Versicherer im Raum der Kirchen (VRK) - group comprising VRK Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit im Raum der Kirchen, VRK Sachversicherung AG, VRK Krankenversicherung AG and VRK Lebensversicherung AG
VRK
VRK is a travel insurance for the Germany market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Policyholders are generally treated as private patients abroad and are reimbursed against submitted receipts after paying out of pocket; however, the insurer's emergency call centre organizes and pays for medically necessary repatriation transport directly.
Geographic scope
Worldwide
For the short-term tariff (RPE20/RPF20, up to 56 days per trip) cover applies worldwide except Germany. For the long-term single-trip tariff (RPL20/RPU20, 56–365 days) cover applies within the contractually agreed geographic scope.
Unique selling points
- The VRK foreign travel health insurance was rated "sehr gut" by Finanztest magazine (issue 05/2025).
- Medical expenses are reimbursed in full with no deductible or co-payment.
- Search, rescue and recovery costs abroad (e.g. mountain or helicopter rescue) are covered up to EUR 10,000.
- Coverage applies worldwide, not just within Europe, for trips ranging from short holidays to long-term stays.
- Patchwork families and unmarried partners with children can be insured together under one joint family contract.
Coverage limits
Medical expenses
Covered
Covers necessary outpatient and inpatient treatment as well as medication, remedies and aids incurred abroad; the product information sheet states no specific monetary cap.
Emergency medical treatment
Covered
Necessary emergency outpatient and inpatient treatment abroad is covered; policyholders are treated as private patients.
Hospitalization
Covered
Costs for necessary inpatient/hospital treatment abroad are covered; no monetary cap is stated in the product information sheet.
Outpatient treatment
Covered
Costs for necessary ambulatory (outpatient) treatment abroad, including medication, remedies and aids, are covered.
Emergency dental treatment
Conditional
Pain-relieving dental treatment abroad is covered; new dentures, crowns, partial crowns, implants and inlays are explicitly excluded, and vision/hearing aids are not covered either.
Medical transport / repatriation
Covered
Medically necessary transport/repatriation back to Germany is covered; the insurer's emergency centre organizes and pays for this directly.
Medical evacuation
Covered
Rescue and evacuation abroad, including organization of the return transport, is covered as part of 'Rettung und Bergung' and 'Krankenrücktransport'.
Repatriation of remains
No limit stated
Not addressed in the reviewed sources; neither explicitly included nor excluded.
Search and rescue
€10,000
In the event of an accident or sudden illness abroad, costs for search, rescue and recovery (e.g. mountain/helicopter rescue) are covered up to EUR 10,000.
Pre-existing conditions
No limit stated
Not explicitly addressed as a general exclusion in the reviewed sources; note the separate exclusion for treatments abroad that were the reason for the trip (see key conditions).
Winter sports cover
No limit stated
Not specifically addressed in the reviewed sources, although a ski-accident example is used illustratively on the product page.
Pregnancy and childbirth costs
Covered
Pregnancy and childbirth costs abroad are covered worldwide, in addition to pain-relieving dental treatment.
24/7 emergency assistance
Covered
A round-the-clock emergency hotline helps policyholders find a nearby doctor and organizes and pays for medical repatriation transport if required.
Key conditions
Assistance call deadline
Not specified in the reviewed sources.
Unauthorized treatment
Not specified in the reviewed sources.
Purchase while abroad
The contract must be concluded before the trip begins and can only be taken out in Germany; the application must reach the insurer before the trip starts.
Chronic conditions
Not specified in the reviewed sources.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy and childbirth costs incurred abroad are covered worldwide as part of the standard benefits.
Pre-existing condition exclusions
Treatments abroad that were the reason for the trip are explicitly excluded from cover; this is distinct from a general pre-existing-condition exclusion.
Coverage duration limit
Short-term tariff RPE20/RPF20: cover applies for the first 56 days of each foreign trip, within an annually renewing contract. Long-term single-trip tariff RPL20/RPU20: cover applies for a single trip lasting more than 56 up to a maximum of 365 days, for the agreed contract duration.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Parental visit cost coverage
If a child traveling alone must remain in hospital for more than 5 days, insurance covers travel costs for parents' visit
SourceEmergency dental pain relief treatment
Coverage for pain-relieving dental treatments performed abroad, as well as pregnancy and childbirth costs
SourceNo deductible/self-participation
All medical expenses are covered in full without any deductible or co-payment requirement
SourceOutpatient and inpatient treatment coverage
Coverage includes both ambulatory (doctor visits, consultations) and hospital-based (inpatient) medical treatments
SourceWorldwide coverage
Insurance coverage applies globally, not limited to specific regions or countries
SourceReimbursement model
Policyholders receive fast and straightforward reimbursement of expenses after submitting required receipts and documentation
Source24-hour emergency hotline
Round-the-clock emergency medical hotline for advice, doctor referrals, and emergency coordination
SourcePurchase only possible in Germany, before departure
The contract must be concluded before the foreign trip starts and can only be taken out in Germany.
Source