Statutory and private health insurance in Germany

In Germany, in addition to those with statutory health insurance, there are also those with purely private health and long-term care insurance. There are doctors and hospitals that only treat private patients.

The majority, over 87 percent, of those insured are covered by statutory health insurance and the majority of service providers provide services for both privately and statutorily insured patients.

More information on the German health insurance system can be found on the website of the German National Contact Point for Cross-border Healthcare. In Germany it is called EU-PATIENTEN.DE

Treatment in Germany

If you are traveling to Germany specifically for treatment, you basically have two possibilities to take advantage of the treatment.

Treatment with the S2 form The form form for each treatment, for example for outpatient and inpatient treatment or the provision of remedies and aids, before treatment begins. health insurance company in your home country before treatment begins . Only if your health insurance provider before the start of treatment has issued the form, you can claim the benefits approved there in Germany. The entitlement is limited to the content and period specified in the form and to the services and providers available to persons with statutory health insurance in Germany. You can find out when the issue of this form is at the discretion of your health insurance provider and when they are obliged to issue it under the following link " Procedure S2 " link. The advantages and disadvantages of the procedure are also explained in detail there.

The form form must be converted into a German treatment certificate before treatment at a statutory health insurance fund in Germany. German treatment certificate or a corresponding declaration of assumption of costs exchange. Many hospitals are also prepared to take on this task for you, particularly in the case of inpatient treatment. We recommend that you clarify this with the service provider before treatment.

Treatment under the Patient Mobility Directive

If your health insurance provider is not prepared to issue an S2 form or if the form cannot be issued because the healthcare provider in Germany does not have a contract with the statutory health insurance provider, you can apply for treatment under the Patient Mobility Directive treatment. This procedure is only possible for services that are also available in your home country.

You apply to your health insurance provider before treatment in Germany for reimbursement of the costs up to the amount that would be incurred for treatment in your home country.

If you receive authorization in advance, you can receive treatment in Germany as a private patient as a private patient. You must initially pay the treatment costs in full yourself. You submit the invoice for reimbursement to your health insurance provider. Any differences will be charged to you. It is best to obtain a cost estimate before treatment. cost estimate from the practitioner and clarify with your health insurance provider how much you can expect to be reimbursed. This way you will know whether and to what extent there will be a difference. You can find out more about this procedure under the link " Procedure according to the Patient Mobility Directive " link. The advantages and disadvantages of the procedure are also explained in detail there.

• German National Contact Point for Cross-border Healthcare
• Information on procedure S2
• Form for procedure S2
• Procedure in accordance with the Patient Mobility Directive