What Benefits Does Private Health Insurance Offer?

Persons who want to take out private health insurance can choose the scope of benefits covered. Everything is possible, from basic care to treatment by the world's best specialists, from full reimbursement of costs to high deductibles. The benefits stipulated in the insurance policy (called tariff in Germany) apply for the entire term of the contract. The private health insurance company cannot change them unilaterally.

Health insurance companies distinguish between three benefit levels:

• Basic: Good benefits – Low premiums
• Comfort: Very good benefits – Affordable
• Premium: Best benefits – Fair price

Private health insurance covers the costs of medical services to the agreed extent and insured persons have free choice from all doctors and hospitals. The more benefits the policy offers, the more expensive it becomes. Treatment at a very high medical level is always guaranteed. Adjustment clauses guarantee medical care is always at the cutting edge of medical science.

Contracts usually consist of three components: outpatient treatment, hospital care, and dental treatment. Private health insurance coverage is usually valid throughout Europe and for at least a month outside Europe. Extending the coverage is usually possible in the case of longer stays.

Private health insurance has many advantages over statutory health insurance:

• Doctors can charge more for treating private patients than those with statutory health insurance. Doctors will therefore dedicate more time to treatments and may pay greater attention to private patients. 
• Privately insured patients receive appointments with specialists much faster.
• Physicians have greater freedom when choosing the treatment method compared to the standard statutory benefits. They can make decisions without having to think in terms of cost constraints and budget limits. This also applies to the prescription of medication.
• Private treatment by medical specialists (for example, by the chief physician) is possible in hospitals and the patient can choose their doctors.

The scope and quality of the selected insurance coverage are determined individually in each contract. The premiums for private health insurance are based on the actual risk, determined by the entry age and state of health of the insured person – and, of course, the scope of benefits of the selected tariff. Benefits that are included in the contract are guaranteed. The insurance company cannot change the agreement. Once a contract is entered into, it is irrevocable.