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Emergency

Ill abroad: travel health insurance and reimbursement

Abroad, statutory health insurance is often not enough, outside the EU usually not at all, and it generally does not pay for a medically sensible repatriation. That is what foreign travel health insurance is for. It reimburses treatment costs and organizes repatriation in an emergency.

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Your chances of getting your money back

Foreign travel health insurance reimburses medically necessary treatment costs abroad and generally covers a medically sensible repatriation, benefits the statutory fund does not cover in this way.
What matters are documents (invoices, diagnoses) and, depending on the tariff, prior coordination for inpatient treatment or repatriation. Keep all documents for the reimbursement.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Collect documents

    Keep doctor's invoices, diagnoses, prescriptions and payment receipts, ideally with a translation of the diagnosis.

  2. 2

    2. Contact the insurer

    For inpatient treatment or repatriation, involve the insurer's emergency service beforehand if possible.

  3. 3

    3. Apply for reimbursement

    Submit the documents after the trip and apply for reimbursement of the costs you advanced.

  4. 4

    4. Object to a reduction

    If it is reduced, demand a justification and object if medically necessary costs are not recognized.

How to spot the scam

  • Abroad you rely solely on the statutory health fund.
  • Documents or diagnoses are missing for the reimbursement.
  • An expensive repatriation is organized without coordination.

Frequently asked questions

Is the statutory health fund not enough abroad?

Within the EU the European Health Insurance Card helps to a limited extent, outside the EU the statutory fund usually does not pay at all. It generally does not cover a medically sensible repatriation. That is what foreign travel health insurance is for.

What do I have to do for the reimbursement?

Collect documents (invoices, diagnoses, payment proofs), for inpatient treatment or repatriation involve the emergency service beforehand if possible, and apply for reimbursement after the trip.

Does the insurer pay for the repatriation?

Generally yes, if it is medically sensible and provided for in the tariff. Coordinate the repatriation with the insurer beforehand if possible so that cost coverage is secured.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.