Will my health insurance pay for Ayurvedic treatment?

This is a common question and a large number of our patients are amazed that, despite demonstrable health benefits, German health insurance companies generally do not refund charges for this type of treatment.

The reason given by health insurance companies is :

The treatment procedures are not generally scientifically accepted.
We therefore invite our patients to inform us of the benefits that they experience. If possible with laboratory appraisal etc. Some guests have even tried to claim their right to repayment by going to court. They have asked our doctors and their own physician, who are generally impressed with the health improvements, to provide expert opinion to lend weight to their argument.

We have prepared detailed information material to help you with negotiations with your health insurance company. Legally we may only provide this information to medical experts but we will be happy to send this information to your doctor or insurance company consultant. There will be a charge of 15,- €, payable in advance.

Based on the good experience with health insurance companies in other countries, a conference for leaders from the field of health was organised here in Bad Ems by the German Society for Ayurveda.

This was especially aimed at health insurance and State health authorities. The General Director of the Dutch insurance company Geové presented impressive figures showing the reduction in health care costs related to Ayurvedic health care. Geové, as well as the Official Swiss Health Service (ÖKK), have been refunding costs for Ayurvedic treatment for quite some time.

Ayurvedic treatments in the Hufeland Index

A further advance in the right direction is the inclusion of Ayurvedic treatment in the so-called Hufeland Index. The listing of Ayurvedic methods in this index provides a new basis for German health insurance to refund costs of treatment.

The Hufeland Society is an umbrella organisation to which German natural health organisations are affiliated. They publish a book entitled “Biological Medicine” as well as the “Hufeland Journal”. They also distribute the Hufeland Service Index, which contains suggested prices for natural therapy treatments. The newest version of this index has a whole section devoted to Ayurveda. Doctors can find specific guidelines relating to charges for their services and private health insurance companies have a basis for reimbursement.

The first German health insurance company has already indicated that they will reimburse payment for services complying with the Service Index. This company has already included in its contract the repayment of costs for natural health care and Ayurveda. A legal breakthrough has not yet occurred with other insurance companies. One can, however, decide to change to an insurance company that pays for Ayurvedic treatment. Those insured by the State must rely on the goodwill of the national health insurance scheme.