Hilfen zur Gesundheit (Sozialhilfe)

Persons without health insurance who only receive short-term subsistence assistance may be entitled to health assistance.

If you do not have health insurance and receive uninterrupted assistance for a short period of time (probably less than a month), the social welfare office will immediately ensure the necessary medical care by issuing a treatment certificate.

These include:

• Preventive health assistance for disease prevention and early detection
• Help with illness
• Help with family planning
• Help with pregnancy and maternity
• Help with sterilization

• Informal application for the issuance of an electronic health card/treatment certificate
• Current decision on subsistence benefits
• Identity card or passport
• Recipes and/or if necessary. proof of payment,
• Required consultation confirmations, cost estimates, rejection notices

The competent social assistance institution shall provide information on the documents required in each individual case.

• Exclusion of priority benefits (e.g. health insurance, accident insurance, care for victims of war, Asylum Seekers Benefits Act)
• Treatment certificate (assistance must be provided in the form of goods and services)
• In the case of justified self-help (e.g. emergency), the reimbursement of already incurred costs is possible

There are no fees.

You contact the social welfare office responsible for you with a request for an electronic health card or a treatment certificate.

The social welfare office examines the application. If all requirements are met, you will receive an electronic health card or a treatment certificate.  

A decision on the application will be taken as soon as possible, in particular if there is a clear sense of urgency.

There are no deadlines to be observed. However, the competent social assistance institution may only issue a treatment certificate from which it has become aware of the need. Therefore, it is important to submit an application as soon as possible.

• Application for health assistance in the context of social assistance
• The authorities/social welfare offices responsible under the respective Land law for the implementation of the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII) are responsible.
• Lack of health insurance
• Determination of entitlement to benefits by issuing a treatment certificate or registering the person entitled to benefits with a health insurance fund of their choice
• Examination of reimbursement of expenses

Please contact the responsible social welfare office.

All you need to do is submit an informal application to the social welfare office responsible for you.