That spot on your back looks odd? The mole on your arm is growing? You should see a dermatologist, but the next available appointment isn’t for several months. Health insurers offer digital skin checks for situations like this.
“Not every skin problem necessarily requires an in-person medical visit,” says Germany’s largest health insurer in Hesse, AOK. “Some turn out to be harmless or can be treated without a prescription. But for nonprofessionals, it’s not possible to differentiate that precisely.”
Therefore AOK offers its insured the option to send a photo of the skin lesion to an “OnlineDoctor.” Registration for AOK Hessen members is free. A dermatology team responds after a few hours, advising whether you should see a doctor or not.
AOK calls the offering “pioneering”
“Surprisingly, this skin check is still used rather rarely,” the AOK notes. In 2024 only 3,350 requests were recorded for Hessian policyholders. The insurer still regards the service as “pioneering.” The reason for the low uptake is likely a lack of awareness. They expect growing interest.
According to AOK, 85 percent of cases could be resolved digitally. For the rest, a personal examination was recommended. In a survey, 93 percent of users were satisfied with the recommended course of action.
Digital skin checks are widespread
A survey among other insurers in Hesse found that a digital skin check has become standard practice. All insurers stressed that the offering is not a skin-cancer screening — for that, a visit to a clinic is required.
The Techniker Krankenkasse has an app that provides medical advice by phone or live chat and also offers an online consultation. Both can be used for dermatological questions, and you can upload photos of skin lesions. “The demand is high and the online consultation is widely used,” a spokesperson says.
DAK Gesundheit also offers a video consultation and an app that insured individuals can use for dermatological questions. If you want a skin lesion checked, you can fill out a questionnaire and upload photos. “Within 24 hours you get dermatological feedback, guidance on further therapy, and possibly a prescription,” a spokesperson notes.
The Teledoktor from Barmer is accessible via app and by phone. The service includes a skin check for an initial assessment of dermatological concerns. Interest is high, a spokesperson says: “The Teledoktor skin-check recorded a 180 percent jump in demand in 2024 compared with the prior year.”
Dermatologists not enthusiastic
Dermatologists are less thrilled: The German Association of Dermatologists (BVDD) responded about a year ago to Barmer’s offering: “While the insurer can shine by serving its members with the service, the difficult and time-consuming cases that cannot be definitively treated digitally flow into dermatology practices,” the criticism stated.
