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Receiving Medications for Those with Public Health Insurance

If you are covered by statutory health insurance, you are entitled to medically necessary treatments. These include physical therapy, occupational therapy, voice, speech, and swallowing therapy, podiatry, and nutritional therapy.

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Procedure details

If you have public health insurance, your health insurance provider will cover the costs of your treatment. This includes medically necessary treatments, that is, services provided by

  • physical therapy,
  • podiatrics,
  • voice, speech, language, and swallowing therapy,
  • occupational therapy, and
  • nutrition therapy.

Your doctor will issue a prescription for these services. Your treating psychotherapist can also prescribe occupational therapy services. In addition, your dentist can prescribe physical therapy as well as speech, language, and swallowing therapy.

Approval of the prescribed treatment from your health insurance provider is not required.

For example, if you need therapeutic treatments such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech-language therapy for at least one year without interruption due to a chronic condition, you can apply to your health insurance provider for long-term coverage of these treatments.

  • You have public health insurance.
  • Your doctor or psychotherapist has prescribed these remedies for you.
  • These medications are necessary
    • for healing or relief,
    • to prevent illness,
    • to counteract risks to a child’s development, or
    • to prevent or reduce the need for long-term care.
  • Treatment is provided by licensed
    • physical therapists,
    • massage therapists and medical bath attendants,
    • occupational therapists,
    • speech-language pathologists,
    • speech therapists,
    • podiatrists, or
    • nutrition therapists.
  • To obtain approval for long-term medical treatment:
    • Your doctor has diagnosed you with a severe functional or structural impairment,
    • and ongoing treatment is required for a period of at least one year
    • Submit an application to your health insurance provider if the condition is not listed in the diagnostic list in Appendix 2 of the Medicines Guidelines.

  • Required Documents
    • doctor's prescription

You can submit an application for long-term medical needs by mail, for example. With many health insurance companies, you can also submit your application in person at their office or online.

If you would like to submit an application:

  • Have your doctor issue a prescription for the medication with a detailed justification.
  • The doctor’s justification must clearly state that you need the treatment continuously for at least one year.
  • Make a legible copy of the doctor’s prescription and submit it to your health insurance provider along with your application.
  • You will receive a decision from your health insurance provider.
  • Keep the original prescription and present it directly to your therapy practice so that treatment can begin.

Treatments are free for children.

If you are 18 years of age or older, you pay

  • 10% of the treatment costs,
  • 10 euros per prescription. 

If you have a low income or no income, you can apply to your health insurance provider for an exemption from copayments.

You have 28 days to fill a prescription.

  • Appeal: Information on how to file an appeal can be found in your notice.
  • Lawsuit in Social Court

Status: 21.07.2026
Editorially responsible for procedure description: Bundesministerium für Gesundheit and Bundesministerium für Gesundheit
Source: Federal Portal