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Healthcare in Germany: the time-saving tech for expats

Think of Germany and most people think of an uber-efficient nation. But expats living in Europe‘s economic powerhouse are sometimes surprised by the variations in healthcare provision.

Published: 16 June 2020 09:00 CEST
Healthcare in Germany: the time-saving tech for expats
Photo: Getty

Now, ottonova private health insurance is capturing the technological zeitgeist with its innovative digital solutions.

Patients wait an average of four days to see a primary care doctor in Germany, according to a 2018 study. Most practices are traditionally closed on Wednesday afternoons and at weekends. With 85 percent of people relying on public health insurance, these factors have led to overcrowded hospital emergency departments.

Germany is reforming its healthcare system to tackle these problems. But the changes, along with a high proportion of people aged over 65, are contributing to rising public healthcare costs. Here are six ways choosing ottonova private health insurance for expats earning €62,550+ a year could save you time – and worry.

Health insurance made easy: find out how ottonova could save you time and worry

1. Concierge support in English

You are feeling a little “kaputt” and know you should see a doctor. But the thought of struggling to get through on the phone followed by 30 minutes in a waiting room – the average wait with public insurance in Germany – is making you delay. Sound familiar? 

Smart, digital technology now dominates our lives. But when it comes to health, even millennials seem stuck on analogue; only 4 percent plan doctor’s appointments online, according to a Forsa Institute study for ottonova. Yet 71 percent say they would use a fully digital health insurance service.

Ottonova offers exactly that, starting with its app and dedicated concierge team. Just pick up your handy (mobile phone), open the app and instantly chat with a named team member for anything about your health and insurance.

Whether you have an urgent need or want a preventive checkup, your concierge can find the right doctor and quickly arrange an appointment. Digitalization speeds things up – but the human touch remains crucial to making customers‘ lives easier.

2. Doctor video consultations – within minutes 

You have a tight schedule you can‘t change – or suddenly feel so poorly that you want to stay in bed. Neither possibility poses a problem with ottonova private health insurance, which offers video consultations with English-speaking doctors. The waiting time is often under a minute from making a request to the concierge and the service is available 365 days a year.

Getting an instant diagnosis and treatment plan via video can help you manage your work, family and social life. Plus, you can get a sick note – which German employers typically require within one to three days – the same day. Now that’s what we call uber-efficient!

Tired of waiting to see a doctor? Find out more about ottonova’s time-saving video consultations

Photo: Getty Images

3. One app – and no paperwork

As an expat, you’re probably familiar with how frustrating bureaucracy can be. With ottonova, there is no need to worry about misplacing an important document or missing an appointment. You can go paperless by signing up online and using the app, where documents and events appear in a simple overview. Pharmacy and doctor’s visits, prescriptions, concierge chats and incapacity certificates can all be called up whenever needed. 

You can also scan and upload invoices for fast processing. Want to check exactly what your tariff covers? Or send a certificate of contributions to the tax office to support your tax deductions? You’ll find what you need in the app. 

4. English-speaking doctors and staff

Even if you are studying hard to impress with your German, some situations require zero room for misunderstanding. With ottonova private health insurance, you can have all your health-related questions answered in English.

The English-speaking concierge team are available via the app or by phone. Most importantly, they can arrange appointments with English-speaking doctors, either in person or via video call. You can then discuss your symptoms and treatment without feeling you are sitting a German oral exam.

5. Rapid reimbursement 

Consumers have a growing choice of instant ways to pay businesses. But this emphasis on speed is sometimes mysteriously lacking when funds must travel in the opposite direction. Not with ottonova, which can again save you valuable time. Simply upload your invoice via the app and you can expect to receive your money before you even have to pay your bill. Many customers receive the money within hours, while the vast majority of verified invoices are reimbursed within two working days. 

6. Faster access to specialists

Getting an appointment with a specialist often requires a referral (or Überweisung) from a general practitioner. One study found patients with public health insurance waited nearly four times as long as the privately insured – and 17 times as long in the worst instance. It also found the gap was widening.

But when you are insured with ottonova, you can ask the concierge team to arrange an appointment with a nearby specialist without a referral – and you’ll often get one within a few days. Your concierge can also help you quickly get a second opinion; for example, prior to undergoing surgery.

