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Social assistance; applying for health assistance

People who do not have statutory, voluntary or private health insurance can apply for health assistance.

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Procedure details

Health assistance is granted to people who do not have statutory or private health insurance cover and who meet the other statutory requirements for the granting of benefits. In particular, the persons must be in need of assistance, i.e. they cannot reasonably be expected to raise the funds for the necessary assistance from their income and assets.

Health assistance includes services and measures for recovery, improvement or alleviation of the consequences of illness. The benefits correspond to those of the statutory health insurance in terms of type and scope. This also includes the following benefits:

  • preventive health assistance (preventive services)
  • Assistance in the event of illness (medical treatment)
  • Assistance with family planning
  • Assistance with pregnancy and maternity
  • Assistance with sterilization

As with statutory health insurance, this assistance includes

  • medical treatment and care including psychotherapy and midwife assistance,
  • dental treatment
  • provision of medicines, dressings, remedies and aids,
  • home nursing care and household help
  • Hospital treatment

Only benefits that would also be reimbursable under statutory health insurance law are covered. This also applies to exclusions from benefits, co-payments and the limit on co-payments.

The entitlement arises as soon as the competent body becomes aware of the emergency situation. The person concerned is free to choose the doctor or inpatient facility (except for non-approved birth centers).

Persons who receive ongoing social welfare benefits and who do not already have statutory, voluntary or private health insurance are treated in the same way as persons with statutory health insurance (so-called quasi-insurance). As a rule, they receive a health insurance card from a health insurance company of their choice from the area of the respective social welfare provider. The health insurance company then bills the social welfare provider for the services provided.

Health assistance can also be granted to people seeking help who do not have health insurance and who do not receive regular assistance for living expenses because they can cover their current living expenses with their income, but not necessary additional costs such as medical expenses. In this case, no health treatment is provided by the health insurance fund. Instead, the social welfare offices directly cover the costs of necessary medical care for these people. This means that you must apply for a treatment certificate from the social welfare office before any medical treatment (exception: emergencies or treatment on Sundays and public holidays).

Health assistance also includes subsidies for people in need who do not have statutory health insurance for inpatient or semi-inpatient care in hospices.

Assistance with pregnancy and maternity (according to SGB XII): If there is no entitlement to basic income support for jobseekers (unemployment benefit II), those affected may be able to receive social welfare benefits during their pregnancy and in the initial period afterwards as part of assistance during pregnancy and maternity (in accordance with SGB XII). Pregnancy and maternity benefits also include care in an inpatient facility and home care services.

You can apply for health assistance if

  • you live in Bavaria,
  • you do not have health insurance,
  • you have too little income and assets to pay your health treatment costs.

  • The responsible social welfare office will provide information on the documents required in individual cases.

You can apply for health assistance from the social welfare office responsible for your place of residence.

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If you do not have health insurance, you should apply for health insurance immediately.

Are you unable to pay the premium yourself? If you are able to work, you can apply for unemployment benefit II from the Jobcenter (see "Help for those able to work"). All others can apply for help from the social welfare office.

Appeal and complaint to the locally competent social court

Status: 14.12.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales
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