The "ePA for all" will soon be launched - an important step towards digital healthcare. Find out here how you can set the course now and optimise your preparations.
From January 2025, with the introduction of the "ePA for all", various ways of accessing the Electronic Patient Record will be available. If insured persons want to access their file via the "AOK My Life" app for the first time, they will need to identify themselves uniquely. There will be various options for this: the Electronic Health Card (eGK) with PIN, the ID card with ID PIN or the so-called PostIdent procedure.
Clear and secure initial login
All methods are secure, but take different amounts of time. The PostIdent procedure requires a visit to the post office with a valid ID document. The other two methods are digital and can be carried out using a smartphone. With the Electronic Health Card (eGK) option, the waiting time depends on whether you have already received the corresponding PIN or still need to request it.
In the case of an ID card, you can already check whether you have an electronic ID card with an online function and the corresponding PIN. If not, you can obtain the PIN from your local citizens' office. You can then set up the ePA immediately later without having to leave the house.
Explained: ID card with online function
The ID card contains a chip with many digital functions. It is also known as an eID, as it has an electronic identification function that you can use to identify yourself online. There is also the eID card and the eAufenthaltstitel, similar cards for foreigners living in Germany. All these cards have the same chip and offer similar functions.
Identification with NFC-enabled smartphone
For identification with your ID card, eID card or e-residence permit, the relevant document is scanned using an NFC-enabled smartphone after you have entered your ID PIN. An NFC chip ("Near Field Communication") makes it possible to transmit data wirelessly over short distances. The online ID function has already been in use for some time, for example for certain bank transactions or digital visits to the authorities.
You can read more about the basic functions of the electronic patient file, its introduction and how you can use the ePA in future without a smartphone here.