Wegweiser Patients · Your rights in treatment and when things go wrong Deutsch

🧾 IGeL: Services you pay for yourself

You pay for individual health services (IGeL) yourself. You are entitled to information, a written contract, a statement of costs and time to think.

IGeL self-payer treatment contract cost estimate time to think IGeL-Monitor 630c

In brief

IGeL are services that your statutory health insurer does not pay for. You pay yourself.

Before the service you need a written contract and information on costs, and after the service an invoice.

You are entitled to information about benefits, risks and costs. You may take time to think. Only the doctor themselves should give the information, not the staff.

There is no obligation. A service covered by insurance must not depend on you buying an IGeL.

Step by step

  1. Ask questionsAsk why the service is necessary and whether insurance covers one.
  2. Take time to thinkDo not decide at the reception desk.
  3. Clarify in writingAsk for the contract and statement of costs in writing.
  4. Read the assessmentFind out about benefit and harm from the IGeL-Monitor.

Deadlines

before the start
Cost information in text form if coverage of costs by third parties is not assured§ 630c Abs. 3 BGB
Watch out – common mistakes
  • The insurer does not reimburse IGeL you have paid for after the fact.
  • You do not have to sign a declaration of refusal if you decline an IGeL (according to the Verbraucherzentrale).
  • Without a written agreement you may refuse payment. Billing is under the GOÄ (fee schedule for doctors) by individual service; flat fees and success fees are not permitted (Verbraucherzentrale).
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Cost information (§ 630c Abs. 3 BGB)

If the treating practitioner knows that full coverage of the treatment costs by a third party is not assured, or if the circumstances give sufficient indications of this, they must inform the patient in text form about the expected costs of the treatment before treatment begins. Further formal requirements remain unaffected.

Statements by the Verbraucherzentrale

According to the Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre), a written treatment contract and an invoice are required before IGeL are billed. It names as rights comprehensive information about benefits, risks and costs as well as sufficient time to think. Only the doctor, not practice staff, should advise. If there is an alternative covered by statutory health insurance, it must be pointed out. To assess the benefit it refers to the IGeL-Monitor.

Contract and billing

According to the Verbraucherzentrale, you may refuse payment if there is no written agreement. Billing is under the Gebührenordnung für Ärzte (GOÄ, fee schedule for doctors) by individual service; flat fees and success fees are not permitted.

Limits

The legal basis of the written contract (Bundesmantelvertrag) was not examined in its wording.

Who is responsible
  • Treating doctor
  • Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre)
  • Your health insurer (on the question of cost coverage)
Further reading
Reimbursement and refusal by your insurerInformation and consent

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „IGeL: Services you pay for yourself“?
You pay for individual health services (IGeL) yourself. You are entitled to information, a written contract, a statement of costs and time to think.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
before the start: Cost information in text form if coverage of costs by third parties is not assured (§ 630c Abs. 3 BGB)
What should I do first?
  • Ask questions: Ask why the service is necessary and whether insurance covers one.
  • Take time to think: Do not decide at the reception desk.
  • Clarify in writing: Ask for the contract and statement of costs in writing.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • The insurer does not reimburse IGeL you have paid for after the fact.
  • You do not have to sign a declaration of refusal if you decline an IGeL (according to the Verbraucherzentrale).
  • Without a written agreement you may refuse payment. Billing is under the GOÄ (fee schedule for doctors) by individual service; flat fees and success fees are not permitted (Verbraucherzentrale).
Evidence
  • Gesetze im Internet, BGB § 630c, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • Verbraucherzentrale, IGeL: Ihre Rechte als Patient:in, retrieved 20 September 2026
As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.