The health insurance card (Versichertenkarte) is a small plastic card from your statutory health insurance fund (gesetzliche Krankenkasse). It shows that this person has health insurance. The official name is electronic health card (elektronische Gesundheitskarte), or eGK for short. The card shows your name, your insurance number (Versichertennummer) and the name of your health insurance fund. From a certain age, it also has a photo of you. The card has a chip in it. The doctor's practice uses it to read your details. With the card, the practice usually does not bill you for the treatment but bills the health insurance fund directly.
Where you come across the word
- Doctor's practice: On your first visit in each quarter, the practice usually asks for your health insurance card.
- Hospital and dentist: You need the card here too.
- Pharmacy: You can use your card to redeem an electronic prescription (E-Rezept) at the pharmacy.
- Letters from the health insurance fund: For example, the health insurance fund asks you for a photo for your new card.
- Forms: Sometimes you have to enter the insurance number from your card.
If you have private health insurance, you usually do not get a card like this. In that case, you often pay the bill yourself first and get the money back from your insurance later.
What you should do
- Take out health insurance: First you need a health insurance fund. You can read more about this under Taking out health insurance.
- Send a photo: The health insurance fund usually asks you for a passport photo. Send it quickly, otherwise the card cannot be printed. Small children do not need a photo.
- Check the card: Check your name and your date of birth. If there are mistakes, contact your health insurance fund.
- Always carry the card with you: Take the card with you every time you see a doctor. If you forget the card, the practice may send you a private bill. But often you can bring the card in later within a short period. Ask at the practice.
- Report a lost card: If you lose the card, tell your health insurance fund straight away. You will then get a new card.
- Report changes: Let the health insurance fund know if your name or address changes. After a move, you should also register your address (Anmeldung), see Registering your address.
Special rules apply to people in the asylum procedure. In some federal states they get a health card, in others they get a treatment voucher (Behandlungsschein) from the social welfare office (Sozialamt). Ask the authority responsible for you.
Example
- “Please bring your health insurance card (Versichertenkarte) to your appointment.”
- “We need a current photo of you for your new health insurance card.”
- “Do you have your card with you? Then I'll just scan it quickly.”
Related terms
- Electronic health card (elektronische Gesundheitskarte, eGK): This is the official name of the health insurance card.
- Health insurance card (Krankenversicherungskarte): An older word for the same card that many people still use.
- Insurance number (Versichertennummer): Your personal number with the health insurance fund. It is on the card.
- European Health Insurance Card (Europäische Krankenversicherungskarte): It is often on the back of the card and helps with treatment in other European countries.
- Certificate of membership (Mitgliedsbescheinigung): A letter from the health insurance fund confirming your insurance, for example for your employer.
- Social security card (Sozialversicherungsausweis): A different document with your pension insurance number. Do not confuse it with the health insurance card.