Medical rehabilitation services
The pension insurance institutions provide medical rehabilitation services - with the exception of early detection and early intervention for children in accordance with Section 42 (2) No. 2 and Section 46 of the Ninth Social Code (SGB IX). If the development of a disability cannot be prevented by preventive measures and early intervention measures or if a disability occurs suddenly, the focus is on medical rehabilitation benefits.
In order to be entitled to medical rehabilitation benefits from the statutory pension insurance scheme, it is necessary that
- there are no grounds for exclusion
- the insurance requirements are met
- the personal requirements are met
Individual benefits for medical rehabilitation are in particular
Medical treatment
Acute treatment and early rehabilitation measures take place in hospital. If special measures are required, facilities for medical rehabilitation services can be considered. These rehabilitation clinics specialise in the treatment of certain illnesses or groups of illnesses.
Remedies
Remedies differ from medicines essentially in that they act on the body externally for the purpose of healing, improvement or alleviation. Remedies include, for example, healing plasters, ointments, healing earth, baths, massages and radiotherapy.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a medical and psychotherapeutic treatment. This includes, among other things, help in coping with illness and disability. It also includes help with mental stabilisation and the promotion of social skills.
Speech and occupational therapy
In this service area, patients with speech communication, speech or voice impairments are given speech therapy treatment to enable them to communicate with or without technical aids. Occupational therapy aims to improve functions or functional processes. Creative and creative skills are also encouraged.
Medicines and dressings
Medicines are substances which, in contrast to remedies, essentially act on the internal organism. These include, for example, tablets, suppositories, drops, juices and vaccines. Dressings include gauze bandages, wound dressings and plasters.
Auxiliary means
These include body replacements (prostheses), support devices (orthoses) and orthopaedic shoes. Other aids include hearing aids, wheelchairs and orientation aids for blind people.
Stress testing and occupational therapy
The physical, mental and emotional range of performance and long-term resilience are determined during stress testing. Occupational therapy aims to maintain or develop skills that are important for professional reintegration. They are particularly suitable as medical rehabilitation benefits if the insured person is to be tested after a long illness to see whether he or she can return to his or her old occupation.
Rehabilitation sport
Exercises that are tailored to the type and severity of the disability and the general state of health of the disabled person are intended to support the rehabilitation goal.
Digital health applications
Digital health applications include the digital applications listed in the statutory health insurance register, provided that they are necessary in individual cases for one of the following reasons:
- Preventing an impending disability,
- Ensuring the success of medical treatment,
- Compensating for a disability in the fulfilment of basic needs of daily life.
Detailed information
Further information can be found in the brochures from Deutsche Rentenversicherung:
Homepage | Medical rehabilitation: How it can help you | German Pension Insurance
Homepage | Getting fit for work again with rehabilitation | Deutsche Rentenversicherung
Legal basis
Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Fünftes Buch (V) - Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung:
- § 139e Absatz 1 Verzeichnis für digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen; Verordnungsermächtigung
Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Sechstes Buch (VI) - Gesetzliche Rentenversicherung:
- § 10 PersönlicheVoraussetzungen
- § 11 Versicherungsrechtliche Voraussetzungen
- § 12 Ausschluss von Leistungen
- § 15 Leistungen zur medizinischen Rehabilitation
Sozialgesetzbuch Neuntes Buch - Rehabiliitation und Teilhabe von Menschen mit Behinderungen:
- §§ 42 bis 47a Leistungen zur medizinischen Rehabilitation
Release note
Machine generated, based on the German release by: Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg, 04.06.2025