Germany: Legal limits set for health and care insurance demands

Recent legal developments in Germany have clarified the limits of what health and care insurance providers can demand from insured individuals.

The Bavarian State Social Court ruled that health insurance companies cannot block or confiscate electronic health cards (eGK) even if a person's entitlement to benefits is suspended due to unpaid contributions. The court noted that while insurers may restrict certain services, the legal right to an electronic health card remains intact. This decision prevents insurers from using paper authorization slips as a substitute for the card.

In the context of long-term care insurance, guidelines emphasize that while providers have a right to request documentation to verify benefits, this duty is not unlimited. Insurers may request receipts and invoices to process reimbursements, but they cannot demand excessive data, such as unredacted bank statements, if such information is not strictly necessary for the specific task. Data collection must remain proportionate and adhere to social secrecy laws.