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Apply for a preventive health retreat

Statutory health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) · Medical preventive healthcare benefits

By postThrough the medical practice

The preventive health retreat (Vorsorgekur) under § 23 SGB V (Social Code Book V, Sozialgesetzbuch Fünftes Buch) acts earlier than rehabilitation: it is meant to prevent a weakening of health from turning into an illness, or an illness from arising or worsening. It is thus preventive – not curative like rehabilitation under § 40 SGB V.

For the non-residential preventive benefit, the Krankenkasse covers the medical treatment and the prescribed treatments at the health resort. For accommodation, meals and travel costs, the by-laws may provide a grant of up to €16 a day – up to €25 for chronically ill young children. This is an optional supplementary benefit (Satzungsleistung): whether and how much is paid is decided by each Krankenkasse itself.

The inpatient preventive benefit lasts for a maximum of three weeks; for children under 14, generally four to six weeks. The repeat time limits differ: three years for non-residential, four years for inpatient preventive benefits – in each case with an exception where urgent medical necessity applies.

Last updated26 August 2026
Legal basis§ 23 SGB V · § 61
VerificationChecked against gesetze-im-internet.de
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information site: we are not your Krankenkasse, not an authority and not a paid advisory service — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in simple terms; binding information always comes from the competent body. The grant towards non-residential preventive care is an optional supplementary benefit and differs from one Krankenkasse to another. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Non-residential: grantUp to €16/dayOptional supplementary benefit, varies by Krankenkasse
Inpatient3 weeksChildren under 14: 4–6 weeks
Repeat, non-residentialAfter 3 yearsInpatient: after 4 years
Co-payment, inpatient€10/dayFrom age 18
Required documents

What you need

Medical prescription or certificate

The practice must give reasons why a preventive benefit is required – that is, what risk to health exists and why non-residential treatment at your place of residence is not sufficient. With preventive care, the justification is framed differently than with rehab: it concerns risk, not yet a manifest functional impairment.

Application forms of the Krankenkasse

Each Krankenkasse has its own forms, often with a self-declaration on burdens, complaints and prior illnesses. Describe concretely what burdens exist – occupational, family-related, care-related – and why a measure away from home is necessary.

Proof of previous measures

Important for the time limits. Note when you last made use of a health retreat or rehab: non-residential preventive care is possible again only after three years, inpatient only after four years – calculated from the last comparable benefit.

Electronic health card

For the medical treatment at the health resort. For non-residential preventive benefits, you attend a practice there that oversees the prescribed treatments and settles accounts with the Krankenkasse.

Receipts for accommodation and travel costs

Relevant only for non-residential preventive care: the grant of up to €16 a day is paid against proof. Keep invoices for accommodation and meals, as well as travel receipts.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Distinguish preventive care from rehab

    First clarify what is at issue. The preventive health retreat under § 23 SGB V is meant to avert a risk to health or to prevent an illness from arising or worsening. If a treatment-requiring illness with functional impairments already exists, rehab under § 40 SGB V is the right route. The wrong type of application is refused more often than one with the wrong reasoning.

  2. 2

    Check the time limits

    Non-residential preventive benefits are possible again only three years after a comparable benefit, inpatient ones only after four years. An earlier approval requires that it is urgently necessary for medical reasons – this must be justified by a doctor.

  3. 3

    Obtain a medical justification

    Have the practice set out what risk to health exists and why a measure away from home is necessary. Especially for non-residential preventive care, the justification is decisive, because the Krankenkasse checks whether benefits at your place of residence would not also suffice.

  4. 4

    Submit the application and choose the health resort

    Submit the application together with the medical justification. For non-residential preventive care, you generally choose a recognised health resort; for inpatient preventive care, the fund names a facility, although your right to request and choose must be taken into account.

  5. 5

    Clarify the grant or co-payment

    For non-residential preventive care, explicitly ask about the by-laws grant towards accommodation, meals and travel costs – up to €16 a day, up to €25 for chronically ill young children. For inpatient preventive care, by contrast, a co-payment of €10 per calendar day applies.

  6. 6

    Submit the receipts

    After a non-residential preventive measure, submit the receipts for accommodation and travel costs so that the grant can be paid out. Without receipts, nothing is paid – not even afterwards as a lump sum.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Non-residential grant, inpatient co-paymentTwo completely different principles
Non-residential: medical treatmentKrankenkasse benefit
Non-residential: accommodation grantUp to €16/day
Chronically ill young childrenUp to €25/day
Inpatient: co-payment€10/day
Repeat, non-residentialAfter 3 years
Repeat, inpatientAfter 4 years

The two forms work in opposite ways economically. For non-residential preventive care, the fund covers the medical treatment and the prescribed treatments; you generally bear accommodation, meals and travel costs yourself, but can receive a grant towards them. § 23 SGB V expressly phrases this as an optional supplementary benefit: “The by-laws of the Krankenkasse may … provide for a grant of up to €16 a day” – up to €25 for chronically ill young children. Whether and how much is paid is thus decided by each fund itself; ask explicitly and do not rely on general overviews. For inpatient preventive care, by contrast, the fund bears the cost of the facility, and you pay the usual co-payment of €10 per calendar day under § 61 Satz 2 SGB V – insured persons under 18 pay nothing.

