What is a DiGA and how does it work?
DiGA stands for Digitale Gesundheitsanwendung — a digital health application that has cleared the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and is listed in the official DiGA-Verzeichnis. A DiGA is a CE-marked medical device under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) that has demonstrated a positive supply effect (positiver Versorgungseffekt) in clinical evaluation. Once listed, statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenkasse, GKV) is obliged to reimburse it on a doctor's prescription — the patient pays nothing out of pocket. This is the legal mechanism behind the popular phrase "App auf Rezept".
DiGAs target a defined indication (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome, chronic insomnia, depression) and a defined patient group. They are not lifestyle apps — they are regulated medical devices.
Is there a Reizdarm DiGA in Germany?
Yes — but only one. As of 30 April 2026, the BfArM DiGA-Verzeichnis lists exactly one digital health application for irritable bowel syndrome: Cara Care für Reizdarm by HiDoc Technologies GmbH. It has been permanently listed (dauerhaft aufgenommen) since 26 December 2021 and is the only DiGA in the entire "Verdauung" (digestion) category of the directory. There is no second IBS- specific DiGA, and there is no DiGA covering inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis) at this time.
The BfArM directory updates regularly. Before relying on this statement for a clinical or insurance decision, double-check the live BfArM Verzeichnis — listings can change.
How do I get a DiGA on prescription?
The path is simpler than it looks. Two routes exist:
- Via prescription: a physician (Hausarzt, Gastroenterologin, or psychotherapist) issues an electronic prescription with the relevant Pharmazentralnummer (PZN). You forward the prescription to your statutory health insurance, get an activation code, and use it to unlock the app.
- Direct application to the insurer: if you have a suitable confirmed diagnosis (ICD-10), you can apply for the DiGA directly with your statutory insurance — without first visiting a doctor for a prescription. The insurer issues the activation code if the indication matches.
For Cara Care für Reizdarm, the indication is a confirmed Reizdarmsyndrom diagnosis (ICD-10 K58) in adults. A 12-week access window is granted per prescription; renewal is possible.
Who pays — the Krankenkasse or you?
For statutory insurance (GKV) members, a prescribed DiGA is fully reimbursed — €0 out of pocket. The insurer pays the manufacturer directly. For Cara Care für Reizdarm, the current list price is €248 for 90 days of access (verified April 2026). Private health insurance (PKV) and Beihilfe (civil-servant allowance) reimbursement depends on the individual contract — most modern PKV plans cover DiGAs, older plans may not.
By contrast, a self-pay tool like DarmKompass costs €0 in the free tier and €2.99 per month for Premium — paid privately, no prescription, no insurer involvement. The financial calculus is therefore not "free vs. expensive" but which channel matches your situation: prescription-grade therapy on the GKV's tab, or a self-managed tool you control fully yourself.
When is a DiGA the right tool, when is a self-pay app better?
A DiGA makes sense when:
- You have a confirmed Reizdarm diagnosis (Rome IV, ICD-10 K58) — without it, no prescription.
- You are willing to commit to a structured 12-week programme with daily content (CBT, hypnotherapy modules, FODMAP guidance).
- You want clinical, regulator-evaluated content — and accept that the app is structurally tied to a healthcare provider.
A self-pay tool like DarmKompass makes sense when:
- You are still in the diagnostic phase and need data for the next gastroenterology appointment — not a 12-week therapy programme.
- You want a private logbook without your insurer ever seeing the data.
- You want a tool you can drop or pick up anytime — no prescription, no activation code, no renewal cycle.
The two are not mutually exclusive. Many users start with a self-pay logbook, get a confirmed IBS diagnosis based on the collected data, and only then consider a prescription DiGA for structured therapy. See our full IBS app comparison for the concrete trade-offs.
How does DarmKompass differ from a DiGA?
We are completely transparent about this: DarmKompass is not a DiGA. We are not listed in the BfArM DiGA-Verzeichnis. We do not have a CE-marked medical device certification. We have not gone through the BfArM positiver Versorgungseffekt evaluation. There is no prescription path, no Pharmazentralnummer, no activation code from your Krankenkasse.
What DarmKompass is:
- A self-managed IBS logbook — Bristol stool scale, IBS-SSS scoring, trigger detection across food, stress, and sleep, doctor-ready PDF.
- Free in the clinical core: Premium (€2.99/month) adds cycle tracking, clinic-branded PDFs, advanced trigger correlations.
- Self-pay only: no prescription, no Krankenkasse involvement, no activation code, no health record.
- EU-hosted (Supabase Frankfurt), GDPR-clean, no ad trackers, no third-party data sharing — see our privacy policy.
- Non-diagnostic by design: we do not diagnose IBS, do not prescribe FODMAP elimination, do not replace medical evaluation. We help you walk into the gastroenterology appointment with structured data.
If you are at the start of your IBS journey and need a free, fast, private tool to gather 14–28 days of structured data, start the free DarmKompass app or download the printable 7-day PDF template. If you have a confirmed diagnosis and want a structured 12-week therapy programme reimbursed by statutory insurance, ask your doctor about Cara Care für Reizdarm — it is the right tool for that path.