Health insurance worldwide at no extra cost

Siemens Health Insurance Fund insures worldwide from 2012 and at no extra cost

12/29/2011

In 2012, all insured persons of the Siemens Health Insurance SBK will automatically be insured for private travel abroad at no additional cost worldwide. The first six weeks of each trip are covered. This is made possible by a contract between SBK and ERGO Direkt Versicherung.

In the best case, people who come back from vacation tell of their great impressions, of encounters with other people and foreign cultures. But even from illness and accidents in another country, no one is immune. While most travel accidents are not as severe and therefore do not require inpatient treatment. "Our statistics show that around 50 percent of all treatments cost less than 100 euros," said Michael Zaubzer, a foreign expert at SBK.

However: under certain circumstances it can be expensive. This applies to travel to distant countries, as well as for holidays within Europe. The statutory health insurance funds may only pay for services rendered abroad if they are an EU member state or a so-called agreement state such as Turkey, Tunisia, Bosnia, Macedonia or Croatia. As a rule, only the rates that would have been reimbursed in Germany are paid. There are EU countries that are adopting the European Health Card (EHIC), which has been in force for several years. But even if the acceptance increases from year to year, it may happen that the card is rejected for various reasons. Then the patient has to pay for the treatment privately, and the sentences used are often arbitrary. In this case, a private travel health insurance protects.

SBK members and their co-insured family members are covered by universal health insurance in 2012 for all private trips of up to six weeks each year. For example, all medically necessary services, inpatient treatment or the medically necessary repatriation from abroad are paid. The insurance cover is automatic, a separate registration is not necessary. If a case of illness actually occurs and costs have arisen for a medical treatment, SBK will take care of the reimbursement by ERGO Direkt Versicherung "fast and unbureaucratically". (Pm)