Statutory health insurance - apply for exemption from co-payment

For many services, such as medication, physiotherapy or hospital treatment, you have to make a co-payment. There is a limit so that you are not overburdened financially. If you have reached the limit that applies to , you can apply to your health insurance company for an exemption from co-payment.

Tip: You can find a detailed list of services subject to co-payment on the websites of many statutory health insurance companies. You do not have to make co-payments for many medicines.

Amount of the co-payment limit:

• Per family 2% of the gross income for living expenses.

This family income includes all financial income of the insured person and the co-insured family members living in the same household. Income from letting and leasing or capital income is also included in the calculation.

• Seriously chronically ill persons undergoing long-term treatment: 1 % of gross income for living expenses. This limit also applies to your family members with family insurance. An illness is considered to seriously chronic if it has been medically treated at least once per quarter for at least one year and fulfils additional criteria.

As a chronically ill person, you will only receive the reduced contribution limit of one per cent if you submit a chronic illness certificate issued by a doctor to the health insurance company.

• Children under the age of 18: no co-payments. Exception: travelling expenses.

Tip: Many health insurance companies offer a co-payment calculator on their websites, which you can use to determine your maximum co-payment.