Health insurance for the foreign countries: sick on vacation

Whether heat stroke on the beach, a broken leg while hiking in the mountains or exotic viral infections: the list of injuries that can really spoil the best time of the year is long. But illnesses on vacation are not only annoying, they can also fast become very expensive.

Health insurance abroad

Those who have statutory or private health insurance in Germany are usually also insured in most European countries. The health insurances issue the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

But beware: The EHIC only applies with restrictions. Normally, only what the insured citizens are entitled to in the respective country is reimbursed - and that is often less than in Germany. In some cases, medication, dental treatment or emergency transport by helicopter from the ski slope to the nearest hospital are not reimbursed. At Costs up to 1.000 euros, the health insurance company in Germany can also bill according to German rates, but in the case of higher costs, the foreign regulations always apply. The health insurance companies also do not cover expensive return transport from the holiday destination home.

Insurance worldwide?

The books on the subject (advertising)

People traveling to countries outside the EU almost always have no insurance coverage over the normal health insurance. Exceptions are countries that have a social security agreement with Germany - including Japan, China, Australia, the United States of Canada. Here, however, the patient has to be content with the public utilities and often modest care services, which are usually considerably below the German standards.

Remedies in all cases a private health insurance abroad - and that is usually already available for a few euros a year. stern.de shows who needs it, what it costs and what matters when it comes to completion.

Who needs special health insurance for abroad?

An additional foreign health insurance is due to the low costs for all those with statutory health insurance usefulwho go abroad travel. As a privately insured person, you should consult your Society inquire whether they would reimburse a return transport.

Most do, but not all. If you want to find out in advance which services your normal Health insurance for your travel country, you should take a look at the leaflets that the German Liaison Office for Health Insurance – Abroad (DVKA) has ready for various countries. Depending on the country, it is listed here which services are included in normal insurance cover and which co-payments are due. If the insurance cover is too low for you, you should take out supplementary insurance.

What does the international health insurance cost?

Discounts for your success (advertising)!

In May 2008, Stiftung Warentest tested 43 insurance policies on price and Performance tested: The best contract conditions at the best price for individuals are available from Debeka for six euros a year Insurance covers 70 travel days. If you want to be away for longer, you pay the least for travel health insurance with Concordia for trips of 90 days at 77 euros. The Huk-Coburg is best suited for families. The tariff with the best contract conditions costs 19,50 euros per year. Older travelers have to pay more with some insurance companies - for example with the LMV from 60 years 15 and from 75 years 30 euros a year. And: Some tariffs are only available to members of certain health insurance companies.

Other insurance is so cheap because of the co-pays. Example: If a deductible has been agreed by 50 Euro, the first 50 Euro will not be reimbursed for all settlements.

Which services are included?

An additional health insurance is primarily for emergencies and usually pays for outpatient and inpatient treatment (including x-rays and surgeries), prescribed medications, dressings and painkillers, simple dental fillings or dentures repairs. Also included are transport to the nearest hospital or emergency doctor, as well as medical services, material, accommodation and meals during hospitalization. Also, a return home is covered, if it has been prescribed by the doctor. Insurance companies with very good rates pay for the transport from the holiday country even if it is reasonable and justifiable or the treatment takes longer than 14 days - and not only for medical necessity.

If the insured dies during the journey, most take over Companys the cost of transferring or burying the deceased abroad (usually up to 10 000 Euro, but this may vary according to insurance contract). In addition, many insurers help in special situations - for example, if the insured does not receive a drug abroad or loses important documents.

What is the foreign health insurance not?

However, a health insurance is not an all-inclusive package. If you turn down a tooth in an accident, only the costs of pain-relieving dental treatments, simple fillings and repairs of dentures are covered, but not for the dentures themselves. Because the cost of this should take over the insurance at home. Also psychotherapies, preventive or withdrawal treatments are not paid, as well as the cost of cures, massages or aids such as glasses and hearing aids.

The insurance does not pay even if the treatment was planned abroad from the outset. Therefore, pay attention to small print, so that important insurance can not be excluded.

How does that work with the billing?

