The private health insurance app and the digital services of many insurers let you submit invoices, track reimbursements and retrieve documents. Which functions you get depends on your insurer. The principle stays the same: you pay the doctor’s bill first, submit it, and the insurer reimburses you according to your tariff. An overview of private health insurance benefits (in German) is covered in a separate article.
Key points at a glance
- Digital functions differ between insurers. Check what the app and the portal offer before you sign up.
- Whether you can submit invoices digitally does not change the reimbursement, which depends on your tariff.
- You have three years from the end of the invoice year to submit an invoice.
- Whether your tariff covers digital health applications or video consultations is set out in the tariff conditions.
How does reimbursement work digitally in private health insurance?
Privately insured people pay the doctor’s bill first and submit it to the insurer. The amount reimbursed depends on your tariff. There is no direct contractual relationship between the doctor and the insurer. For a hospital stay, direct billing between the clinic and the insurer is the rule. If you want to understand how private health insurance reimburses costs (in German), the basics are explained there.
Digital submission usually works like this: you photograph or scan the invoice, upload it in the app or portal, and see the processing status. Whether the insurer also requires the original is decided by each provider. Read the notes in your app or portal.
How do you submit invoices digitally?
You need an account in the portal or the app of your insurer. After logging in, you select the submission function, upload the invoice as a photo or PDF and state who was treated. The article on submitting PKV invoices (in German) explains the process step by step.
The deadline is generous: you can submit an invoice within three years from the end of the year in which it was issued. For an invoice from March 2026, the deadline ends on 31 December 2029. Anyone who uploads receipts promptly keeps track of open amounts, especially if the tariff has an excess.
Which digital services do insurers offer?
| Service | What it gives you | What to look out for |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice upload | Submit invoices without post | Which file formats are accepted, and whether originals are also required |
| Benefits overview | View reimbursements and open amounts | Whether older claims are visible too |
| Document storage | Retrieve your policy documents and notices | Whether documents can be downloaded |
| Messages or chat | Ask the insurer questions | How the insurer provides answers |
| Video consultation | Medical advice by video | Whether the tariff covers the costs |
There is a separate article on video consultations: online doctor for privately insured people (in German) explains what to consider.
Does private health insurance pay for digital health applications?
Whether your tariff covers apps on prescription or other digital health applications is set out in the tariff conditions, and it can differ between providers. Before you use one, ask your insurer whether it covers the cost and how much, and get the confirmation in writing.
What should you check on data protection and security?
Health data is sensitive data. Choose a unique, long password for the portal and the app, enable an additional sign-in safeguard if the provider offers one, and log out on shared devices. How the insurer stores and uses your data is set out in its privacy policy.
Which digital features matter when you choose a tariff?
- Is there an app and an online portal, or only one of the two?
- Can you submit invoices digitally, and how is the processing status shown?
- Is there a video consultation, and does the tariff reimburse it?
- Which costs for apps or digital applications does the tariff cover?
Digital services are a bonus, while coverage and premium matter more. The portal is especially practical for larger invoices, for example after dental treatment. Examples of dentist invoices and the reimbursement statement (in German) are covered in a separate article.
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit everything via the app if I am privately insured?
That depends on the insurer. Many offer an upload through the app or portal. Check your provider’s information to see whether you also need to send originals. The reimbursement itself follows your tariff.
How long can I wait before I submit an invoice?
You have three years from the end of the year in which the invoice was issued. If you upload straight away, you also see sooner which amounts the insurer has reimbursed and which remain open.
Does private health insurance cover a video consultation?
Whether it does, and to what extent, is set out in your tariff conditions. Ask the insurer before you book an appointment, and keep the provider’s invoice.
Is my health data safe in the app?
That depends on the provider. You contribute to security yourself with a strong password, an additional sign-in safeguard where available, and by logging out on other people’s devices. The insurer’s privacy policy explains how it processes data.
Here is what to do now
- Create an account in the portal or app of your insurer.
- Submit invoices promptly and save the receipts.
- Ask whether your tariff covers video consultations and digital health applications.
- Before you change or take out a tariff, check which digital features the provider offers.
If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the route to advice on the Academycon homepage.
You can find reviews of us on ProvenExpert, Trustlocal and Trustindex. Academycon was mentioned, among other places, in a press release in the Münchner Merkur. An overview of all mentions is on the press page.
Related articles
- Submitting PKV invoices: how to do it right and fast (in German)
- Telemedicine in the PKV: video consultations and costs (in German)
- Cost reimbursement in the PKV: how the principle works (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
