The calculation of costs for treatment is done according to the Fee Regulation for Psychotherapists (Gebührenordnung für Psychotherapeuten or GOP for short). For a closer look at the breakdown of costs, feel free to follow this link to the website of the Bavarian Physicians’ Association (Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Bayern or KVB for short): Click here to visit the website of the KVB!

Regretfully, I am not able to treat publicly insured patients (i.e., those whose insurance is with a German gesetzliche Krankenkasse) at present. In order to treat such patients in Germany, I as a physician or therapist require in addition to my licence (which permits me to practice in general) also the authorisation of the national physicians’ association. Regensburg is currently classified by this association as being oversupplied and no new authorisations are being granted. At present, this means a long wait to get such an authorisation. As soon as I am successful in receiving one, I will be happy to provide therapy to publicly insured patients.

In some cases, those with public insurance have to deal with long waiting lists to be admitted to therapy. As a stop-gap solution, such patients under certain circumstances can be treated in private practices as well and have the costs reimbursed by the insurance provider (according to § 13 Abs. 3 SGB V). If you are interested in this process of post-treatment reimbursement, you can find preliminary information via the flyer “Advice on Reimbursement” (Ratgeber Kostenerstattung) from the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists. Click here to download the flyer! (German-language only)

Good news! Beginning on June 1, 2020, I can also charge treatments to public insurance. This model is called “guarantee assistance” (Sicherstellungsassistenz). What this means is that I can assist a colleague who has authorisation from the national physicians’ association in fulfilling his schedule of offering treatment. At present, I can work up to 15 hours a week in his practice under this provision. The contact information here is the same as for patients with private insurance, but the location of treatment is different. The practice is located in the extra-urban county (Landkreis) of Regensburg in Hainsacker, part of the market-town of Lappersdorf.

As a rule, a large part of the costs of psychotherapy is covered by private insurance plans. For this to happen, though, it is necessary for you to get in touch with your insurance provider before the start of therapy. This way, you can determine what percentage of the therapy costs will be covered by your insurance plan and what percentage you yourself will be responsible for. Depending on the specific details of your policy, it might be possible to have all costs covered by your private insurance.

Of course, you can also cover all the costs of the therapy yourself. In such cases, costs are set according to the Fee Regulation for Psychotherapists (Gebührenordnung für Psychotherapeuten or GOP for short). As a direct payer, you have the benefit of absolute discretion, since no treatment details are transmitted to your public or private insurance plan, as the case may be. Furthermore, therapy under such payment is not subject to the statutory hour limitations on treatment courses, and thus can be fit even more specifically to your individual needs.