You initially pay for minor treatments abroad yourself Money get it back from the insurer. For larger treatments, the insurer regulates the payment directly with the doctor or clinic. In EU countries, some foreign health insurance companies also require that you first settle the treatment with your normal health insurance company.

Only after this billing, the documents can be submitted to the travel health insurance to reimburse the difference. Other insurances, on the other hand, pay off with the normal health insurance, which saves you the hassle.

additional services

Therefore, be sure to raise the on account and all written information about diagnosis and therapy. The invoice date, name and address of the doctor or clinic, first and last name and date of birth of the person treated, the diagnosis and the individual medical services and their data should always appear on the doctor's bills. Also, the payment should be confirmed. Prescriptions must include the issuer's name and address, the medication prescribed, prices, receipts, and the name of the person being treated. In the case of dental treatment, the treated teeth must be clearly identified and also what was treated on them.

If the data is incomplete, the bills may not be recognized - even by the normal German health insurance. You then have to work from Germany to correct the bills, which can be difficult. Also a sticking point: The insurance may require a translation of the bill by a sworn translator or interpreter. This can cause additional costs and is often not worthwhile with smaller insurance contributions. Therefore, pay attention to corresponding clauses in the contract.

How long is the insurance?

Although you are covering a foreign health insurance for a year, but the insurance is valid in reality only for a limited period within this year, so depending on the contract for 30, 42 or 70 days per trip.

You can then travel as often as you like, but not as long as you like. If you have a longer stay abroad to plan, you need a special insurance that clear is expensive: With a trip duration of 180 days, the costs can amount to several hundred euros. If you go abroad for a whole year, you can pay for it depending on Age pay between 500 and 3000 euros.

Doctor's Choice - but right!

Be sure to have your insurance company confirm your free choice of doctor. Because of course it is practical if the doctor on site speaks German. Unfortunately, popular vacation spots have often German speaking private doctors who are happy to charge excessive fees.

Ask Therefore, ask about the treatment costs beforehand and make sure that the bill is not excessive. If necessary, ask the insurer's hotline whether the costs will be covered in full or whether a cheaper local doctor can be recommended to you.

Switching insurance is worthwhile

Most insurance contracts are automatically extended by one year if they are not terminated. Maybe that's why you have your old contract. Often the tariffs have become better, then it is worth a change. For many insurance companies, however, you have to accept a notice period of three months. If the deadline is at the end of the year, the change is no longer possible this summer.

Depending on the tariff, however, the date of the conclusion of the contract can also be decisive. For example, if you have taken out a travel health insurance policy in the middle of November last year, you can switch to another provider until mid-August.

ability to travel

If there are previous illnesses, it can happen that the insurance company does not pay. Therefore it can be for older travelers or People with previous illnesses, it makes sense to have a doctor confirm your fitness to travel in writing before you go on vacation. On the other hand, if you are chronically ill, many private insurance companies will not pay for your treatment abroad.

Please inform your health insurance company before your trip that you will not receive any private insurance coverage for a particular disease. The cost of such a treatment then takes over the health insurance - even in countries that do not belong to the European Union or with which Germany has no social security agreement. However, the treatment costs are reimbursed up to the usual amounts in Germany, and this only for up to six weeks. Let the health insurance company confirm in advance what the costs are.

Top books on the subject

Read text as PDF

Acquire this text as a PDF (only for own use without passing it on according to Terms and conditions): Please send us one after purchase eMail with the desired title supportberufebilder.de, we will then send the PDF to you immediately. You can also purchase text series.

4,99€Buy

Advice on success, goal achievement or marketing

Do you have questions about careers, Recruiting, personal development or increasing reach? Our AIAdviser helps you for 5 euros a month – free for book buyers. We offer special ones for other topics IT services

5,00€ / per month   Book

Book eCourse on Demand

Up to 30 lessons with 4 learning tasks each + final lesson as a PDF download. Please send us one after purchase eMail with the desired title supportberufebilder.de. Alternatively, we would be happy to put your course together for you or offer you a personal, regular one eMail-Course - all further information!

29,99€Buy

Skate eBook as desired

If our store does not offer you your desired topic: We will be happy to put together a book according to your wishes and deliver it in a format of yours Choice. Please sign us after purchase supportberufebilder.de

79,99€Buy