What happens if I get sick while abroad?
January 28, 2022 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Fred Schönecker
Dear Social Security Law Attorney,
I hope that you can help me with my concern. My name is Lucas Jensen and I am currently traveling abroad. Unfortunately, I recently started feeling sick and I am wondering what happens if I get sick while abroad.
Background information: I am currently on a long trip and have been feeling healthy so far. However, I suddenly developed symptoms indicating an illness. Being away from my home country, I am concerned about how my medical care and associated costs will be covered.
The current situation is that I am sick abroad and unsure of how my health insurance will work in this situation. My concerns mainly revolve around potentially facing high medical treatment costs that exceed my financial means.
Therefore, my question to you is: What can I do to ensure that I receive appropriate care in case of illness abroad and avoid unexpected costs? Are there specific regulations or insurances that I should arrange before my trip? How should I proceed to quickly and easily get medical assistance in case of an emergency?
I thank you in advance for your support and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Lucas Jensen
Dear Mr. Jensen,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your health insurance situation abroad. It is understandable that you are concerned about how your medical care will be covered in case you fall ill during your trip. In the following, I will explain in detail what you can do to ensure that you are appropriately cared for in case of illness abroad and no unexpected costs arise.
First and foremost, it is important to know that the regulations for health insurance abroad can vary depending on the country and insurance provider. In general, as a legally insured individual in Germany, you are also covered by your health insurance fund abroad, at least for medically necessary treatments. However, it is advisable to check with your health insurance fund before your trip to see if and to what extent your insurance also applies abroad and what services are covered.
Furthermore, you have the option to take out travel health insurance specifically designed for medical emergencies abroad. This insurance can cover additional services, such as repatriation to your home country or treatments not covered by the German health insurance fund. It is recommended to take out such insurance before your trip to be prepared for any eventuality.
In case of illness abroad, you should immediately seek medical help from a local doctor to receive medical assistance. Depending on the country and insurance situation, you may have to initially pay the costs yourself and later be reimbursed. It is important to keep all medical records and invoices to ensure a smooth reimbursement process with your health insurance fund or travel health insurance.
In summary, it is important to familiarize yourself with the applicable regulations of your health insurance abroad before your trip and, if necessary, take out travel health insurance. In case of emergency, you should immediately seek help from a local doctor and carefully keep all relevant documents.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available for further questions.
Sincerely,
Fred Schönecker
Attorney specializing in social insurance law
