Off to our new home!
20. June 2022
Disputes Following an Accident
3. November 2022Off to our new home!
20. June 2022Disputes Following an Accident
3. November 2022
Sick on Vacation!
When on vacation with family or friends, joy, fun, and relaxation should come first. Unfortunately, however, a visit to the doctor can quickly become necessary. A fall, an upset stomach, pain relievers, or even a toothache can quickly turn into an expensive surprise. Before heading on vacation, you should find out whether and to what extent your public health insurance covers costs at your vacation destination.
People often rely on public health insurance and assume that it’s there to cover their medical expenses when they get sick. But is that really the case?!
Outside the EU, statutory health insurance (GKV) covers medical expenses only to a limited extent, if at all. In most EU member states, there is a social security agreement with Germany, which allows GKV to cover many of your costs. But be careful: Even in these cases, you’ll often have to pay out of pocket, because many doctors only accept private patients and will classify you as such. For you, this means paying upfront and only being reimbursed a limited portion of the cost for basic care by the GKV.
Unfortunately, many people fall into this “trap” even outside the EU and repeatedly rely on coverage from their statutory health insurance. They travel abroad without checking beforehand and suddenly find themselves needing to see a doctor. They pay out of pocket, submit the bill afterward, and are left to cover the costs themselves. Aside from the stress, this can result in high expenses. That’s why it’s always advisable to purchase international travel health insurance before you leave. This protects you from such situations during stays abroad outside of Germany.
Good to know: Overseas travel health insurance also covers services such as repatriation to Germany.