A health holiday is not cheap, and many people wonder whether their health insurance will pay part of it. The honest answer: almost never the hotel, but often individual parts. Here you find out which subsidies exist for people insured in Germany, how much they bring and how to apply. In other countries the rules differ.
- You usually pay for the hotel and longevity programmes yourself.
- Many German insurers subsidise certified health courses on holiday, often with €150 to €280 a year.
- With medically justified preventive care in a spa town, the insurer pays for treatments and sometimes a subsidy for the stay.
What insurance does not pay
The honest part first: statutory health insurance in Germany usually does not cover a stay at a health hotel. That applies to the room, the meals and most programmes such as longevity check-ups, a Mayr cure or fasting at a hotel. These are private.
But there are several ways to get part of the cost back. For all of them: ask before, not after.
Health courses on holiday
German statutory insurers subsidise certified prevention courses, such as yoga, back training, relaxation or nutrition. This also applies if you take the course on holiday. The insurer then pays not for the trip but for the course. Depending on the insurer, this is often around €150 to €280 a year.
Many hotels offer such certified courses. You do not need a doctor's certificate for this.
- Ask the house whether the course is certified
- Have your insurer confirm in writing beforehand that it funds exactly this course
- Attend the full course and keep the certificate of attendance
- Submit the certificate and invoice to your insurer after the trip
Insurers rarely pay for the holiday, but often for what makes you healthier there.
Outpatient preventive care in a spa town
If your doctor considers it medically necessary, the insurer can approve outpatient preventive care in a recognised spa town, formerly called a Badekur. You choose your accommodation yourself, and a spa doctor looks after you locally.
The insurer then pays for the prescribed treatments. The statutory co-payment applies: 10% of the costs plus €10 per prescription. For accommodation, meals, travel and spa tax, some insurers pay a subsidy of up to €16 a day under their statutes. You apply to your insurer beforehand.
Your employer can contribute
In Germany, employers may pay their staff up to €600 a year tax-free for health promotion, on top of their salary. This includes certified prevention courses taken outside the company, so also on holiday. Accommodation and meals are not included.
Many people do not know about this. It is worth simply asking.
How to go about it
Even without travelling, German insurers offer quite a lot: from 35 you are entitled to a free health check-up every three years, and many insurers reward prevention through a bonus programme. For your health holiday:
- Call your insurer before booking and ask what it funds
- Always get commitments in writing
- Ask the hotel about certified courses
- Ask your employer about the tax-free health budget
- Keep all invoices and certificates
Frequently asked questions
Does insurance pay for a Mayr cure or a fasting hotel?
Usually not for the hotel stay. Individual certified courses during the stay may be subsidised, though. Ask your insurer beforehand.
How often is outpatient preventive care in a spa town possible?
As a rule no sooner than three years after the last one, unless it is medically urgent. Your insurer will tell you the exact conditions.
What about private insurance?
That depends entirely on the policy. Some private insurers reimburse preventive care or cures, others do not. A look at your policy terms or a call will clarify it quickly.
Does this apply outside Germany?
No, other countries have their own rules. Wherever you are insured, it is worth asking what your insurer covers for prevention and cures.
Is this advice?
No, this guide gives a general overview as of October 2026. What you receive in your case is decided by your health insurer.
Luxly does not provide medical advice. Whether a programme suits you is something to discuss with the house's medical team or your own doctor.
