In psychiatric treatments - whether outpatient or inpatient - the trip to the doctor or hospital often plays an important role. But the costs for these trips can quickly add up, especially if you have to go to appointments regularly or the clinic is further away. With this short article, we would like to give an overview of the travel costs that arise, which can be reimbursed and what the standard reimbursement process looks like. The topic is a bit dry and boring, but it should not be ignored, as an illness should not also become a financial disadvantage.
What are the actual travel costs?
For medical treatment, travel costs usually arise for the following transports:
1. Outpatient trips:
- Private vehicle: costs for petrol, parking fees or similar.
- Public transport: costs for bus, train or other means of transport.
- Taxi rides: These are often used when the patient has health problems and cannot use public transport.
2. Stationary trips:
- Ambulance: Used in acute emergencies or for planned inpatient admission.
- Patient transport services: These services often offer a cheaper or health insurance-covered alternative to taxis, especially for regular journeys.
- Private vehicle or public transport: When relatives bring the patient for inpatient treatment.
Which travel expenses can be reimbursed?
In principle, travel costs are not always automatically covered by health insurance. However, there are certain conditions under which costs can be covered:
- Travel costs for inpatient treatment: These are usually covered by the health insurance company if the treatment has been prescribed by a doctor and approved by the health insurance company.
- Travel costs for outpatient treatments: This is where things get a little more complicated. In most cases, travel costs are only reimbursed if there is a medical need. Typical cases in which travel costs are covered are: trips to a ketamine or ECT treatment or trips to other special treatments that are carried out regularly and over a longer period of time.
- Other outpatient journeys: For other outpatient treatments that are not regular or essential, the travel costs are generally not covered by the health insurance company.
The standard refund process
- Obtain a prescription from your doctor: Your doctor must confirm that the journey is medically necessary. This is usually done by issuing a prescription for medical transport.
- Submit an application to your health insurance company: Before you start traveling, you should submit an application to your health insurance company and have it approved. This will check whether the travel costs can be covered.
- Collect evidence: If you drive privately or use public transport, you should collect all receipts (e.g. fuel receipts, tickets). You must submit these to your health insurance company together with the reimbursement application.
- Note the deductible: There is a statutory co-payment when reimbursement of travel costs. This is usually 10% of the travel costs, but at least €5 and a maximum of €10 per trip. This co-payment is only waived in certain hardship cases.
- Wait for approval: After you have submitted the application, the health insurance company will decide whether the travel costs will be reimbursed. After approval, the money will be transferred to your account.
Special regulations and tips
- Hardship regulation: If you have difficulty paying the co-payment due to your financial situation, there is the possibility of being exempted from the co-payment obligation. This particularly applies to people with chronic illnesses or low incomes. It is best to speak to your health insurance provider directly about this.
- Avoid paying in advance: In some cases, the health insurance company may settle the costs directly with the transport service provider. This means that you do not have to pay the costs up front. Find out in advance whether this is possible in your case.
- Switching between outpatient and inpatient treatment: If you are transferred from outpatient to inpatient treatment, for example if your health deteriorates, travel costs can also be reimbursed if they are medically necessary.
Travel costs can be an underestimated cost factor for outpatient and inpatient treatments. It is therefore worth checking in advance whether and to what extent your health insurance company can cover the travel costs. With a doctor's prescription, an early application and the right evidence, you can ensure that you do not incur unnecessary additional costs.
If you are unsure about which travel expenses will be reimbursed and what your health insurance company really needs, we recommend that you contact your health insurance company in person and you may also find the information on the website or mobile app. Many health insurance companies now allow you to apply for and have travel expenses reimbursed really easily via the mobile app.
