Welche Vorsorgeuntersuchungen werden von der bKV erstattet?

Supplementary health insurance (bKV) typically covers advanced preventive care services not included in the statutory health insurance (GKV) catalog—such as annual comprehensive checkups, cancer screening for those under the GKV age limits, HPV tests, services not covered by statutory health insurance (IGeL), travel vaccinations, and modern imaging procedures. A list of eligible services can be found in the respective plan terms and conditions.

Which preventive medical exams are covered by the bKV?

Preventive care is the most strategically valuable component of a supplementary health insurance plan—it expands the basic preventive care coverage provided by statutory health insurance to include services that enable earlier and more precise diagnosis.

What is covered by basic health insurance

The basic coverage includes health checkups starting at age 35 (every 3 years), skin cancer screening starting at age 35 (every 2 years), mammograms for women ages 50 to 69, colorectal cancer screening starting at age 50, and dental checkups every six months. It’s solid, but it leaves out many modern early detection approaches and younger at-risk groups.

What supplementary health insurance typically covers

Comprehensive annual checkups including lab tests, stress ECG, lung function tests, and ultrasound of internal organs
Early detection screenings for individuals under the statutory health insurance age limits (colon cancer screening starting at age 40, mammograms starting at age 40, prostate exams starting at age 40)
Modern diagnostic procedures such as MRI, CT, or 3D mammography when medically indicated
HPV tests, tumor markers, dermatoscopic skin analyses
Travel and TBE vaccinations not covered by the STIKO guidelines
Hormone and Metabolic Screenings
IGeL services of a preventive nature
Eye Care: Glaucoma Screening, Intraocular Pressure Measurement

What to Keep in Mind Regarding Reimbursement for Preventive Care

With budget plans, preventive care services are covered by the overall budget. With modular plans, there may be a separate preventive care module, often with an annual maximum coverage of between 300 and 800 euros. A doctor’s prescription is usually not required; a receipt from the doctor is sufficient.

Implementation within the company

Preventive care services are statistically one of the least utilized categories—people who feel healthy are reluctant to see a doctor. A “Health Day” once a year, during which employees are allowed to take paid time off for preventive care, typically increases utilization by 40 to 60 percent.

Related terms

What does the bKV cover for dental prosthetics?

Supplementary health insurance typically covers the full cost of dental prosthetics—crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures—either as part of the annual health budget or through a separate dental coverage option. Standard annual budgets range from 300 to 1,200 euros. Some plans have tiered coverage limits during the first few years of the policy or short waiting periods for major dental treatments.

See the full answer

What is a company health insurance plan (bKV)?

Employer-sponsored health insurance (bKV) is a supplementary insurance plan funded by the employer for employees covered by statutory health insurance. It covers services that statutory health insurance (GKV) does not reimburse, or only reimburses to a limited extent—such as dental prosthetics, eyeglasses, alternative practitioners, or advanced preventive care. Up to 50 euros per month, it is exempt from taxes and social security contributions.