Travel health insurance, ➢ what to look for when concluding


Travel Health Insurance | ➢ What to look for when concluding

Table of contents Travel health insurance

Why a travel health insurance abroad is so important

I am legally insured!

Basically: Every traveler abroad should always have a proof of health insurance of the statutory health insurance in the form of European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). For most legal insurers, this is integrated in the normal chip card.

But beware: The statutory health insurance companies do not cover medical costs and expenses in all countries, and these are generally not fully met. Despite the statistically low probability of a health incident while traveling, the conclusion of an additional health insurance is nevertheless extremely useful – even for city trips or weekend trips – or a holiday without such coverage grossly negligent – both health and financially.

Many providers of travel health insurance provide adequate insurance even for the small budget. With a relatively low contribution, you can prevent major financial losses in an emergency. The cheapest travel health insurance can be completed under 1 euro per day.

Important facts that make additional foreign health insurance essential for every trip

In states in which the statutory health insurance funds provide a necessary supply, the costs are only reimbursed up to the amount that would cost the supply in Germany. Depending on the country of destination, the scope of the healing and transport costs abroad may differ considerably from the standard existing in the Federal Republic, the difference being borne by the patient himself.

Outside the countries with social security agreements, travelers are not covered by statutory health insurance at all, and even the patient must pay for expensive first aid.

A necessary – and usually very expensive – medical repatriation does not take over the statutory health insurance in principle – not even within the EU or in the Schengen States.

Regardless of the type of hedge you should definitely know that the patient often in case of emergency for the costs incurred in advance must occur. This also applies in part to the services provided by the Card EHIC be billed. Only after the conclusion of the treatment and on presentation of the invoice for the services rendered will the respective health insurance fund reimburse the costs incurred within the framework of the concluded insurance contract.

For very high sums, which go beyond the solvency of the traveler on the spot, z. As intensive care first measures, costs for rescue helicopters, etc., a solution is usually found by the attending clinic directly with the competent health insurance in contact to make sure about the reimbursement.

Nevertheless, one should be aware that without an existing insurance cover and a life-sustaining primary care must be financed out of pocket in the aftermath, and that the treating clinic or the doctor after the acute primary care to any further treatment is required, unless an acute emergency more indicated is.

Why does the destination play an important role??

Skiing in the Black Forest or backpacking in Australia
Even in the age of globalization, there is still no standard worldwide for health insurance benefits abroad. Therefore, it is therefore all the more important to inform yourself in detail before the trip, which services your own health insurance in the country in an emergency provides, and for which cases you should additionally secure a foreign health insurance to ensure the necessary insurance coverage and avoid unnecessary risks.

Within the EU, the European Health Insurance Card EHIC guarantees primary health care in all European Member States. In these countries, the statutory health insurance company reimburses the costs incurred in the event of illness, but only up to the amount that would have cost the corresponding treatment in Germany. If the treatment abroad is more expensive than in Germany, the patient has to pay the difference out of his own pocket.

The so-called European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) 2004 has replaced the foreign health insurance, it is applied for once at the statutory health insurance, with most insurers, it is already integrated into the normal chip. It guarantees basic medical care in all EU Member States, but only in the context of the above mentioned conditions.

Even in the case of medical emergencies in countries outside the EU, the statutory health insurance is useful in a number of countries, namely in all countries for which there is a social security agreement with the Federal Republic. These countries are called Schengen states, after the agreement of the same name.

So if the Schengen Agreement applies to the holiday destination, the costs will be covered to the same extent as in the destinations within the EU. Here, too, only up to the sum, which would have cost the appropriate medical care in Germany.

In both cases, but one medically necessary return transport to Germany usually not taken over by the statutory health insurance.

Many popular travel destinations, such as Tunisia, are outside the EU and outside the Schengen agreement. When traveling to these countries, the statutory health insurance does not apply, the traveler is simply not health insurance, which catastrophic in an emergency financial and health consequences may have. When traveling to these countries, a complete coverage by a foreign health insurance is necessary, even initial care measures are not reimbursed.

Who pays the return transport to Germany in an emergency?

