For EHIC holders (from countries other than Germany), GHIC recipients, and students from countries with a social-security agreement with Germany, there is an important distinction between non-urgent treatments, which are typically covered only in your home country, and urgent treatments, which can be received while in Germany. For urgent medical treatment in Germany, the billing process is the same as for students insured with a German statutory health insurance provider: the doctor will bill the health insurance provider directly.
Students covered by a social-security agreement (not using EHIC or GHIC): To enable direct billing, you need to complete a few additional steps before your doctors' appointment.
Treatment Necessity
For treatments which are urgent and cannot be postponed for medical reasons, the standard benefits under German statutory health insurance apply. For instance, if you develop a high fever, a doctor prescribes standard medication, which you obtain from a German pharmacy. Even if this medication is not covered by your home country's insurance, it will be covered in Germany, as it falls under the standard provisions of German statutory health insurance. However, non-urgent medical support, such as vaccinations, routine blood tests and other non-acute or preventive treatments, are generally to be carried out in your home country.
Chronic Illnesses
In the case of pre-existing chronic conditions, the EHIC, GHIC, social-security agreements take effect in Germany if a deterioration would occur without treatment. The EHIC etc. should also cover long-term medications when you are unable to obtain or bring a sufficient supply from your home country. If you have a severe chronic illness and wish to secure comprehensive medical support in Germany, even when your condition is stable, it may be beneficial to consider taking out additional health insurance with a German statutory provider.
