How to find your health insurance number: Your guide for 2025
03.06.25
5
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
Do you need to find your insurance number with your health insurance provider and are not quite sure where to look? Don’t worry, this process is often easier than you think and usually takes just a few minutes. This article guides you through the necessary steps and explains the importance of your number.
The topic in brief and concise terms
You can find your health insurance number (KVNR) on the front of your electronic health card (eGK), and it is valid for life.
The KVNR is not the same as the social security number (pension insurance number), which is responsible for pension insurance.
The KVNR is your key to digital health applications such as the e-prescription and the electronic patient record (ePA).
The health insurance number (KVNR) decoded: More than just a number
Your health insurance number (KVNR) is a ten-digit code. It begins with a letter and is assigned by your health insurance provider.
It uniquely identifies you in the German healthcare system. Your KVNR is essential for billing medical services.
This number remains valid for life. It remains the same even if you change health insurance providers.
Over 90 per cent of switches go smoothly.
You can find this important number prominently on the front of your electronic health card (eGK).
Since 1 January 2015, the eGK has been the sole proof of entitlement to benefits.
The introduction of the KVNR is an important step towards digitalising healthcare.
In the field of statutory health insurance, this is clear. This number is the key to many modern applications.
Find your KVNR directly: Quick ways to your number
The quickest way to find your health insurance number is to look at your electronic health card (eGK).
There, the ten-digit number, starting with a letter, is usually printed on the front.
If you do not have your eGK to hand or have lost it, contact your health insurer directly.
Most health insurers offer a service hotline for this purpose. You can request information or a new card 24 hours a day.
It is important that the KVNR is not the same as your policy number.
You can find this on your policy.
The KVNR identifies you as an individual in the system. The policy number identifies your specific contract. This distinction is crucial.
Clearly distinguished: KVNR versus social insurance number
It is important not to confuse the health insurance number (KVNR) with the social security number (SV number).
The SV number is also called the pension insurance number (RVNR). It is a twelve-digit number relevant to your pension insurance.
It includes, for example, your date of birth. You can find the SV number on your social insurance card. Since 2023, this has been called the insurance number certificate.
You can also find it on payslips or letters from the German Pension Insurance.
The KVNR, on the other hand, is not shown on the social insurance card.
The KVNR appears exclusively on your health card.
While the KVNR ensures your identification in the healthcare system, the SV number is used to record your pension contributions.
Both numbers have completely different functions. Confusing them can lead to delays.
This happens in at least five per cent of incorrect applications.
Here is a summary of the main differences:
KVNR: Ten digits, begins with a letter, on the eGK, for healthcare services.
SV number/RVNR: Twelve-digit sequence of digits, on the social insurance card/payslip, for pension insurance.
Responsibility for the KVNR: health insurers, ITSG.
Responsibility for the SV number: German Pension Insurance.
This understanding helps you always have the correct number to hand.
It makes communication with authorities and service providers much easier.
Digitally ahead: the KVNR as the key to modern healthcare
The health insurance number is your gateway to the digital health world. It gives you access to central applications such as the electronic prescription.
The electronic prescription can already be redeemed at over 8,000 pharmacies. You can also use the electronic patient record (ePA) with it.
These digital tools enable faster and more secure exchange of medical information.
They significantly improve the quality of treatment for millions of insured persons.
The central allocation and administration of the KVNR is carried out by the ITSG.
This body is the Information Technology Service Centre of statutory health insurance.
The ITSG ensures that each number is unique. It is created in pseudonymised form on the basis of the pension insurance number.
This ensures the highest level of data protection.
The ongoing digitalisation makes the KVNR indispensable. It is an important building block for efficient care.
This is also evident in the electronic insurance confirmation. Patient-centred care in the 21st century is the goal.
Expert advice: solutions to questions and problems concerning your KVNR
If you are having problems finding your health insurance number, your health insurer is the first point of contact.
The staff there can help you directly in over 95 per cent of cases. They can also issue a new health card.
Our expert tip: Save the service number of your health insurer. That way, you can act quickly if needed.
Regarding data protection, you can rest assured. The KVNR is created on the basis of your pension insurance number.
A secure technical process at the ITSG trust centre pseudonymises it.
This means it is not possible to draw any direct conclusions about your pension insurance number.
This ensures the protection of your sensitive data. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has set strict rules since May 2018.
For specific questions about private health insurance and the KVNR, experts are available.
Correct handling of your KVNR secures you important healthcare services.
More useful links
Wikipedia offers a comprehensive article on the health insurance number.
The GKV data exchange website offers detailed information on the health insurance number (KVNR).
The GKV National Association provides information on the uniqueness and validity of the health insurance number (KVNR).
The Federal Ministry of Health provides comprehensive information on the electronic health card (eGK).
Also from the Federal Ministry of Health, you can find definitions of important terms relating to the eGK here.
The German Pension Insurance provides detailed information on the social insurance card.
A glossary entry by the German Pension Insurance explains the social insurance number.
The Federal Office for Social Security offers an overview of the topic of health insurance.
FAQ
Where exactly is the health insurance number on the health card?
The health insurance number (KVNR) is a ten-digit number that begins with a letter. It is usually clearly visible on the front of your electronic health card (eGK).
Can I enquire about my health insurance number over the phone with my health insurance provider?
Yes, in most cases you can request your health insurance number by telephone from your health insurance provider after identifying yourself. Alternatively, you can often also use the insurers' online portals.
What is the difference between the health insurance number and the insurance policy number?
The health insurance number (KVNR) identifies you as an insured person in the healthcare system. The insurance policy number (often also called policy number), on the other hand, is the contract number of your specific insurance contract with your insurer.
Do privately insured people also need a health insurance number?
Yes, people with private insurance also receive a health insurance number. This is required for the use of digital health applications such as the electronic patient record and is applied for by the private health insurance provider.
Who issues the health insurance number?
The health insurance number is assigned and managed centrally by the Information Technology Service Centre of the statutory health insurance system (ITSG), pseudonymised on the basis of the pension insurance number.
Is my health insurance number confidential?
Your health insurance number is important personal information and should be protected. However, it is required for the processing of healthcare services. Data protection is ensured through pseudonymised creation and secure transmission channels.