The worst-case scenario
An important topic in the occurrence of a medical emergency abroad is medical repatriation. If z. B. at the resort the necessary treatment can not be guaranteed or treatment over a longer period of time is required, the patient carries – regardless of whether he is in a Schengen state or not – the cost of this repatriation out of pocket, even if this is necessary for survival.

The statutory health insurance in Germany take over the Costs for medical repatriation usually not!

These costs – similar to the costs of lengthy hospital stays or complex examinations – move very quickly in a dimension that can plunge even high earners into a major financial disaster. That is why it is very important in choosing a suitable health insurance pay Attention to, that the Return transport in the scope of services of the provider is included. In the case of good providers of appropriate travel health insurance, medically indicated return transport is now part of the standard program. Nevertheless, you should absolutely pay attention to the fine print.

What kind of travel health insurance do I need?

Family vacation, au pair year or spontaneous city break
The existing range of different types of insurance is now very large. Here is an overview of the most important types of health insurance abroad. Offered are especially:

International health insurance as a complete package with an annual term covering all travel worldwide, but often a limit of days per year set, many providers insure travel up to a maximum of 6 weeks per calendar year. For travel that exceeds this time limit, a special one-time travel health insurance must be taken out for the additional days to continue providing emergency medical care.

As an alternative to these total packages, there are travel health insurance policies that can be taken out once in connection with a specific trip – exclusively for the duration of the planned stay. If the trip is extended for any reason, there is no longer any insurance coverage.

For persons who are abroad for a long time at a time, there are special health insurance abroad, z. For example, for au pairs, exchange students, active business travelers, etc. Often, these contracts are staggered by years.

In addition, many insurers offer foreign health insurance for specific destinations, such as: For example, travel to the US or Australia, but this insurance only apply within this country, for example, trips are not secured as part of a US stay in neighboring Mexico, including countries that crosses as intermediate stops during arrival or departure or are served, are excluded from the insurance coverage of a country-specific health insurance.

Some insurers also offer travel health insurance as part of travel bookings for families, and some insurers even for travel groups.

Which services are important for a travel health insurance?

Emergency care, medicines, repatriation u.v.m.
Again, there are now a variety of sometimes complex packages with various additional services in various areas of health care. The range of services offered by a good health insurance abroad should include the following:

In-patient hospitalization and necessary surgical treatments.

Dentist: Analgesic treatments, emergency fillings, temporary repair of dentures.

Medical repatriation to Germany, if necessary with accompanying medical staff.

In chronically ill patients, for. B. Diabetics: Ensuring the formulation and reimbursement of permanently necessary medication, eg. B. insulin.

  • possibly death benefits: Transfer to Germany or burial abroad.
  • The benefits of the foreign health insurance should necessarily be compared with the benefits of the statutory health insurance in order to enjoy a total of then during your stay abroad maximum insurance protection.

    Where can I find the right travel health insurance??

    Find the forest for the trees:
    For decision-making, various comparison portals are also available in which comprehensive information is provided about the costs, duration and services of individual providers. Important aspects of the research are Travel country, travel duration, travel frequency. Whether it’s a monthly business trip to London, a family holiday in Bali or a backpacking trip around the globe – all different conditions that are relevant when looking for suitable insurance with an optimal price-performance ratio. An extensive comparison is worthwhile and spares the travel fund.

    If you book a trip as a complete package in the travel agency or in relevant portals on the Internet, there are companies that offer a travel health insurance that is included in the total package of the booking. But here, too, it is important to check the services offered exactly.

    When researching for optimal insurance coverage, you should keep a few questions in mind in advance to find a suitable, individually tailored solution.

    Where exactly are the limits of my statutory health insurance for this trip, which benefits must I additionally insure?

    Which countries do I travel to? Is the Schengen Agreement there applicable? (Here is a glance at the homepage or a call to the relevant statutory insurance)

    How often and how long am I abroad? Is a one-time insurance or a complete package cheaper?

    Is an expensive emergency repatriation transport insurance implied?

    For family travel: each must be insured individually or there is an insurance package for the whole family?

