Polish patient, insured in Germany
How to access Polish-language therapy and get reimbursed — step by step. Covers both EU Directive 2011/24/EU and German Kostenerstattungsverfahren.
What will this cost you?
Polish therapist (cross-border)
German private (Kostenerstattung)
Over a 20-session therapy course: €100 out-of-pocket (cross-border) vs. €900 (German private). Estimates based on 2025 market rates. Confirm with your insurer.
Step-by-step guide
Understand your pathway
As a Polish patient living in Germany, you have two reimbursement pathways:
Pathway A — EU Directive 2011/24/EU
Best if you're still insured in Poland, or insured in Germany but want to use a Polish therapist.
No prior authorisation needed. Reimburses at Polish rates (~€40/session).
Pathway B — Kostenerstattungsverfahren (§13(3) SGB V)
Best if insured in Germany and want reimbursement at German rates.
Requires documenting that the German public system failed to provide timely access. Reimburses at ~60–80% of German private rates.
Most Polish patients in Germany benefit most from Pathway A. This guide covers both.
Find a therapist on Cura
Browse the Cura directory filtered for Polish-speaking therapists. All listed therapists are:
- Licensed in their home EU country (not German Kassensitz required for Pathway A)
- Experienced with cross-border EU patient documentation
- Familiar with what invoices need to include for insurance claims
Contact the therapist directly. All contact is off-platform — email or phone as listed on their profile.
Start therapy and collect documentation
For Pathway A, ask your therapist to provide invoices that include:
- Therapist full name, qualification, and licence number
- Therapist practice address (home country)
- Date and duration of each session
- Diagnosis code (ICD-10)
- Session cost in local currency and EUR
- Confirmation that sessions were provided via teletherapy or in-person
Pay the therapist directly. Keep all receipts.
Submit your reimbursement claim
For Pathway A (EU Directive):
- Contact your insurance and state you are claiming under EU Directive 2011/24/EU
- Submit: therapist invoices, proof of payment, therapist licence documentation
- Insurance reimburses at Polish statutory rates — typically €35–45 per session
- Processing time: 3–6 weeks
For Pathway B (Kostenerstattung — German insured patients only):
- Call 116 117 — request a Psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde appointment. Get a Vermittlungscode.
- Attend the initial consultation. Receive a PTV-11 form with your diagnosis.
- Contact 8–10 therapists with Kassensitz. Document each rejection (name, date, response).
- Find a therapist with German Approbation practicing CBT, psychodynamic, or psychoanalytic therapy.
- Submit to your insurer: PTV-11, rejection list, therapist treatment plan and cost estimate.
- Insurer reimburses 60–80% of the German private rate.
If your claim is rejected
Rejections are common on first attempt. You have the right to appeal (Widerspruch).
- Submit a formal written objection citing EU Directive 2011/24/EU (Pathway A) or §13(3) SGB V (Pathway B)
- Request the specific legal reason for rejection in writing
- Contact the German National Contact Point (DVKA) at eu-patienten.de for guidance
- If the insurer continues to reject, consult a Sozialrechtsanwalt (social law solicitor)
Most legitimate claims succeed with persistence. Insurance companies are legally required to approve if the conditions are met.
Official resources
- EU National Contact Point (Germany): eu-patienten.de · Phone: +49 228 9530-802
- EU Directive 2011/24/EU: Full text on EUR-Lex
- 116 117 Hotline: German federal health appointment service (for Kostenerstattung pathway)
- Your Europe Portal: europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health
Disclaimer
This guide provides educational information about EU cross-border healthcare rights. It does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Cura cannot guarantee that your insurance will approve reimbursement — decisions rest with your insurer. Regulations change; always verify current requirements with your insurer and the relevant National Contact Points. Last reviewed: March 2026.