Cures

In nationwide laws (e. g. german travel law), cures are „arrangements of medical prevention care and rehabilitation". The legal basis for cures are regulated in the fifth book of the social code (SGB) for "medical prevention care" in paragraphes §23 and §24, for "services for medical rehabilitation" in paragraphs §40 and §41.

A cure shall serve in the interest of maintaining health and recovery through repeated medical treatments with mainly natural remedies. In most cases cures happen in conjunction with a change of places (holidays). Most of the times these places are located in a very attractive countryside with own mineral springs and lots of possibilities for recovery of the patients

Actually there are following differences in cures: bath, mother-child-cures and arrangements of medical prevention care and rehabilitation. The latter serve often recovery of working power. That is why the main sponsor is the statutory pension insurance. For peoples that are not taking part in working life (anymore) usually health insurance or other rehab organizations (employement office) will cover the costs.

The so called bath cure is in Germany only available for self payer. It has more of a holiday character and can also be provided abroad, if the institute is appropriate and certified.
Only in case that all ambulant treatments at home are exhausted (massages, physotherapy) ambulant preventional care services will be subsidised by the health insurance at the health resort (§23 SGB V). The necessity of the treatment has to be attested by the attending doctor in Germany (usually by the general practitioner).

The attestation will be handed in at the health insurance together with the personal application and will be judged by a medical consultant of the health insurance. If any premises are fulfilled, the cure will be allotted. This allottment of the health insurance has to be awaited.

If the cure has been allotted, the treatments which are neccessary for the desease will be subsidised, whereas an own contribution of the insurant has to be payed or will be deducted.
Medical cure services can be refunded in a flat charge. In case of a treatment abroad the health insurance will only refund the cost by the german contract rates.

Besides the the costs of therapy services the health insurance can also refund an allowance for accomodation, board, visitors´ tax and arrival. Generally most insurances pay 13,00 Euros a day for the maximum of three weeks. So this allowance can sum in 273,00 Euros per person for a three week cure. For chronical deseased infants the allowance for a day amounts 21,00 Euros a day. The minimum stay for cures shall be two weeks at least.