A digital health card in an app does not replace the physical card, according to the gematik document. The electronic health card (eGK) remains the requirement for using applications such as the electronic patient record (ePA) and the e-prescription app in full.
Short answer: No. According to the gematik document, no app replaces the eGK. You use the e-prescription app and the electronic patient record (ePA) with card, PIN and CAN number. The card also remains your proof of identity at medical practices and hospitals. The document is undated, so we give no cut-off date here. Last updated: November 2026.
The Key Points at a Glance
- The eGK is the card your statutory health insurer issues to you.
- According to gematik, the e-prescription app and the ePA are used together with the card and PIN.
- The card still serves as proof of identity for medical practices and hospitals.
- The document does not mention any obligation to use an app.
- Whether your health insurer offers its own app and which functions it has, you clarify with the insurer.
What Can the Card Do Today?
gematik describes the eGK in an overview document. The table below summarises the functions named there. The document gives no status or publication date.
| Function | Description in the gematik document |
|---|---|
| Contactless data exchange | The eGK has an NFC function, used together with a PIN. |
| Proof of identity | Insured persons identify themselves with it at medical practices and hospitals when they go for treatment. |
| Emergency data and medication plan | The card is used to store these details. |
| Electronic patient record | With card and PIN you have access to the ePA. |
| E-prescription | The card allows you to redeem e-prescriptions. |
What Is the Difference Between Card and App?
The card is a physical data carrier with a chip, issued by your health insurer. The app is an application on your smartphone that displays your data or triggers processes. According to the gematik document, the e-prescription app and the ePA are used together with the card, so the app does not replace the card.
If someone speaks of an app that replaces the card, they usually mean an application that depends on the card. This applies equally to the e-prescription app and to access to the ePA.
How Do I Use the App With My Card?
Use depends on the offer in question. The document names the basic requirements, and the sign-in takes place in the app itself. These steps give an overview:
- Make sure you have an eGK. According to the document, statutory health insurers issue it automatically.
- Keep your PIN ready, which is required to use the card.
- Keep your CAN number ready. The instructions of the app show where to find the number and how to enter it.
- Sign in to the app and follow its steps until the application is activated.
If the sign-in fails, first check your entries, in particular card, PIN and CAN number, and contact your health insurer if the error persists. Whether an application is already available in this form from your health insurer, the insurer will confirm. The state of implementation differs by insurer.
What Happens If I Do Not Have a Card?
According to the document, without card and PIN the applications cannot be fully used. A replacement for the card is therefore not possible with an app alone. If the card is lost or defective, contact your health insurer, which advises you on the next steps.
Why the Question Keeps Coming Up
Many insured people would like to have their ID, prescriptions and health data on one device. The idea is natural, because the smartphone is always with you. The document shows, however, that the card remains the foundation on which the applications build.
The question therefore cannot be answered with a simple yes or no for the future. For today, the card remains the requirement, and apps complement it.
What to Look for in a Health Insurer App
If your health insurer offers an app, it is worth looking at its range of functions before you sign up. The gematik document describes the basics, not the individual apps of the insurers.
- Which functions the app actually offers, such as access to the ePA or redeeming e-prescriptions.
- Which card and which details the sign-in requires, and whether you have them to hand.
- How the app handles your data, and which privacy notices the health insurer publishes.
- Whether the app really saves you time in your daily routine before you invest effort in setting it up.
What Does This Mean for Students and Young Professionals?
The question of card or app arises regardless of your stage of life. If you are a student or a young professional with statutory insurance, you need the eGK from your statutory health insurer. A change to a new job or to another phase of training does not change the role of the card, as long as the statutory insurance continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I only show my smartphone at the practice?
According to the document, the card remains the proof of identity at practices and hospitals. A smartphone alone is not a replacement. If in doubt, ask the practice or hospital which proof it requires.
Do I need the app to redeem an e-prescription?
No. The document names the e-prescription app as one option used together with the card. That an e-prescription can also be redeemed without an app is shown by our guide on redeeming without an app (in German).
Is the app mandatory for the ePA?
The document names no obligation to use an app. It describes that you can use the ePA with card and PIN. Whether you want to use an app is your decision. You can therefore choose for yourself whether to use the application via smartphone or manage without an app.
What happens if the card is lost?
Report the loss to your health insurer, which explains the next steps. Without a card the applications are restricted, so you should inform the insurer promptly.
Do I need to have my smartphone with me at the practice?
The document does not require it. The card alone serves as proof of identity. If you use the app, keep the device charged and with you, so that you can access your details when needed. For signing in to the app you need your card and PIN anyway, so keep both together.
What to Do Now
- Check whether you have an eGK, and keep your PIN safe.
- Ask your health insurer which apps it offers for the eGK.
- Use the card as your proof of identity at practices and hospitals until an app is explicitly approved for this purpose.
- If the card is lost or defective, get advice from your health insurer.
Related Articles
- Health system reform: all topics at a glance (hub, in German)
- Redeeming an e-prescription without an app: step by step
- What is in the ePA and who may access it
- Objecting to the ePA: step-by-step instructions
- E-prescription by post: mail-order pharmacy and process
Sources: gematik: overview of the electronic health card (eGK), undated document (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
