It's actually quite simple and definitely worth a try: talk to your doctor and clarify: When am I entitled to a cure? Apply for rehabilitation together with your doctor. We have put together a list of what you need to bear in mind.
The different cures
Outpatient preventive care: Do you have a health risk that could lead to illness in the foreseeable future? And have you exhausted all local treatments? Then an outpatient preventive health cure could be just the thing for you. It lasts two, maximum three weeks and takes place at a state-approved health resort. You must take leave from your employer for this. The health insurance companies pay a subsidy for board and lodging as well as for the treatment.
Inpatient care: If you are physically impaired or need comprehensive medical care, you should apply for inpatient rehabilitation. This is possible every four years. The health insurance company selects the appropriate spa resort, taking into account medical and economic aspects - and, as far as possible, the applicant's wishes.
Parent-child recuperation: The mother-child cure is ideal for preventing or curing illnesses or for taking a breather. It always takes place on an inpatient basis in a facility run by the Müttergenesungswerk or a similar facility. And it is not a vacation. A holistic concept with exercise, discussions and examinations is always offered, which is agreed at the beginning.
Outpatient rehabilitation: If you are severely restricted by an illness, this is the right treatment for you. Outpatient means that you spend four to six hours during the day at a rehabilitation center near your home and receive treatment there.
Inpatient rehabilitation: If you have a chronic illness, severe health restrictions or have undergone surgery, you can be treated in a rehabilitation center every four years.
Prerequisites
This must have happened beforehand: Your local doctor has treated you and prescribed all necessary medication, therapies and remedies. All options have been exhausted. You should also have been examined by a specialist. Another prerequisite: you must already be active at home to maintain your health, for example by eating healthily and exercising. And, of course, the doctors or the medical service must approve the project.
The applications
The right contacts: If the doctor has recommended a cure, the application must be submitted - for outpatient preventive cures to the health insurance company. The doctor or hospital will have the correct forms for rehabilitation measures. For inpatient preventive cures, employees should apply to the pension insurance fund. All non-permanent employees should apply to the health insurance fund. If it is a rehabilitation measure following an accident at work, on the way to work or at school, you should contact the employers' liability insurance association or the accident insurance fund.
Choosing the spa resort
Who gets to decide? For outpatient preventive cures, you choose the (state-approved) spa resort together with your doctor. For inpatient cures, the health insurance companies will select a suitable facility for you. You can find detailed information about spas and health resorts online at www.deutscher-heilbaederverband.de.
Packages abroad: There are also package cures in other European countries that are offered by specialized tour operators. The travel price includes everything from meals to medical care. But be careful: health insurance companies do not provide any subsidies for package cures.
The costs
10 euros/day for an inpatient cure: Every four years, the social insurance provider covers a three-week inpatient preventive or rehabilitation cure. This includes spa services, the inpatient stay and meals. The person taking the cure must pay an additional 10 euros per day. This also applies to mothers taking a preventive cure with their children.
10 percent for outpatient c ures: In the case of an outpatient preventive cure, the health insurance companies pay 90 percent of the care measures. The remaining 10 percent must be paid by the spa guest themselves. An additional 10 euros is added for the consultation with the spa doctor and another 10 euros as a so-called prescription sheet fee, on which the prescribed treatments are noted.
And in the case of rehabilitation: If you take an outpatient rehabilitation cure, i.e. go to a special center every day, you pay nothing at all. Travel costs are also covered. If it is an inpatient rehabilitation cure, you will also pay the 10 euros per day. Low earners can be exempted.
Tips and information on the topic
Good to know: There's more
Either you urgently need to get back on your feet or you need a breather so that nothing worse happens. The application for the cure is out. But there are still a few important things you should definitely think about.
Apply for household help
If you have to take a cure and are the so-called "person in charge of the household", you can apply for household help. Further requirements: A child under the age of twelve must live in the household and no one else may live there who could take over the work. With help, you are guaranteed that the rest of the family will be well looked after during your cure. And above all: you won't be faced with mountains of laundry and even more stress when you get home.
It goes into overtime
You are in the three-week cure and soon realize: To really get fitter and more resilient, I need more time. Then you should discuss this with your doctor, who will apply for an extension with you. This is also perfectly feasible for mother and child cures. The doctor on site can also decide that an extension is necessary from a medical point of view.
Rejected. And now?
Around one in five spa applications is rejected by the health insurance companies. Annoying, but it doesn't mean much. Don't let this stop you from going ahead with your plans. File an appeal. This is very often worthwhile. You should also ask for the report from the health insurers' medical service and discuss it with your doctor.
You may also be interested in this:
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Health insurance doesn't pay: What you get, what you're entitled to
Applying for a cure: How to do it in 5 steps
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The right insurance cover - what do I really need?
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