AOK service: Advice, assistance, choice
The AOK offices are the first point of contact for insured members with questions of any kind about their health insurance. Over the phone or face to face - the AOK experts are there also to advise members on a vast array of health issues. A broad range of preventive programmes rounds off the AOK’s portfolio of services.
No charge to see the doctor. The electronic patient’s card is every AOK member’s key to all the services their health insurance fund provides. The "benefits in kind" principle guarantees that people with health insurance never have to pay for doctors’ services themselves. Except for a practice fee of ten euros per quarter and a small co-payment for prescriptions, doctors appointments are free of charge - regardless of how often the patient needs a consultation. Patients are free to choose their own doctor. Every person covered by statutory health insurance in Germany pays a contribution rate of 14.9 per cent of earnings, set by the State.
Quick settlement of charges. The AOK settles medical charges on a quarterly basis, paying ist contract partners directly. Registered doctors providing outpatient services receive their money via their respective Doctors’ Association. One of their main functions is the distribution of the moneys received from the health insurance funds.