Osteopathy
Which health insurer pays for osteopathy?
None has to, but many contribute.
Osteopathy is not a mandatory benefit of public health insurers. But many insurers voluntarily pay a subsidy, usually subject to conditions. Manual therapy is available on prescription where it is medically indicated.
Author: Jan Ortgies · As of 11 November 2026 · If a switch comes about through our comparison, we receive a fee from the new insurer, not from you.
For everyone
What every insurer pays
- Osteopathy
- Osteopathic treatment is not among the mandatory benefits. According to the IGeL-Monitor, a session usually costs €80 to €150 (retrieved November 2026).
- Manual therapy on prescription
- If your doctor prescribes manual therapy, the insurer pays. From age 18 you contribute 10% of the cost plus €10 per prescription; from 2027 it is €15 per prescription.
Voluntary
What insurers add voluntarily
- Subsidy
- Many insurers subsidise osteopathy as a voluntary benefit, limited to an amount or a number of sessions per year.
- Usual conditions
- As a rule insurers require a doctor’s prescription or recommendation and proof of the practitioner’s qualification. Clarify both before the first session.
- Extras can change
- Voluntary benefits are set out in the insurer’s rules (Satzung). It can change or drop them, and when you switch, the new insurer’s rules apply. Ask before treatment what currently applies.
- Check in the comparison
- In the calculator below, pick “Osteopathy” under “Selected benefits”. You then see, for the insurers listed there, whether and up to what amount they contribute according to the calculator. Only the insurer’s own information is binding.
Other benefits
What else does the insurer pay?
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does public health insurance pay for osteopathy?
Do I need a prescription for osteopathy?
What is the difference from manual therapy?
What does your help cost?
This page is general information based on our own research, without guarantee, and does not replace individual advice, legal or tax advice, medical advice or information from your insurer. Which voluntary benefits an insurer pays is set out in its rules and can change.
Sources: § 11 SGB V · § 32 SGB V · § 61 SGB V · BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 228 · IGeL-Monitor: osteopathy (German)
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for the comparison
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