What are preventive check-ups?
Preventive health check-ups are medical tests designed to detect health issues early. The German government has created a list of recommended check-ups you can do after a certain age. You can simply book the check-ups with your general practitioner, gynecologist, and dentist.
What's covered
All private health insurance plans cover preventive check-ups mandated by the government, without age limits. Coverage varies by gender.
Coverage recommended by the government
Women
Women
18–35: one-time general health check at a general doctor
From 20: yearly cervical cancer screening (pap smear)
Up to 25: yearly chlamydia test
From 30: yearly breast and skin check, and self-breast exam instruction
From 35:
combined cervical cytology & HPV test every 3 years
General health check (heart, kidney, diabetes) every 3 years
One-time hepatitis B & hepatitis C screening
Full-body skin cancer screening every 2 years
50–75: mammography screening every 2 years
From 50: colon cancer screening, either every 2 years via a stool test or two colonoscopies 10 years apart
Men
Men
18–35: one-time general health check at a general doctor
From 35:
General health check (heart, kidney, diabetes) every 3 years
One-time hepatitis B & hepatitis C screening
Full-body skin cancer screening every 2 years
From 45: yearly genital & prostate cancer check
50–54: yearly stool test for colon cancer or two colonoscopies 10 years apart
From 65: one-time ultrasound to detect abdominal aortic aneurysm
Children
Children
Standard check-ups according to the statutory child screening schedule (called U1-U9, and J1-J2)
Newborn hearing test, hip ultrasound, pulse oximetry for heart defects
Additional services in newer long-term private health plans
All services listed above without age limits, plus the additional check-ups listed below.
Women
Women
Osteoporosis screening: bone density measurement, ultrasound
Dental cleaning: with fluoride treatments, fissure sealing
Cardiovascular & diabetes testing:
Extended tests beyond statutory recommendations(cholesterol, kidney function, creatinine)
Resting ECG as part of a cardiovascular check
Vaginal ultrasound for ovarian cancer
Breast ultrasound in addition to mammography
Colposcopy for detailed cervical cancer screening
Pregnancy screenings
Extensive infection screening (toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, herpes, varicella, hepatitis A & C, parvovirus)
First-trimester screening (nuchal fold ultrasound, PAPP-A, β-hCG)
Non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT)
Triple & quadruple tests (AFP, estriol, inhibin A)
Men
Men
Osteoporosis screening: bone density measurement, ultrasound
Dental cleaning: with fluoride treatments, fissure sealing
Cardiovascular & diabetes testing:
Extended tests beyond statutory recommendations(cholesterol, kidney function, creatinine)
Resting ECG as part of a cardiovascular check
PSA blood test for prostate cancer
PCA-3 genetic test for prostate cancer risk
Prostate sonography
Children
Children
Expanded newborn metabolic screening: PKU, MCAD, CF, etc.
How can preventive check-ups affect my no-claims bonus?
Some insurance plans offer a no-claims bonus if no claims or only preventive check-up claims are submitted during the year. Check your plan details to see if preventive check-ups impact your no-claims bonus.
If you are eligible for a no-claims bonus and preventive check-ups are covered without affecting it, share the list of covered check-ups with your doctor when booking your appointment to avoid extra charges.
If charges beyond preventive check-ups are added and affect your no-claims bonus, this will be flagged in your bill statement. You can contact our support team for assistance to have the bill withdraw so your no-claims bonus is preserved.