"Beihilfe" health insurance subsidies

I understand that because of my husband's job he is considered a civil servant, and thus eligible for a beihilfe, a health insurance subsidy. Does anyone else get this? Can anyone explain how it works to me? You go to the doctor, then submit the receipt to your office? Then whatever the beihilfe doesn't pay you forward to your private health insurance? Or do the two communicate with each other more directly? Wouldn't both demand the original copy of the receipt, or do they only do that in the States?

My wife is a teacher and was forced to go on a private insurance plan. She gets Beihilfe from her employer, ie the state. When she gets a medical bill, she has to pay it in full to the doctor. Then she has to submit a claim to the insurance company, which pays half, and her employer - ie the State - which pays the other half. Not all bills are paid back in full, of course. The doctors are always slipping in treatments they know damn well aren't covered or couldn't be bothered to ask before they administer them. We find the insurance company is more lenient than the Beihilfe, and a hell of a lot quicker paying back. Some Beihilfe payments we get only months later.

We get Beihilfe. My husband, the kids (still in education) and myself as long as I earn below Euros 15000 a year. The Beihilfe pays 70%, not 50%. Hubiie and kids are insured for the other 30% and Pay 30% insurance. We get bills after each treatment. We have to fil in forms and send all bills, prescriptions etc to both Beihilfe and insurance company. Very little is turned down in my experience. They also pay for foreign expenses as long as they do not exced what it would cost in Germany.
It's trued that the Beihilfe takes longer tp pay than the insurance. The insurance also pays other benefits such as Krankenhaustagegeld and they pay the difference in cash if in hospital you do not take the Chefarzt treatment.
I left the system for a while when I was earning well and now I am back in, but I opted not to pay for insurance. That's because I'm now livingin England an d usually get health carte in Britain anyway.