Hospital Costs in Germany: What Does Health Insurance Cover for Inpatient Treatment?

GKV pays 100% for the general ward minus €10/day co-pay (max 28 days/year); private Incoming Care Expatriate covers 100% general ward from day 1.

Only on Care Expatriate Premium (single-bed room + chief physician) or GKV with Wahlleistungen add-on (~€25/month) — Care Expatriate.

Yes on every recognised German policy (§ 193 VVG); Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day covers hospital stays up to €30,000+ for Schengen visitors.

§ 39 Abs. 4 SGB V — €10 per calendar day, capped at 28 days per year; children under 18 are exempt.

No — PKV premiums start at €58/month (Care Expatriate, age 18–29, § 193 VVG). Care Expatriate, Care Economy and Care Visa Protect exclude pregnancy and childbirth; only GKV covers birth costs in full.

An average hospital day costs 830 EUR (Destatis). ICU treatment runs 2,000–5,000 EUR per day. A one-week stay can cost 5,000–15,000 EUR. With insurance like Care Expatriate (from 58 EUR/month), inpatient treatment is fully covered.

Yes, most incoming insurance plans cover medically necessary inpatient treatment. Care Economy (from 30 EUR/30 days) provides unlimited inpatient coverage. Elective procedures and upgrades (private room, chief physician) are typically excluded.

For planned hospital stays, you typically need a referral (Einweisung) from your GP. In emergencies, no referral is needed — go directly to the nearest emergency room. With Care Economy (from 30 EUR/30 days), emergency hospital treatment is fully covered without prior authorization.