    TIP! There are now also providers of combination packages, which offer a health insurance under a credit card contract. Some banks offer one free travel health insurance upon completion of a travel credit card. This variant is attractive in two respects, because you not only save costs, but also after the “Two Flying with-a-flap principle“Administrative overhead and additional tickets in your luggage.

    Private insured persons also need a travel health insurance abroad?

    I have private health insurance:
    If you only have a private health insurance instead of the statutory health insurance, you are with most providers within Europe unlimited, and worldwide at least for the travel period of up to one month to the same extent as insured by the statutory health insurance.

    But even if you have completed a fixed standard benefit rate as a private patient, you should check exactly to what extent the respective private insurer assumes inpatient costs incurred abroad. In addition, it should also be ensured here whether the existing private insurance – even if it offers a globally integrated foreign insurance protection – all important points, such as. B. return transport costs covers.

    If you only have a private supplementary insurance for special optional services, which was completed in addition to the statutory KV, then you are covered by the statutory health insurance – at least in EU and Schengen states – within the scope of their benefits. All other services must also be covered by additional health insurance, in particular medical repatriation.

    Who pays planned treatments abroad?

    I opted for dental treatment abroad:
    Dentures abroad are becoming increasingly popular. Everywhere lure complete packages with travel, treatment and accommodation – especially in Eastern European countries with ridiculous prices for high-quality dentures.

    But who pays these costs? If a medical or dental treatment is planned abroad, you have to be well informed first about the doctor and the statutory health insurance. In the run-up to the treatment, it makes sense to request a treatment plan that is as precisely worked out as possible with a detailed cost estimate.

    Patients who are traveling to another EU country for a planned treatment from the statutory health insurance the form “E112”. There are various options for billing: If no approval is obtained from the health insurance company before the treatment, this will be deducted according to the reimbursement procedure. In this case, the insured must enter in advance. The submitted invoice is then checked and settled according to the agreed services.

    Again, statutory health insurance does not pay outside the EU and the Schengen states. However, the prerequisite here is the approval in the form of the “E112” form. The maximum amount that will be reimbursed in Germany for treatment is approved. Travel expenses and accommodation costs in the hotel are also not taken over.

    In many cases, however, you have to have the reimbursement confirmed but before the start of treatment by the health insurance. Depending on the basis on which the settlement takes place, the insured person receives the benefits in kind, – so that no advance payment is required – or on the way of direct reimbursement.

    Since planned treatments abroad are very individual, it is particularly important to first contact the statutory health insurance in individual cases in order to clarify which additional benefits must be covered by a health insurance abroad.

    What else is worth knowing about travel health insurance

    Some tips at the end

    If you go away rather spontaneously – albeit rarely -, a cost-effective annual insurance offers in any case, so that in principle at z. For example, last minute travel, surprise visits or short-term business stays are secured throughout the year.

    Attention: Many policies on annual contracts only provide protection for a certain number of days of the year. Therefore, you should know when the daily limit is reached – you travel more often or longer, offers an insurance without daily limit.

    For ultra-shortcuts, there is the possibility at some major German airports to conclude a travel health insurance shortly before departure. In principle, even this last-minute policy saves unnecessary costs in an emergency, but one should take the time – even in the departure stress – to read the contract carefully before signing and ensure that the important points such as: B. return transport, etc. are safely included in the performance framework.

    In some states, entry without health insurance is not allowed. Reckless vacationers, who enter these countries at their own risk without health insurance, are actually not processed at the airports.

    The chronically ill are usually not adequately protected by the health insurance abroad, if a treatment measure is foreseeable abroad. This gap must be covered individually by the patient through their health insurance.

    If the policyholder has employment abroad, he and his accompanying family members will generally receive the benefits provided by the Social Security Code from the employer. But even then you should be informed in each individual case in detail about the exact benefits and their limits.

    A neutral point of contact for information on health insurance abroad is the national contact point for cross-border healthcare, and information is also available from the European Consumer Center.

    In order to achieve an optimal price-performance ratio, it is worthwhile to take time before the planned stay in peace, to choose an appropriate and on the individual claims optimized insurance. If the sum of the benefits of the statutory health insurance and the chosen travel health insurance covers the desired range, then you can sit back and look forward to a relaxed – because secure – vacation!

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