Apps You Can Get on Prescription
Germany became the first country in the world to let physicians prescribe certified health apps under the Digitale-Versorgung-Gesetz (Digital Healthcare Act). These apps are known as DiGA (Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen) — digital health applications that have passed an official review for data security, quality and proven benefit, and are listed in the federal DiGA directory (DiGA-Verzeichnis) maintained by the BfArM.
What they cover: DiGA exist for conditions such as anxiety and depression, chronic pain, tinnitus, insomnia, diabetes, obesity and migraine. They are designed to support — not replace — conventional treatment.
How a DiGA Is Prescribed
There are two main routes to receiving a DiGA:
- Doctor or psychotherapist prescription — your practitioner prescribes a listed DiGA much like a medication; you then activate it via an insurer code
- Direct application to your insurer — in some cases you can apply with evidence of a qualifying diagnosis
Once approved, you receive an activation code to unlock the full app, typically for a 90-day prescription period that can be renewed if clinically justified.
DiGA and Statutory Insurance
For GKV members, reimbursement of listed DiGA is a statutory entitlement: the cost is covered directly by the health fund when a valid prescription or diagnosis exists. This created a clear, standardised pathway across all statutory funds.
How PKV Handles DiGA
For private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV), the picture is more tariff-dependent. PKV is not bound by the same statutory DiGA rules as GKV, so reimbursement depends on your contract's treatment of digital health and outpatient aids. In practice:
| Scenario | Typical outcome |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive modern tariff | Often reimburses prescribed DiGA as a covered treatment aid |
| Older or basic tariff | May not explicitly cover DiGA — check the wording |
| Civil servants (Beihilfe) | Beihilfe rules increasingly recognise DiGA; confirm with your office |
If digital health tools matter to you, ask your insurer directly whether prescribed DiGA are reimbursed under your tariff, and keep the prescription and the DiGA directory listing as evidence when you submit a claim.
The Bigger Picture
DiGA are part of a wider digitalisation of German healthcare that also includes the electronic prescription (E-Rezept) and the electronic patient record (elektronische Patientenakte, ePA). For PKV policyholders, the practical takeaway is simple: digital health benefits are evolving quickly, so a modern, well-specified tariff — and a quick check with your insurer before you buy an app — ensures you actually benefit from them.
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