German state health insurance cover while abroad

[eurobabs 644]

Sorry if this has been covered somewhere else.

 

I will be going to the states for a couple weeks beginning next week. I have TK as my health insurance (State, not private). Am I covered if anything happens to me while in the US. I have used it only once outside Germany, but it was in an EU country.

 

If it does not, can someone recommend a cheap insurance that would cover me while in the states, preferably something I can register with on line and in English.

 

Thanks

[YorkshireLad6 7,152]

TKK do not provide any cover outside the EU but they do have an agreement with Envivas to provide additional insurance which can be for non-EU health cover. See here. TKK members pay €7.80/month (€18.60 for a family) on top of their usual premium. Some credit cards (especially those gold coloured) also include this insurance ("Auslandskrankenversicherung") automatically.

[eurobabs 644]

Thanks YL6, I will check out the link above.

 

Also, I have a platimun card from my bank in the states still, and it covers you while traveling, but theoretically, that is while you are traveling "outside" the US, so will have to contact them to see if it works the other way around.

 

Thanks again for the link and info.

[Panama 26]

In general German insurances will not cover you outside the EU. ADAC provides a special reiseversicherung for 12.80 euro. Take a look at ADAC-Auslands-Krankenschutz.

There's an ADAC office next to the Frankfurster Ring U-bahn station, so should be close to you.

[eurovol 126]

This is a strange one. My wife could take out a rider to cover a trip to the states at a very low cost because she is German. I, being an American, could not. I got covered once, but don't remember how we did it. That one time, there were more of us going and we were staying for a longer period. I think my wife arranged some group deal where I was included.

[Panama 26]

Your local bank may also offer insurance for traveling to the states, and I've heard they are cheaper than what ADAC has. I've always used ADAC, but it wasn't really useful the last time I was in the states. The morons from the hospital never send me the bill and I was unable to claim my 250 bucks back. I called several times, but after a while I just let it go.

[Carm 74]

private does cover you. My private ins covers me for 4 weeks of travel at once.

I don't think your platinum card will cover you for travel in the US, as they usually want a US address and cover you for your travel outside of the US.

[sharpe 7]

 

private does cover you. My private ins covers me for 4 weeks of travel at once.

how does that work, u pay and then get reimbursed when u submit invoices or they give u couple of hospital names that u can go.

[HEM 11,070]

I (we) have ADAC membership - ever since I aquired a loooong trailer and didnt want a breakdown to

happen whilst my wife was driving & no easy way to get help.

 

We added their Auslandskrankenversicherung. Only had to claim on that twice (holidays on Ibiza

where the kids had an infection) and they refunded fast even for one item where we didnt

have a receipt. Has advantage over TK that you are treated as a private patient...

 

Had to use their get-your-car fixed service twice - once when a tire on the trailer blew on the

Autobahn - although I had a spare tire I didnt have the equipment to effect the change safely.

Other occasion was when the clutch pedal in my wife's car desended to the floor leaving me

stranded on a major crossing. The ADAC towed my to garage - I sweated more blood on that

tow than on any aerotow...

[HEM 11,070]

 

how does that work, u pay and then get reimbursed when u submit invoices or they give u couple of hospital names that u can go.

With ADAC I believe its as follows:

- minor costs: you pay & claim on return

- major action: you phone the number on the card & they arange everything.

[Carm 74]

 

how does that work, u pay and then get reimbursed when u submit invoices or they give u couple of hospital names that u can go.

depends on what I need, if its a check or something, I pay or my insurance kicks in if I land in hospital, then they would most likely fly me back to Germany to be treated.

[eurobabs 644]

Went to the TK office and signed up for the one thru them (the link YL6 had above). Was around 7 euro for the year.

 

Thanks for suggestions.

[woolleym 35]

 

private does cover you. My private ins covers me for 4 weeks of travel at once.

My private insurance will cover me for more or less ever outside Germany, with the restriction that I need to tell then my "foreign" address with in 6 months. They do have a requirement that I may have to pay extra if I was to be in the USA or Switzerland though.

 

I guess they are happy for me to be anywhere other than Germany, Switzerland or USA, as they're receiving my German price level premiums and paying out any possible claims based on the local (i.e. much cheaper) level of health care - more profit for them!

 

Having said that, I've never had to use this cover, but it is nice to know it is there.