If you or a relative need to be transported in connection with the treatment of an illness because this journey cannot be carried out privately, you will need an ambulance or an ambulance ride (e.g. ordered by the doctor treating you).

Patient transportation includes journeys for illnesses that require the accompaniment of medical personnel or the special equipment of an ambulance.

An ambulance journey is any other journey made by a sick person, e.g. by cab.

If you or a relative require transportation in connection with a health insurance benefit for compelling medical reasons, the health insurance fund will cover the travel costs for

• Services that are provided on an inpatient basis,
• ambulance trips to hospital even if inpatient treatment is not required,
• other journeys by insured persons who require specialist care or the special facilities of an ambulance during the journey or for whom this is to be expected due to their condition, and
• journeys of insured persons to outpatient medical treatment, to pre- or post-inpatient treatment or to outpatient surgery in hospital, if this avoids or shortens full or partial inpatient hospital treatment that is actually necessary or if this cannot be carried out.

In case of doubt, you will have to pay for transportation services for outpatient treatment that you arrange without consulting your health insurance fund. Therefore, please clarify with your health insurance company beforehand whether and to what extent it will cover the costs. If you are currently receiving benefits from a social welfare provider, it is also worth asking them.

Please note: Do not confuse patient transportation with "calling an ambulance/rescue service", which you order in an acute emergency (see service description: "Rescue service").
Patient transportation is intended for people who need medical care and are unable to use a cab due to their condition.