The electronic health card (eGK) is the only proof to be able to claim benefits from the statutory health insurance.
You can find all information right here.
The health insurance card has always been a household name among those with statutory health insurance.
However, the history of the insurance card ended on January 1, 2015.
It has been replaced by the new electronic health card (eGK).
The
electronic health card has been mandatory since then
, it contains a lot of important information about the insured person.
In addition, the eGK is the only proof of entitlement to be able to claim benefits from the statutory health insurance companies.
This is another reason why it makes sense to take out statutory health insurance - and not privately *.
Read here what else the new health card can do and how it reacts to data misuse.
What can the electronic health card do?
The aim of the electronic health card is to
improve medical care and strengthen the role of patients
. Emergency data that can save lives is saved on the eGK. The medication plan is also stored on the health card so that life-threatening interactions can be prevented. In the course of the electronic health card, the electronic patient file was also introduced. With the EPR, patients are better informed about diagnoses and therapies.
The
applications of the electronic health card have been introduced gradually since autumn 2020
.
Administrative data and information on health insurance are currently stored.
The eGK also contains a photo of the insured person, with the exception of children up to the age of 15 and insured persons who cannot participate in taking a picture, such as people in need of care and immobile people.
The back of the eGK can be used as a “European health insurance card”.
This enables unbureaucratic treatment within the EU.
Also read:
Overview of supplementary health insurance: Anyone planning to take out should heed this rule. *
What are the benefits of the electronic patient record?
Since January 1, 2021, statutory health insurances have been obliged to provide their insured
persons with
an
electronic patient file
.
The ePA is available in different versions.
Data and information, such as the emergency plan, can be made available to the insured.
Insured persons can also store their own data in the patient file, such as the diary for measuring blood pressure.
Find out here why you should never take your tablets in the morning if you have high blood pressure.
The ePA can be viewed using a compatible smartphone.
Is the electronic health card protected against misuse?
The use of the eGK can
significantly reduce the misuse of data
. The reason is the online application of the electronic health card. When used for the first time, the data on the health card is compared with the data available from the health insurance company. If the insured person has given the health insurance company a change (name, address, etc.), the electronic health card can be updated at the push of a button. This not only saves the health insurances a lot of money, at the same time invalid and stolen or lost health cards can be identified much better. With the introduction of the eGK, a secure network was also created, the
telematics infrastructure
, built up.
This infrastructure is designed in such a way that only those involved in the healthcare system have access to it.
They can exchange data and important medical information with one another quickly, safely and practically.
However, the patient's consent is required for access.
IMPORTANT: Each patient decides for himself which data is saved on the eGK and ePA and who has access to it.
What are the advantages of the emergency data and the medication plan?
With the emergency data, patients can
inform
the doctors about
all relevant data such as allergies or previous illnesses
. However, this emergency data is only saved on the eGK if the insured person so wishes. The contact details of a relative to be notified in an emergency can also be stored on the electronic health card. In an emergency, doctors and paramedics can then access the data without entering a PIN.
In Germany, many people still die from undesirable interactions after taking medication.
The electronic health card can also help here.
Using the
medication plan on the eGK, doctors can immediately see which medication is currently being taken
.
Older and chronically ill people in particular benefit from this plan.
Like the emergency data, the medication plan can also be saved on the eHC.
(pm) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
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