If a valid prescription for medical treatment is available and the service is eligible for prescription, the statutory health insurance company usually covers the costs minus the statutory co-payment.

In many standard cases, no. Whether approval is required depends on the individual case. For standard prescriptions, the supply usually proceeds directly via the prescription.

In principle, those with statutory health insurance can choose an approved healthcare provider. The list of healthcare providers maintained by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband) includes practices that are authorized to treat patients at the expense of any statutory health insurance fund.

Privately insured patients receive a fee agreement before treatment, which must be signed by the patient and which you can discuss with your health insurance company beforehand. Following treatment, privately insured patients receive an invoice. Whether and to what extent the private health insurance company reimburses the costs depends on your specific policy.