Whether private health insurance covers alternative medicine is not set out in law but in your tariff. Acupuncture, osteopathy, homeopathy and treatment by a naturopathic practitioner (Heilpraktiker) can be included, limited or excluded by a tariff. Reimbursement follows the cost reimbursement principle: you pay the bill first and receive the share promised by your tariff after review. If you read the conditions before your first treatment, you know in advance what is reimbursed.
The key points in brief
- Reimbursement of alternative medicine under private health insurance depends on the tariff. There is no general promise.
- Important are the reimbursement rate, annual maximum amounts and whether naturopathic practitioners (Heilpraktiker) are included.
- Services provided by doctors are billed under the GOÄ fee schedule.
- Ask before treatment begins what is reimbursed, and get the answer in writing.
- Alternative methods do not replace medical diagnosis and treatment.
What counts as alternative medicine?
The term covers very different methods. Commonly named are acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractic, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine and phytotherapy. Treatment by naturopathic practitioners (Heilpraktiker) comes on top of this.
Because each tariff uses its own terms, the name of the method alone is not enough for an answer. What matters is who treats you (doctor or naturopathic practitioner), how billing takes place and whether your tariff names the service explicitly.
Does private health insurance pay for naturopathic practitioners?
Only the tariff decides this. Some tariffs include naturopathic practitioner services, often with a reimbursement rate and a maximum amount per calendar year. Others leave them out entirely.
Billing differs between the two routes. Services by doctors run through the GOÄ. For naturopathic practitioners, some tariffs set their own fee directory as the basis for reimbursement, and this is set out in the conditions. What the conditions do not expressly name, the insurer may refuse.
Is acupuncture reimbursed by private health insurance?
Whether acupuncture is reimbursed depends on who carries it out and what your tariff provides. If a doctor carries out the treatment, they bill under the GOÄ, and the insurer checks the bill against the tariff conditions. If a naturopathic practitioner performs it, the naturopathic practitioner clause of your tariff matters.
Tell your insurer in advance about the planned treatment, the number of sessions and the practitioner. Have the answer confirmed in writing.
Is osteopathy reimbursable under private health insurance?
Here too the tariff decides. Some conditions name osteopathy expressly, while others include it under naturopathic services or aids. Check whether a doctor’s prescription is required and how many sessions per year are reimbursed.
For back pain or persistent complaints, a doctor should first clarify the cause. Only then does it make sense to ask which complementary methods are sensible and insured.
What applies to homeopathy and other methods?
The effectiveness of individual alternative methods is supported by evidence to varying degrees, and none of them replaces conventional medical treatment. For reimbursement, however, the contract comes first. Ask whether your tariff includes medicines of special therapeutic systems and whether maximum amounts apply. How medicines are generally reimbursed is described in PKV and medicines (in German).
How does statutory health insurance handle alternative medicine?
Statutorily insured patients receive benefits from their health insurer within the benefit catalogue. Anything beyond this you pay yourself. If alternative methods are important to you, a supplementary module may help. Which modules are suitable for students is described in supplementary insurance for students (in German). The overall picture of statutory and private cover is given on the page which insurance students need (in German).
What should you check when choosing a tariff?
| Question to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Are naturopathic practitioners included? | Without a clause, reimbursement may not apply. |
| Is there a maximum amount per year? | It limits reimbursement, even if the rate is high. |
| Which reimbursement rate applies? | It determines which share of the bill is returned. |
| Is a doctor’s prescription required? | Without a prescription, reimbursement may not apply. |
| Does the tariff cover prevention or only treatment? | Some tariffs only reimburse in case of complaints. |
If you want more services later, you can switch to another tariff with your own insurer. For additional benefits, the insurer may require an exclusion of services or an appropriate risk surcharge and, where applicable, a waiting period. What your tariff covers overall is shown in the overview of PKV benefits for students (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Does private health insurance pay for naturopathic practitioners?
Only if your tariff includes naturopathic practitioner services. Often a reimbursement rate and a maximum amount per year apply, and some tariffs reimburse nothing at all. Clarify before treatment which services and which practitioners are named, and get the promise in writing.
Is acupuncture covered by private health insurance?
That depends on the tariff and on who carries out the treatment. Medical acupuncture is billed under the GOÄ, while for naturopathic practitioners the naturopathic practitioner clause counts. Ask your insurer before the first session about reimbursement and the number of sessions.
What is the reimbursement for osteopathy?
There is no general figure. The tariff sets the reimbursement rate and the maximum amount, and some tariffs also apply limits per year. Which amount applies to osteopathy is set out in the tariff conditions. Also check whether a doctor’s prescription is needed.
Are alternative methods an alternative to a doctor?
No. They can complement a treatment, but they do not replace a medical diagnosis. For persistent or severe complaints, see a doctor first and discuss complementary methods there.
So what should you do now?
- Read the tariff conditions on naturopathic practitioners, acupuncture, osteopathy and alternative medicine.
- Ask your insurer before treatment about the reimbursement rate, maximum amount and requirements.
- Get the answer in writing and keep it with your bills.
- If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the way to a consultation on the Academycon homepage.
You can find experiences with us on ProvenExpert, Trustlocal and Trustindex. Academycon was also mentioned in a report by VersicherungsJournal. An overview of all mentions is on the press page (in German).
Related articles
- PKV benefits for students: the overview (in German)
- PKV and fitness: subsidies, bonus programmes and health courses (in German)
- Chief physician treatment for students: is it worth it? (in German)
- Supplementary insurance for students: which modules are worthwhile (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
