The Travel Insurance Hack — Protecting Your PKV Premium Refund

A common misunderstanding

Private health insurance usually provides worldwide coverage, at least for temporary travel.

This means that medical treatment abroad can normally be reimbursed through the primary PKV contract.

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Why a separate travel insurance policy still makes sense

Many experienced policyholders additionally purchase a separate travel health insurance policy.

These policies typically cost around:

€10–15 per person per year

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The strategic advantage

When medical treatment during travel is billed through the travel policy:

• The PKV contract remains unaffected
• Claims are not submitted to the main insurer

This means the policyholder may still qualify for premium refunds from their PKV.

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Typical expenses covered by travel insurance

Travel health insurance commonly covers:

• Doctor visits abroad
• Hospital treatment
• Medication
• Medical repatriation to Germany

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Why insurers encourage this

Travel insurance is designed specifically for short-term international treatment.

Using it can simplify reimbursement procedures while preserving the structure of the primary PKV contract.