From 2025 onwards
Electronic patient records for everyone

The electronic patient record explained

The electronic patient record, also known as the ePA, is your digital folder for storing medical documents. This means that important up-to-date information is immediately available: an essential foundation for easy, safe and fast medical treatment.

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The most important facts at a glance

When will the electronic patient record (ePA) be available?

You as well as all other people with statutory health insurance will receive an electronic patient record from 15 January 2025. It will be created automatically for you – and you will be able to access your ePA from the end of February. The use of the ePA is voluntary.

What exactly is stored in the electronic patient record?

Your electronic patient record contains the most important medical documents, such as laboratory results, doctor's letters and hospital reports. This gives medical facilities an immediate and complete overview of your treatment history.

Who can view my data?

You decide who has access to your electronic patient record. When you insert your e-health card into the card reader at the medical practice, you authorize the corresponding medical practice or clinic to access your data – without a PIN. If you do not want this, inform the medical practice when you arrive. Use the BARMER eCare-App to view your data yourself.

These are your advantages with the electronic patient record (ePA)

The electronic patient record is an important foundation for easy, safe and fast treatment.

  • Your health history is easily available and stored in one place.
  • Your doctor's practice can view, add to and update your most important medical documents.
  • You no longer have to retell everything and documents cannot be lost.
  • Your medical records are stored permanently and securely

Frequently asked questions

Yes, initially your electronic patient record is empty. There is no automatic transfer of your past medical documents. Your doctors will gradually fill your electronic patient record with the documents and data they generate. You also have the option of uploading existing medical documents to your record yourself via the Barmer eCare-App.

Very practical: your e-prescription data are automatically transferred to the electronic patient record to create your personal medication list. Once a quarter, Barmer will then create an overview of all the healthcare services you have received from doctors' practices or hospitals.

Yes, in order to keep the electronic patient record up to date, it is important to update the data if your state of health or course of treatment changes.
Doctors who you authorize to update your data are obliged to do so at your request. This data comprises information that is collected as part of your current treatment and is available in digital form, such as laboratory results, therapy reports or doctor's letters.

Yes, you can reject certain functions and still benefit from the electronic patient record. The following functions can be blocked individually:

  • The automatic transfer of the overview of all health insurance services you have received
  • The automatic transfer of your e-prescription data
  • The forwarding of data from your patient record to the Federal Health Data Lab

If you do not wish to use these functions, you can block them yourself via the Barmer eCare-App or by contacting the Trust Office at BARMER. 
Note: It will only be possible to submit your rejection from 15.01.2025 (or from 15.07.2025 for data forwarding to the Federal Health Data Lab).

If you change your mind later, you can reactivate the functions at any time.

Yes, you can hide individual documents from view via the Barmer eCare-App. The document will then only be visible to you, and none of your authorized service providers will have access to it.
Yes, the electronic patient record is for insured persons of all ages – including children. It is created automatically, regardless of age. However, if the parents do not want an electronic patient record for their child under the age of 15, they can object to this by contacting the health insurance fund. If the insured person is between the ages of 15 and 17, they can decide for themselves after consulting their parents.
No. Use of the electronic patient record is voluntary for you. You will not experience any disadvantages in your medical treatment if you do not use it. Your healthcare will be provided as usual via the established procedures.
Yes, you can have your entire electronic patient record deleted at any time. You can request this either yourself via the BARMER eCare-App or from Barmer. As a result, all data will be irrevocably deleted.

We have provided you with information on the electronic patient record in a separate article (in German) on the ePA in accordance with Section 343 of the German Social Code, Book 5 (SGB V).

Would you like to object?

The electronic patient record is voluntary. You have two options for objecting to it:

  • Use the online form and have ready the answer code (Antwort-Code) from the letter you received.
  • Use this PDF file – simply download the document, fill it in and send it back to us via postal mail. 
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