Good to know

Important notes

Preventive care is not rehab. § 23 SGB V targets risk and prevention, § 40 SGB V an illness that already exists with functional impairments. The wrong type of application is a common reason for refusal.

Three years for non-residential, four for inpatient. The repeat time limits differ. Anyone who treats both the same plans the application for the wrong point in time.

The €16 grant is voluntary. The law expressly allows it only as an optional supplementary benefit (“may”). Some funds pay the full amount, others less, others nothing at all. Ask before booking.

Children get a longer stay. Inpatient preventive care for children under 14 should generally last four to six weeks instead of the usual three.

Non-residential means organising it yourself. With non-residential preventive care, you organise and pay for accommodation and travel yourself and receive at most a grant. The Krankenkasse settles accounts only for the medical services.

Keep the receipts. The grant is paid against proof. Without invoices for accommodation and travel receipts, there is nothing – not even as a lump sum.

The co-payment counts towards the co-payment limit (Belastungsgrenze). The €10 per calendar day for inpatient preventive care is included in the calculation under § 62 SGB V. A co-payment exemption certificate (Befreiungsbescheid) is also valid here.

An earlier approval is possible. Before the three- or four-year time limit expires, approval can be given if it is urgently necessary for medical reasons. This exception must be explicitly justified.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Confusing rehab and preventive care. Anyone who applies for a preventive health retreat despite having a treatment-requiring illness with functional impairments – or the other way round – receives a refusal that could have been avoided with the right type of application.

Counting firmly on the grant. The up to €16 a day is a discretionary by-laws benefit. Anyone who budgets for the health retreat on this basis without checking with their own Krankenkasse can be left bearing the costs.

Applying the wrong repeat time limit. Three years for non-residential, four for inpatient. Anyone who swaps the time limits applies too early and receives a refusal without any assessment of the substance.

Applying without a medical justification. The application needs a concrete account of the risk to health and the necessity of a measure away from home. A brief certificate is rarely enough.

Not keeping the receipts. The grant towards non-residential preventive care is paid only against proof. Lost invoices mean lost money.

Booking accommodation before approval. Anyone who books before the Krankenkasse has decided bears the risk of a refusal – the Krankenkasse does not cover cancellation costs.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What is the difference between a health retreat (Kur) and rehab?

The preventive health retreat under § 23 SGB V acts earlier: it is meant to remove a weakening of health that could lead to an illness, or to prevent an illness from arising or worsening. Medical rehabilitation under § 40 SGB V, by contrast, requires an existing treatment-requiring illness with functional impairments. Both have their own requirements, durations and repeat time limits.

How long does a preventive health retreat last?

An inpatient preventive benefit lasts for a maximum of three weeks; an extension is possible only for urgent medical reasons. For children under 14, the benefits should generally be provided for four to six weeks. For non-residential preventive care, the law does not name a fixed duration – what matters is the medical prescription of the treatments.

How often can I go on a health retreat?

Non-residential preventive benefits cannot be provided again until three years after a comparable benefit, inpatient ones not until four years after. An earlier approval is possible if it is urgently necessary for medical reasons; this must be justified by a doctor.

Does the Krankenkasse pay for accommodation and travel?

For non-residential preventive care, generally not – the Krankenkasse covers the medical treatment and the prescribed treatments. For accommodation, meals and travel costs, the by-laws may provide for a grant of up to €16 a day, up to €25 for chronically ill young children. This is a voluntary optional supplementary benefit: whether and how much is paid is decided by each Krankenkasse itself.

What does an inpatient preventive health retreat cost me?

You pay a co-payment of €10 per calendar day under § 61 Satz 2 SGB V; the Krankenkasse bears the remaining cost of the facility. Insured persons under 18 pay nothing. The co-payment counts towards the Belastungsgrenze under § 62 SGB V, and an existing Befreiungsbescheid also applies here.

Who decides on the health resort?

For non-residential preventive care, you generally choose a recognised health resort yourself and attend a practice there that oversees the prescribed treatments. For inpatient preventive care, the Krankenkasse names a suitable facility, but must take your right to request and choose into account so far as this is reasonable.

Can I book the health retreat in advance?

Better not to. Only book accommodation or travel once approval has been given. If the application is refused, you bear the cancellation costs yourself – the Krankenkasse does not cover them. Expect a processing time of several weeks.

What should I do if the health retreat is refused?

First check the reason for refusal: it is often the wrong type of application – preventive care instead of rehab or the other way round – or a repeat time limit that has not yet expired. You can lodge an objection (Widerspruch) against the refusal free of charge within one month and submit a more detailed medical justification at the same time.

Related official procedures

Rehab
In the case of an existing illness
€10/day
Mother-and-child health retreat
Separate legal basis
€10/day
Exemption from co-payments
Also applies to the health retreat
Free of charge

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