Electronic health card duty from 2015

Old health insurance card loses its validity at the end of the year

08/15/2014

At the turn of the year, the old health insurance card loses its validity. This was announced by the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV), the Dentists' Association (KZBV) and the GKV-Spitzenverband on Friday. Accordingly, as of 1 January 2015, only the new electronic health card will be valid as proof of entitlement to benefit from statutory health insurance benefits.

Doctors can still bill for benefits through the old health insurance card until the end of the year
The old health insurance card can therefore be used until the end of this year in medical practices. Thereafter, it loses its validity, regardless of the date printed on the card. „It is good for everyone involved that finally there is clarity. In particular, it was important to us that the doctors have the certainty that they will be able to settle the 'old' health insurance card in the fourth quarter of this year“, KBV Chairman Dr. Ing. Andreas lanes.

The established physicians can use a temporary solution until 31 December 2014 to use the old card. „The agreed date and the clear regulation on the expiry date of the health insurance card provide the necessary planning security, which is needed for the further implementation of this ambitious project“, stressed Wolfgang Eßer, Chairman of the Board of the KZBV.

Also Dr. Doris Pfeiffer, CEO of the GKV-Spitzenverband, welcomes the agreement: „The agreement reached has made health insurance companies, doctors and dentists together take an important step on the way to the telematics infrastructure.“

Exchange of the old health insurance card has stalled
At the beginning of July this year, six to eight percent of those insured did not yet have the new health card because they still had not applied for it or had not submitted a usable photo. Originally, the validity of the old health insurance card should expire at the end of September. However, this date could not be met because the exchange of cards had stalled.

In the future, the electronic health card will improve the data exchange between physicians, hospitals and pharmacies so that, for example, drug interactions can be avoided in advance. Critics and privacy advocates, however, complain that the sensitive data is not sufficiently protected. (Ag)