keep the card in the same pocket as the printout before you leave the house.
If you redeem a prescription for another person, clarify with the pharmacy in advance which documents it requires. The rules can differ from pharmacy to pharmacy, because each pharmacy organises its processes itself.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register for the e-prescription without the app?
For the two routes without the app you do not need to log in to an app. The health insurance card or the paper printout is enough for redemption. An app can be convenient, but according to the Verbraucherzentrale it is not the only route.
Can I also order the e-prescription by post?
Yes, ordering from a mail-order pharmacy is a separate route with its own steps. The guide E-Rezept per Post bestellen (in German) explains this route.
What if I do not have a smartphone?
Then you do not depend on the app. The health insurance card or a printout with a prescription code is enough. Ask the practice directly for the printout so that you have everything with you at the pharmacy.
Who do I contact with questions about registration?
The practice that issued the prescription answers questions about the prescription. Your health insurer answers questions about your insurance card. If the card reader causes problems, the pharmacy team can help.
Do I need to keep the printout after redemption?
Keep the printout safe until you redeem it, so the code does not get lost. What happens to the sheet afterwards depends on your own records. The consumer advice centre does not mention a duty to keep it.
What to do now
- Decide whether you use the health insurance card or a paper printout.
- If needed, ask the practice for the printout and check name, prescription and code.
- If you are unsure, clarify the redemption deadline, and for a multiple prescription the one-year validity.
- Call the pharmacy if you use the paper route, and redeem the prescription.
Related guides
- Health system reform: ePA, e-prescription, doctor visits and sick notes (hub, in German)
- Order an e-prescription by post (in German)
- What is stored in the ePA and who can access it (in German)
- Object to the ePA: step-by-step guide
Sources: Verbraucherzentrale: Information on the e-prescription (page dated 6 September 2024, in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