As every doctor knows, prevention is better than cure. In the app, you will also find ottonova’s top tips for staying healthy. After all, there is one thing even more precious than your time: your health.

Get a free, non-binding consultation with ottonova to help you take an informed decision about your future healthcare coverage in Germany – find out how to get your personal consultation now

This article was produced by The Local Creative Studio and sponsored by ottonova.

For members

HEALTH

How to find available therapists in Germany

It’s no secret that mental health care can be particularly tricky to access in Germany. Here are some helpful tips for anyone who is struggling to book an appointment for therapy.

Published: 23 April 2024 12:55 CEST
How to find available therapists in Germany

The process to find psychotherapy in Germany’s urban centres is arduous – licensed therapists often have impossibly long wait times, and private practices don’t accept public health insurance.

A major reason that public insurance funded mental health care is hard to find in Germany comes down to regulations. Specifically the ‘coverage plan’ (Bedarfsplanung) that basically limits the number of licences available for publicly insured therapists in a region.

Germany’s maddening bureaucracy probably won’t be fixed any time soon. So residents in need of therapy will need to find a way through the system as it is.

So here are a few helpful tips for finding therapists, as well as how publicly insured patients can have private practice therapy costs reimbursed.

Look for therapists enrolled at academies

You’ll probably have a better chance getting an appointment with therapists who are currently in training, because not everyone knows that this option exists.

You can search for “Akademie für Psychotherapie”, to find one in your location. The Berliner Akademie für Psychotherapie, is one in the capital city, for example.

If you arrange an appointment this way, you can expect to be connected with a grad student therapist in training who needs to complete their supervised practice hours. In this case, you would see your therapist as usual, and they will be going through your session with an experienced therapist afterward.

The main advantages to seeking a therapist in training is that it may be cheaper and you can probably more readily find an appointment. A potential disadvantage is that the therapist you’ll be seeing is less experienced. 

But according to a Stockholm University study, student therapists who receive regular feedback from supervisors may be just as effective as licensed therapists at treating patients.

How to get reimbursed for going to a private practice

As mentioned above, therapists covered by public health insurance are few and far between, especially in many urban centres, and therefore regularly come with long wait times. But for those willing to do battle with the bureaucracy, there is an option to have your costs reimbursed for seeing a private practice therapist.

Specifically, public insurance providers are obligated to provide full reimbursement of costs in the event of a “supply emergency”. 

Waiting times of more than three months are considered unreasonable. So generally, patients can claim a supply emergency if they have contacted several therapists, and none of them offered available appointments within that time frame.

But you’ll want to make sure that your process is properly documented so that you won’t be stuck with the out-of-pocket costs.

First, you’ll need to document your need for psychotherapy. To get this, make an appointment for a psychotherapeutic consultation with a practice in your area, and be sure to collect a written recommendation for treatment (a PTV 11 form). 

If you don’t know where to start with this, look to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Vereinigung) for a database of therapists. You can also call 116 117 or use the 116 117 App.

After you’ve got your PTV 11 certificate, you’ll need to document your futile search for a licensed therapist. To do this, contact at least three to five therapists that have public health insurance approval. Keep a list of the names of therapists you contacted, as well as dates and times of contact and how long the waiting list for treatment is. 

Additionally, you should try to arrange treatment through the aforementioned Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, and receive confirmation if it’s not possible. So you’ll need to call 116 117, or use the 116 117 App again. But this time go through the process to have them try to find you placement with a therapist. This should take a maximum of four weeks, but rarely happens.

Finally, if you have documented all of the above and have still not found a readily available therapist, then you can seek out a private practice. You’ll need to enroll as a self-paying patient initially, but then you can submit an application for an outpatient reimbursement (Kostenerstattungsverfahren) along with the previously collected certificates and proof of your search. Private practice therapists are usually familiar with this process, and may be able to help you with the application as well.

READ ALSO: What are the main reasons internationals in Germany turn to therapy?

Free phone consultations for students

Students in Berlin can also take advantage of a free 50-minute conversation with a therapist through StudierendenWERK.

For students elsewhere, it’s worth checking what kind of mental health support services your school offers. Many German universities offer mental health support to some extent, and if school counsellors can’t provide the care that you need, they may be able to offer helpful information about where such services are available in your area.

READ ALSO: Here’s how you can get mental health help in English in Germany

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