A SARS-CoV-2 infection can be associated with longer-term health impairments beyond the acute phase of the sickness. People with post-COVID syndrome often experience symptoms such as fatigue, concentration difficulties and respiratory problems. Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) is diagnosed when symptoms persist for three months after the infection, have lasted for at least two months and affect the person’s ability to function on an everyday basis. If the symptoms impact earning capacity, insured persons are entitled to German Pension Insurance rehabilitation benefits. Rehabilitation helps people to regain their strength and make a gradual return to their workplace and everyday lives. Treatment figures show that demand for rehabilitation services has continued to grow moderately since the official end of the pandemic. In 2022, the German Pension Insurance reported that around 21,000 insured persons underwent PCS rehabilitation. In 2023, that figure rose to around 22,000.
Strategy paper published
Due to the wide range of symptoms, which often cannot be assigned to any one area of medical specialisation, the German Pension Insurance and the DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance Association) have published a joint strategy paper on medical rehabilitation for PCS. It summarises findings and, among other things, it addresses eligibility requirements for PCS treatment, diagnostic requirements and treatment recommendations. For treatment to be effective, it is important to take an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation, i.e. to incorporate expertise from all areas of medical specialisation involved. The strategy paper can be downloaded here.
“We are committed to timely, personalised and easy access for insured persons to the optimum reintegration benefits for their specific situation.”
New clinic portal launched
The new online portal Meine Rehabilitation helps people to find a suitable rehabilitation facility. Both insured persons and physicians can find information on the portal about suitable rehabilitation facilities for various indications. Portal users can compare the quality of the facilities, filter by individual search criteria or search for special requirements – such as foreign languages spoken in the clinics, or the co-admission of an accompanying person. The portal helps insured persons to exercise their right to choose a clinic in an informed and self-determined way.
