Fund finances holidays for the chronically ill

Health insurance companies pay for treatment of chronically ill patients on vacation

06/06/2013

The treatment of the chronically ill must take over public health insurance on vacation. The only requirement: a cost-acceptance declaration. It will be issued if the insured has several times unsuccessfully tried to conclude a private health insurance abroad. Provided the right preparation, nothing stands in the way of the upcoming summer vacation.

International health insurance: pitfalls for the chronically ill
People who suffer from chronic diseases - such as diabetes or asthma - may also need professional treatment during their vacation. In order to cover the costs, statutory insured persons must take out a private international health insurance, especially for longer trips outside Europe. Medical services in America, Canada, Australia or Asia does not pay the German health insurance. A repatriation is not paid even within Europe.

The foreign health insurance is in demand among consumers: „According to the German Insurance Association, there were more than 23 million contracts in 2010“, reports the Confederation of insured persons. The chronically ill, however, must pay attention to the fine print, the so-called „Limitations on the obligation to pay“. Is it said here, the insurance is only for „unforeseen“, „unpredictable "or „acute“ Disease is caution. Consumer advocates consider only one formulation of the following kind to be appropriate: „No obligation to pay exists [...] for treatments which, on the basis of a medical diagnosis at the time of departure, were known to have taken place when the journey was planned.“

This is how the costs are covered by statutory health insurance companies
For chronically ill patients, this passage does not help if they are dependent on medical treatment for longer trips. In most cases, however, they have legal entitlement to reimbursement, writes the Confederation of insured persons. One exception concerns longer journeys than six weeks outside Europe. „For six weeks in the calendar year, the health insurance also covers the costs outside Europe, up to the amount at which they would have arisen in Germany. It also intervenes when people with pre-existing conditions plan a stay outside of Europe for educational or academic reasons“, It is called Stiftung Warentest.

However, the health insurance company must determine the lack of insurability before going abroad for this purpose. This succeeds by presenting several letters of rejection of the private insurance. After examination, the health insurance ideally confirms a reimbursement. For private persons with full health insurance, a reimbursement of costs for travel of less than one month is not necessary. Anyone who acts early thus has a good chance of financial support in the treatment of chronic diseases. The Confederation of insured persons advises travelers while traveling only for protection „Risks that can be really hard to hit - financially or health wise.“ The hedging of minor risks per „travel package“ be unnecessary. (Lb)

Picture: Kurt F. Domnik