The telephone sick note, often called telefonische Krankschreibung in German, is set to be abolished according to the coalition. If you are ill and cannot get to a doctor’s surgery, you may wonder whether this option will soon disappear and what applies in the meantime. This guide separates political decisions from the law that currently applies and shows what you can rely on until a change takes effect. A related question is covered in our article on the first-day sick note requirement (in German).
Short answer: The coalition committee has decided that the telephone sick note will be abolished. No law has been passed yet and the timetable is open. Until a change takes effect, the existing rule in the guidelines of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) still applies. The video consultation is to remain available, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- The coalition committee, in its programme for growth and employment, set out that the telephone sick note will be abolished.
- This is a political decision and not yet a law. There is no reliable timetable.
- The telephone sick note is not set out in the statute itself, but in a guideline of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA).
- According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the video consultation remains possible.
- A requirement for a sick note from the first day belongs to the same reform package but has not been decided either.
What applies today to a telephone sick note?
The conditions for a sick note without a visit to the surgery are set by the G-BA guideline. Details on diagnoses and case groups are found there and may change, so check the current version or ask your surgery if you are unsure. As long as no law is in force, the existing rule remains the reference point. The abolition is therefore an announced change, not a situation that has already occurred.
| Route | What applies today | Status of planning |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone sick note | Possible under the G-BA guideline | Abolition agreed in the coalition programme, no law yet |
| Video consultation | Generally possible | To remain available, according to the Federal Ministry of Health |
| Sick note from day one | Proof required only if incapacity lasts more than three calendar days | Requirement from day one planned, timetable open |
How did the plans come about?
The debate did not start in the legislative process but in public discussion about the high number of sick days. According to Ärzteblatt, Chancellor Merz triggered the debate. In February 2026, however, Health Minister Warken said she did not intend to launch a push for abolition herself. She referred to the coalition agreement, which aims to curb misuse of sick notes issued via online platforms. The coalition committee later included the abolition of the telephone sick note in its programme. The reporting therefore shows a change of course within a few months.
Electronic transmission is part of the background. Since 2022, certificates of incapacity for work have been transmitted electronically to health insurance funds. According to ZDFheute, the recorded sick days rose from around 15 calendar days in 2019 to 20 in 2022 and stayed at that level. This figure comes from media reporting and should be checked against the original data before you rely on it.
From a decision to a binding rule
- The coalition sets its plans, for example in a coalition agreement or a reform programme. This is a political decision and not yet binding law.
- A ministry drafts a bill. Before the cabinet decides, a draft is often published for consultation.
- The cabinet adopts the draft and the Bundestag and Bundesrat then deliberate on it.
- The new rule only applies once it is published in the Federal Law Gazette and enters into force.
In parallel, a statute can instruct the G-BA to amend or repeal its guideline. This route matters for the telephone sick note because the rule is not set out in the statute itself. When this step will happen is open.
What does this mean in everyday life for students and new employees?
Until a new rule is in force, day-to-day practice changes little. More important than whether you get a sick note by phone is telling your employer. The duty to notify applies whatever route the sick note takes. Our guide on the deadlines explains the rules in detail: Sick leave notification: deadlines for employer and health insurer (in German). If you are regularly unable to work, it is also worth knowing what the health insurance fund pays, for example in the case of sickness benefit for students (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Does the telephone sick note still exist today?
According to the status of this guide, yes. No law that removes it has been passed. The G-BA guideline is the binding reference point. Whether and when it disappears depends on the legislative process, which has no fixed date yet.
Who decided on the abolition?
The coalition committee set it out in a programme. The Bundestag has not decided on it. A coalition decision binds the government politically, but it does not replace a law and can still change during the process.
Will the video consultation remain?
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, it is to remain possible. The exact rules will depend on future regulations. If you rely on video consultations, keep an eye on any changes.
Do I still have to tell my employer if I get a telephone sick note?
Yes. You must report your incapacity for work without undue delay and give the expected duration. This applies regardless of how the sick note is issued.
Where can I find reliable information?
The most reliable sources are the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Joint Committee and the Federal Law Gazette. Your health insurance fund also informs you about changes that affect it directly.
Next steps
- Ask your surgery whether it offers a sick note without a visit and under which conditions.
- Report any incapacity to your employer straight away and give the expected duration.
- For a longer illness, check early whether a video consultation or a visit is needed.
- Follow the legislative process on the Federal Ministry of Health website so that a change does not catch you unprepared.
Related reading
- Health system reform: overview of emergency care, sick notes and the ePA (in German)
- Sick note from the first day: do I have to see a doctor right away? (in German)
- Online sick note by questionnaire: what is planned (in German)
- Sick leave notification: deadlines for employer and health insurer (in German)
- Opting out of the ePA: step-by-step instructions (in German)
Sources: Section 5 Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz (continued pay act), gesetze-im-internet.de, ZDFheute: overview of the reform of sick notes (no date given), Ärzteblatt: Warken plant keine Abschaffung der telefonischen Krankschreibung (26 February 2026, in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
