Whether private health insurance covers medical transport depends on your tariff. Ambulance transport in an emergency, patient transport to outpatient treatment and transfers between hospitals can be regulated differently in each tariff. In statutory health insurance (GKV), by contrast, there is a fixed framework: you need medical necessity, for outpatient trips usually prior approval, and you pay 10 percent per trip, at least 5 € and at most 10 €.
For students it pays to check the tariff for one simple reason: trips often happen when you cannot easily compare options, for example after an accident or an operation.
The key points at a glance
- In PKV, the tariff determines which transports and trips are reimbursed. There is no uniform catalogue.
- The GKV pays for patient transport and patient trips only with medical necessity and on prescription. For outpatient treatment, prior approval is usually required.
- The GKV co-payment is 10 percent, at least 5 € and at most 10 € per trip.
- Privately insured people pay the bill first and submit it within three years after the end of the billing year.
- The GKV does not pay for medically necessary repatriation from abroad.
What counts as transport costs?
Transport costs cover several cases that insurers may treat differently:
- Ambulance trip: ambulance, emergency doctor vehicle or rescue helicopter in an emergency.
- Patient transport: trip with medical supervision, for example lying down to the hospital or back home.
- Patient trip: trip by taxi or hire car to outpatient treatment, for example physiotherapy.
- Pre- and post-inpatient trips: trips for a pre-admission examination or follow-up care at the hospital.
- Transfer trips: trip to another clinic with better care.
Whether the therapy itself is reimbursed, for example psychotherapy in PKV, is a separate question. The trip to it counts as transport costs and is set out in a different part of the terms.
How do GKV and PKV differ for travel costs?
| Point | Statutory health insurance | Private health insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | Medical necessity, on prescription | Per tariff, possibly with a medical certificate |
| Approval | Usually required in advance for outpatient treatment | Per tariff. Ask before the trip |
| Co-payment | 10 percent, at least 5 €, at most 10 € per trip, also for children | Per tariff (reimbursement rate, deductible) |
| Billing | Through the health insurer | You pay first and submit the bill |
| Repatriation from abroad | Not reimbursed | Per tariff or through foreign travel health insurance |
The GKV figures come from betanet (status February 2026). Which framework your tariff sets overall is shown in the overview of PKV benefits for students.
Who pays for the ambulance, and what does it cost?
In an emergency, call 112 first. Costs and reimbursement can be clarified afterwards. What a call-out costs depends on the mission and the rescue service, and the amount is stated on the invoice. There is no generally valid sum.
If you have private insurance, you pay the bill first and submit it to the insurer. How much you get back depends on the tariff. For statutory insured people, medical necessity is also required, and the co-payment is 10 percent, at least 5 € and at most 10 € per trip.
Example: co-payment in the GKV
The co-payment never exceeds the cost. The travel costs in the table are freely chosen calculation figures (2026 rules).
| Cost of the trip | 10 percent | Co-payment |
|---|---|---|
| 30 € | 3 € | 5 € (minimum amount) |
| 60 € | 6 € | 6 € |
| 150 € | 15 € | 10 € (maximum amount) |
From 1 January 2027, the general co-payments will rise under an amendment that has been adopted: the minimum amount will then be 7.50 € and the maximum 15 €. Your health insurer will tell you the exact amount for trips.
Patient trip to outpatient treatment: do you need approval?
In the GKV, yes, in most cases. The health insurer usually pays for trips to outpatient treatment only with prior approval. Exempt are insured people with a severe disability ID marked aG, Bl or H, people with care level 4 or 5, and people with care level 3 plus a permanent mobility restriction.
In PKV, the tariff sets the requirements. Ask the insurer before the first trip whether trips to therapy are reimbursed, whether a medical certificate is needed, and whether there are limits on kilometres or occasions.
Example: trips to physiotherapy after an operation
Assumptions: after an operation you take ten taxi trips to physiotherapy. Each trip costs 40 €, together 400 €. The amounts are freely chosen calculation figures.
| Tariff | Rule | Reimbursement | Own share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Outpatient trips at 100 percent where medically necessary | 400 € | 0 € |
| B | Outpatient trips at 50 percent | 200 € | 200 € |
| C | Outpatient trips excluded | 0 € | 400 € |
Travel reimbursement in private health insurance: how to submit receipts
The principle: you pay first, then submit. The article on submitting PKV invoices describes how to send the bill correctly and quickly. Depending on the insurer, this is done through an app or customer portal. More on this is in the section on digital PKV services.
You can submit within three years after the end of the year in which the invoice was issued. Example: an invoice from March 2026 is valid until 31 December 2029. Enclose the receipt from the transport provider, and for outpatient trips also a medical certificate if your tariff requires one.
Repatriation from abroad: who pays?
Statutory health insurers do not pay for medically necessary repatriation to Germany. This also applies to insured people treated in the EU with the European Health Insurance Card. A private travel health insurance is therefore recommended. The Verbraucherzentrale recommends a policy that matches the length and scope of the trip and covers repatriation. For stays of several months you need a long-term policy, because classic travel insurance often covers only a limited number of days per trip.
Whether your PKV tariff includes travel and repatriation is set out in its terms. More information on protection abroad is in health insurance abroad.
Which questions should you ask your insurer?
- Are ambulance and patient transport reimbursed, and at what rate?
- Does this also apply to taxi or hire car trips to outpatient treatment?
- Are there limits on kilometres, occasions or an annual maximum?
- Which documents are needed, such as medical certificates or prior approval?
- Are repatriations from abroad included?
- Does the invoice count towards your deductible?
Is transport a reason for PKV during studies?
The transport rule is one tariff detail among many. For the decision between GKV and PKV during your studies, the consequences matter more. Exemption from compulsory insurance normally applies for the whole course of study and cannot be revoked. A switch back to the GKV is then usually possible only after the end of studies, as the Verbraucherzentrale explains. There are also health questions in the application and premiums that can rise over time. What PKV costs during studies is set out in PKV costs for students.
Frequently asked questions
Does PKV pay for the ambulance?
That depends on the tariff. You first pay the rescue service’s bill yourself and submit it to the insurer. How much is reimbursed is set out in the terms. In an emergency, help comes first, and the cost question is clarified afterwards.
Does PKV pay for a taxi to therapy?
The tariff governs this too. Some tariffs reimburse outpatient trips where they are medically necessary, others exclude them. Ask before the first trip and clarify whether a certificate is needed.
What is the GKV co-payment for patient trips?
It is 10 percent of the costs, at least 5 € and at most 10 € per trip, also for children (2026 rules). From 2027 the general co-payments rise under the amendment; the minimum and maximum amounts will then be 7.50 € and 15 €. Your health insurer will tell you which amount applies to trips.
How long can I submit travel costs to PKV?
You can submit the invoice within three years after the end of the billing year. For an invoice from March 2026, the deadline ends on 31 December 2029. Still, submit as early as possible.
Who pays for repatriation from abroad?
The GKV does not pay it. A private travel health insurance that includes repatriation is recommended. Check the terms to see whether your PKV tariff covers travel abroad and repatriation.
What to do now
- Search the tariff terms for “transport”, “travel costs” or “rescue service” and note the scope, the reimbursement rate and the required proof.
- Ask the insurer how it handles outpatient trips and repatriations.
- Keep every invoice and receipt and submit them promptly.
- Before a stay abroad, arrange travel health insurance that includes repatriation.
If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the way to advice on the Academycon homepage.
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Status: October 2026. This article provides general information and does not replace individual advice.
