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Healthcare Prevention and screening

Statutory health insurance providers offer insured parties the opportunity to have examinations to prevent conditions or detect them early. These vary depending on age and gender. What examinations are available? What other useful information is there about vaccinations? What are individual health services (IGeL)? This section contains articles on these and other topics.

Prevention and screening

Cancer screening: patient undergoing mammography screening. A doctor is standing next to the woman. She is conducting the examination. The X-ray of a breast is visible on a screen. Cancer screening: patient undergoing mammography screening. A doctor is standing next to the woman. She is conducting the examination. The X-ray of a breast is visible on a screen.

Cancer screening: what examinations are available?

With screening, cancer or certain cancer precursors can be detected before they cause symptoms. The chances of healing thus often improve.

Medical examinations for children and adolescents: small child sitting on a doctor’s couch playing with a stethoscope. A doctor is examining the child carefully. Medical examinations for children and adolescents: small child sitting on a doctor’s couch playing with a stethoscope. A doctor is examining the child carefully.

Health checks for children and adolescents

Health checks are important for the healthy development of children and adolescents. Find out more about U and J check-ups.

Health check-up: woman sitting opposite a doctor. She has a pressure cuff around her arm and is having her blood pressure measured. Health check-up: woman sitting opposite a doctor. She has a pressure cuff around her arm and is having her blood pressure measured.

Prevention through the health check-up

In Germany, people with statutory health insurance can have a health check-up once between the ages of 18 and 34, and every three years from age 35 onward. This article explains what the health check-up involves.

Young woman brushing her teeth whilst looking in the mirror. Young woman brushing her teeth whilst looking in the mirror.

Oral hygiene and preventive dental care for healthy teeth

Good oral hygiene and regular visits to a dentist can keep the mouth and teeth healthy and prevent tooth loss.

Vaccinations: a nurse puts a plaster on the upper arm of a young girl. Vaccinations: a nurse puts a plaster on the upper arm of a young girl.

Vaccinations: protection against infectious diseases

Vaccinations offer the best way for people to protect themselves and others from many infectious diseases. Some vaccinations should be given in childhood, while others should be repeated annually.

Early detection of diseases

IGeL services: doctor sitting at a desk filling out a form. A woman in a white blouse is standing behind him. She has her right arm across the front of her stomach and is gesticulating towards the doctor with her other arm. IGeL services: doctor sitting at a desk filling out a form. A woman in a white blouse is standing behind him. She has her right arm across the front of her stomach and is gesticulating towards the doctor with her other arm.

IGeL – overview of self-payer services

In Germany, “IGeL” are individual health services that are not normally covered by statutory health insurance.

A pregnant woman, accompanied by her male partner, is having an ultrasound scan with a doctor. A pregnant woman, accompanied by her male partner, is having an ultrasound scan with a doctor.

Prenatal care: check-ups and advice

Regular check-ups during pregnancy are important for both mother and baby. They allow risks or complications to be detected and treated at an early stage.