Who pays for the helicopter rescue in an emergency? Is there a risk of high costs? We have asked.
Daniel Freudenreich, Press Spokesman BARMER
"In Germany, a distinction is made between rescue and recovery. In the case of a rescue, the statutory health insurance companies cover the costs if the emergency doctor confirms that the helicopter mission was medically necessary. In the case of a rescue, e.g. if a slightly injured person has to be brought to the ambulance from rough terrain, the costs are borne by the person involved in the accident or their accident insurance. The assumption of costs abroad is not regulated across the board. People with statutory health insurance are generally entitled to medically necessary benefits in all EU countries, Switzerland and the UK. The type and scope of benefits depend on the law of the country of residence, i.e. in many countries rescue, ambulance or patient transport are not or only partially covered by statutory health insurance, especially in connection with sport or tourism. Athletes should therefore definitely take out private foreign travel health insurance to avoid high costs following an accident."
Thomas Bucher, DAV press spokesman on the helicopter rescue
For members (78 euros for adults), the German Alpine Club reimburses search, rescue and recovery costs for mountain accidents up to 25,000 euros, but only up to 5,000 euros per person and incident in the event of accidental death.
Tanja Gorr, R+V Versicherung AG
R+V international insurance pays for air rescue if it flies the patient to a hospital for further treatment or to the nearest available emergency doctor. If the air ambulance transports the injured person to their hotel, we do not provide any benefits. Our permanent international travel policy costs from 10.80 euros per year for individuals.
ADAC corporate communications on the helicopter rescue
"The services are not covered by ADAC membership or Plus membership. Only Premium membership and ADAC international health insurance (AKS) cover air rescue abroad. If the terrain is accessible enough for the hospital's helicopter to pick up the patient, we do not have a defined benefit limit in the terms and conditions. However, if the mountain rescue service has to retrieve the patient, this falls under rescue, and the benefit limit here is 10,000 euros. However, there is an exclusion of benefits if the patient is a professional athlete."
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