Your health insurer pays for the main preventive checks

What is covered if you are a woman

Check-up: once between 18 and 34, then every 3 years from 35. From 35, a one-off hepatitis B and C test [1][2].

Gynaecologist: an annual examination with a cervical smear from 20. Breast palpation is added from 30. From 35, a smear with an HPV test every 3 years [4][5].

Mammography: every 2 years from 50 to 75. Your invitation arrives by post [5][6]. The G-BA has decided to extend screening to ages 45 to 49. Appointments are expected from August 2027 [7].

Skin: every 2 years from 35 [5].

Bowel: a stool test or colonoscopy from 50. Since April 2025, the same ages apply to women and men [9][10].

What is covered if you are a man

Check-up and hepatitis test as for women [1][2].

Prostate: annual palpation and examination of the genitals from 45 [5].

Skin from 35 and bowel from 50, as for women [5][9].

Abdominal aorta: a one-off ultrasound from 65 [1].

New for heavy smokers

Since April 2026, the insurer covers an annual low-dose CT lung scan. It is for people aged 50 to 75 who have smoked heavily for at least 25 years. Former smokers can take part if they stopped less than 10 years ago. Your GP practice checks whether you qualify [5][11].

What about the PSA test?

You pay for this screening test yourself. The G-BA is reviewing a new approach: a PSA test first, then MRI if the result is unusual, followed by a biopsy. A decision is expected by October 2027 at the latest [13][17].

Teeth

Two check-ups a year, tartar removal once a year and a gum inflammation test every 2 years [12]. Have each visit stamped in your bonus booklet. After 5 consecutive years, the insurer contributes more towards dentures [21].

Vaccinations

Your vaccination record is checked at the check-up. From age 60, STIKO recommends flu, pneumococcal and shingles vaccination, among others [15].

Measuring blood pressure at home

Blood pressure at the practice is often higher than in everyday life. That is why the threshold at home is lower. If your average is above 135/85, talk to your practice. At the practice, the threshold is 140/90 [22][24].

How to measure correctly [24]:

Sit quietly for 5 minutes without talking.

Rest your arm loosely, with the cuff at heart level.

Measure morning and evening for a week and write down every reading.

Measure both arms the first time. After that, always use the arm with the higher reading.

What you can skip

Some practices offer tests you pay for yourself, called IGeL. Their benefit is often unclear [25]. One example is an ovarian ultrasound for cancer screening. It does not reduce deaths, but causes false alarms and unnecessary operations [27]. Before paying, check the IGeL-Monitor [26].

Screening can also find something that would never have harmed you. This is called overdiagnosis. With mammography, it affects about 2 in 10 tumours found [28]. Knowing the benefits and drawbacks beforehand is useful. Insurers include information leaflets with screening invitations.

If you use a weight loss injection

The same preventive checks apply to you. Your practice decides which additional checks you need because of the injection. Tell staff which medicines you take before every examination, especially before a colonoscopy or anaesthetic.