FAQ

An osteopathic treatment takes about one hour and costs €90. Of this, about 10 minutes are for the medical history, 10 minutes for the examination, 5 minutes for the explanation, 25 minutes for the treatment, 5 minutes for exercises and prognosis and 5 minutes for billing and documentation.

At the start, you will be asked in detail about your symptoms. It can help to think beforehand about which operations, previous illnesses or accidents might be connected to your complaints. Orthopaedic and neurological tests help to assess whether osteopathic treatment makes sense.

The classic osteopathic examination identifies tension and adhesions in muscles and connective tissue, static imbalances, circulatory problems, entrapments or blockages. Combining the three areas of examination (medical history, manual medical examination and osteopathic examination) makes a diagnosis possible.

The many treatment techniques rooted in osteopathy make it possible to respond to each person individually. They include:

• Techniques for muscles and connective tissue
• Manual therapy
• Fascial therapy
• Chiropractic methods

Exercises and advice on aftercare and prevention complete the treatment.

You are welcome to bring medical reports, but they are not essential. These include:

• Findings / doctors' letters
• MRI scans
• X-rays
• Blood test results
• Other diagnostic findings

You do not need to bring the private prescription or referral, as it is only used for reimbursement by your health insurer. It can be useful, though, if the diagnosis on the prescription is very specific or consists only of a code. Usually the diagnosis is rather general.

Wear something you feel comfortable in. Traditionally, treatment is done in underwear. Thin, light clothing usually still allows good palpation.

If you have pain in your pelvis or legs, for example, sports underwear or light shorts are a good idea.

Please cancel an appointment 24 hours in advance. You can do this by:

• Email
• Phone
• Online booking

If you cancel within 24 hours, it is a good idea to give a reason and to do so in writing.

A cancellation fee can be charged, but it is only legally valid if the practitioner can prove that the gap in the schedule caused a loss of income. So avoid any conflict and cancel early.

You can pay by:

• Card (EC, VISA, debit, Mastercard)
• Cash
• Invoice

A private prescription (Privatrezept) for osteopathy can be issued by:

• Any local doctor
• Dentists
• Gynaecologists
• Online services such as Teleclinic (online consultation)

There is a standard form that many doctors use, but it is not mandatory. The prescription can also look different, for example with the practice's own letterhead.

Important details on the private prescription:

• Contact details
• Health insurer
• Date of issue
• Practice stamp
• Signature
• The note “3× Osteopathie” (3× osteopathy)

No, a private prescription for osteopathy is a recommendation to see an osteopath and a certificate for your health insurer.

So you can also see an osteopath as a self-payer without a private prescription or referral.

You will receive a receipt or invoice from me by email. You can then download the document using your PIN.

If you need a printed copy, I can also send it by post.

Statutory health insurers (gesetzliche Krankenkassen) cover osteopathic treatment if the osteopath can prove more than 1,200 hours of training in osteopathy.

Simply submit the private prescription and the receipt/invoice to your health insurer and you will get your money back. The large statutory insurers usually cover 3–6 sessions at €30–40 each.

Reimbursement overview:

• Techniker Krankenkasse: 3× per year, €40
• AOK Plus: 3× per year, €60
• IKK Classic: 4× per year, €40
• BKK VBU: 3× per year, €50
• Securvita: 3× per quarter, €60
• Barmer: only through its bonus programme

You can find all other insurers in the Osteokompass list of insurers (in German).

All private health insurers reimburse osteopathy. Most of them bill according to the fee schedule for Heilpraktiker.

This can vary from insurer to insurer, so it is worth finding out in advance. Check with your insurer, too, as some do not require a private prescription. That can save you a trip.

Depending on your plan, up to 100 % will be reimbursed.

Heilpraktiker supplementary insurance covers the cost of osteopathy but requires the invoices to state the fee schedule for Heilpraktiker (GebüH). This is a list of specific services and amounts.

A private prescription is usually not required.

Is supplementary insurance worth it?

If you are planning longer-term osteopathic treatment, this model can be good financial support:

• Monthly premium: approx. €20–40
• Annual allowance: approx. €700–1,000

Basically it is like any subscription: if you use it, it pays off; if you don't, it doesn't.

Yes, the GesundheitsTicket or GesundheitsTicket Plus covers osteopathic treatment if the osteopath is listed there.

The GesundheitsTicket is a scheme that companies can use. If you work for a company that supports the GesundheitsTicket, you can have your osteopathy appointments paid from your account.

Important: please bring your ticket number.

More information at gesundheitsticket.de. 100 % funding is possible through the GesundheitsTicket.

In Germany, only doctors and Heilpraktiker are legally allowed to treat patients without a referral and to make a diagnosis.

That is why osteopaths have to pass the Heilpraktiker exam in order to practise.

A Heilpraktiker is a state-licensed non-medical practitioner. Anyone who calls themselves a Heilpraktiker has taken and passed a written and oral exam at the local public health office.

These exams cover medical topics such as:

• Infectious diseases
• Cardiovascular diseases
• And much more

They show the limits of what you may and may not do, and when it is better to send someone to hospital.

Put simply, it is a certificate of what you should not treat.