Understanding the various costs associated with health insurance is crucial for effectively managing your healthcare expenses. One common cost-sharing mechanism is the co-payment, or co-pay. Co-payments are fixed amounts that policyholders pay out of pocket for specific healthcare services, with the remaining balance covered by their insurance plan. This article explores the concept of co-payments, detailing how they work and the different types.
A co-payment, or co-pay, is a fixed amount you pay out of pocket for a specific healthcare service at the time you receive it, with the remaining balance covered by your health insurance plan. Co-payments are a common feature in many health insurance policies and are designed to share the cost of medical services between the insurer and the insured.
Copays tend to differ depending on the service or treatment involved, particularly based on whether or not the treatment is considered to be essential, or whether a visit to a specialist is or is not required. The level of co-payment is set down in individual health insurance policies.
In Germany, people with public health insurance can expect to make a co-payment of around €10 per quarter for visits to their doctor as well as co-payments of €5–10 for prescription medicines (or 10% of the total cost).
Private health insurance providers in Germany do not tend to require co-payments but instead use deductibles as a means of having policyholders contribute a small percentage of their healthcare costs.
Co-pay fees generally range around €25 or less, but this can differ among insurance providers and specific plans. For example, you might be required to pay €25 for a doctor's visit or €10 for a prescription medication. It's essential to review the terms of your insurance plan to understand your specific co-payment obligations.
Co-payment amounts can vary depending on the type of service:
Insurance providers may adjust co-payment amounts annually. It is advisable to check with your insurance company or HR department at the beginning of each year to understand any changes in your co-pay obligations.
Here's a breakdown of co-payments you might encounter with your German statutory health insurance:
Co-Payments |
Co-Payments |
Description |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Co-Payments |
Medications and Medical Aids |
Description |
|
Co-Payments |
Hospital Stays and Rehabilitation |
Description |
|
Co-Payments |
Home Help Services |
Description |
|
Co-Payments |
Specific Coverage Notes |
Description |
|
The initial online enrollment is in German due to legal requirements. However, we are doing this together on the phone and we will of course help you through step by step. So no worries!
If you are eligible for private health insurance and you are in Germany on a visa or a limited permit, we can offer you the Expat Tariff up to five years.
You can claim a part of the costs for private health insurance as ‘Vorsorgeaufwendungen’ expenses in your tax return, this is what the Citizen Relief Act (Bürgerentlastungsgesetz) has been saying since 2010, namely the part that is considered basic coverage. We certify how high this portion is each year and you do not have to calculate it yourself. The basic share corresponds to the benefits of the public health insurance.
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