Health insurance takes over costs for osteopathy

Alternative treatment approaches are becoming increasingly popular

08/06/2012

Naturopathic treatment methods are gaining more and more recognition not only among the patients, but also among the statutory health insurance companies. Now BKK Mobil Oil has decided to take over the costs of osteopathic treatment. The gentle healing with the hands promises relief in a variety of diseases.

With the inclusion of osteopathy in its range of services, BKK Mobil Oil claims to live up to the "continuing interest in alternative treatment methods". Since 1 August, the health insurance company has been paying 80 percent of the costs for up to six osteopathic treatments a year. However, the reimbursement is subject to certain conditions.

Therapy with the hands
Osteopathy is a treatment method of alternative medicine in which is treated exclusively with the hands. This procedure, also known as manual medicine, is used to release blockages in the body and to activate the self-healing powers. Osteopathy goes back to the US physician Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, who founded the first school of osteopathy (the American School of Osteopathy) about 120 years ago. Today doctors, non-medical practitioners and physiotherapists can acquire additional osteopathic training in Germany. Osteopathy is becoming more and more popular among patients, not least because gentle hand treatment in the past has achieved considerable success in many conditions, such as headaches, back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions. Another advantage of osteopathy is the lack of medication, as it eliminates the risk of side effects.

80 percent of the costs of osteopathic treatments are covered
So far, osteopathy is not part of the regular service catalog of the statutory health insurance. Although the patients have to bear the costs of the treatment themselves, however, the diaries of the osteopaths are well filled. The company health insurance company Mobil Oil has recognized the needs of the insured and has now responded by expanding its range of services. From now on, the health insurance will cover up to 80 percent of the costs for a maximum of six treatments a year. Although the reimbursement per treatment is limited to a maximum of 60 euros, the insured person may incur cost savings of up to 360 euros per year. However, BKK Mobil Oil has linked the reimbursement of costs to a number of conditions.

Requirements for the reimbursement of the costs of BKK Mobil Oil
In order for BKK Mobil Oil to participate in the treatment costs, a prescription of osteopathic therapy by a doctor is required, whereby "a correspondingly informal medical confirmation" must be submitted, according to the notification of the health insurance. In addition, the treatment should exclusively "by a doctor with a POS and additional qualification osteopathy or by a qualified physiotherapist." If the osteopathic treatment performed by a naturopath, the health insurance can according to their own information "due to legal requirements not participate." The billing for Treatment is like a private patient. The patients "settle the bill for the time being and submit it together with the original medical certificate and information about your account" at BKK Mobil Oil. The health insurance company then transfers the recoverable portion of the invoice amount to the patient's account.

Improved competitive position through cost sharing in osteopathy
By including osteopathy in its range of services, BKK Mobil Oil has also strengthened its own position in competition with other statutory health insurance companies. Since the funds have little leeway in terms of contribution rates, the quality of the service is a crucial market factor. For example, Betriebskrankenkasse Mobil Oil is expanding its range of services not only by reimbursement of costs for osteopathy, but also by further measures, such as increasing the bonus program, expanding vaccination protection and expanding cancer screening. According to its own statements, BKK Mobil Oil currently has around one million members "among the most financially and financially strongest providers of statutory health insurance in Germany." The health insurance company has been awarded several times for its good range of services, including "Best Health Insurance for Families". The residents of Bavaria, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia have access to BKK Mobil Oil. Personal care is provided at the offices in Celle, Hamburg and Heusenstamm (Hesse). (Fp)

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