Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH
Medical Supply Stores · Bielefeld
Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH is a medical supply store based in Bielefeld, Germany.
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Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH Address & Contact
Provision of Aids in Germany
Medical supply stores like Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH are approved providers under § 127 SGB V for statutory health insurance. They take over the supply of aids prescribed by doctors. These aids play a central role in healthcare and are recorded in the aid directory of the GKV-Spitzenverband. Currently, this directory includes more than 20,000 products organized into 48 product groups, including compression stockings, wheelchairs, as well as hearing aids and orthoses. Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH ensures high-quality care through experienced professionals who are always up to date with the latest technical developments and understand the needs of their patients accurately.
Areas of Supply & Services
The service portfolio of Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH in Bielefeld offers a variety of specific aid provisions, including:
- Orthopedic Technology: This includes custom orthoses, prostheses, and medical insoles, specifically tailored to the needs of the patient.
- Rehabilitation Technology: The range includes wheelchairs, walking aids, and nursing beds, adjusted for both functional and aesthetic aspects to enhance the mobility and quality of life of those affected.
- Compression Therapy: Sanitätshaus Hölker offers special compression stockings and bandages that support venous diseases and contribute to pain relief.
- Homecare Supply: This includes area-specific care for patients with stomas, incontinence issues, or wounds. Here, professional consultation and individual service are at the forefront.
- Orthopedic Shoe Technology: The production of custom shoes ensures that both orthopedic and aesthetic requirements are met.
Qualified orthopedic technicians, bandagers, and orthopedic shoemakers at Sanitätshaus Hölker work closely with patients to ensure individual consultation and tailored provision. This is done with consideration of the latest technologies and innovative materials that enable patients to achieve the best possible quality of life.
Cost Coverage by Health Insurances
Aids are generally reimbursed by statutory health insurance when prescribed by a doctor. The precondition is that Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH has a supply contract with the respective health insurance and that the product is listed in the aid directory. For insured patients, a co-payment of 10 percent of the selling price applies according to § 33 SGB V, with a minimum amount of 5 euros and a maximum amount of 10 euros per aid. Privately insured individuals and self-payers often benefit from an expanded range of products and can expect more individualized solutions. The employees of Sanitätshaus Hölker also assist clients with questions regarding cost coverage and the respective insurance modalities to ensure smooth provision.
Importance for the Region
Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH plays not only an important role in the lives of patients but also a central significance for healthcare provision in Ostwestfalen. Through close collaboration with doctors, clinics, and rehab facilities, the company ensures that patients receive integrated care. These regional networks contribute to the continuous optimization of medical services in Bielefeld. Furthermore, Sanitätshaus creates jobs and makes a valuable contribution to the local economy, making it an indispensable part of the community.
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Frequently asked questions about Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH
Does the health insurance cover the costs at Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH?
Yes, with a medical prescription, many aids are reimbursed by the statutory health insurance, provided the product is listed in the medical aids catalogue and Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH has a supply contract with your health insurance fund. Statutory insured persons pay a co-payment of 10 percent (min. €5, max. €10). Contact Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH directly for information on cost coverage.
What is the difference between an orthosis and a prosthesis?
An orthosis is an aid that supports, stabilises or corrects an existing body part – for example a knee orthosis or an ankle brace. A prosthesis, on the other hand, replaces a missing body part, such as an amputated arm or leg. Medical supply stores such as Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH in Bielefeld offer both types of provision and individually fit the aids.
Does Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH also offer a home visit service?
Many medical supply stores offer a home visit service for patients with limited mobility. Qualified specialists come to your home to provide you with the necessary aids or carry out adjustments. Please contact Sanitätshaus Hölker GmbH in Bielefeld directly to find out more about the services available.
Medical Supply Stores in Germany
Related areas in healthcare
Medical Supply Stores by location
About Medical Supply Stores
Medical supply stores, known in German as Sanitätshäuser, are specialist retailers and service providers for medical aids (Hilfsmittel) and rehabilitation equipment. They play an essential role in the German healthcare system by supplying patients with the aids they need to maintain or regain independence in daily life. The range of products available in a Sanitätshaus typically includes custom and off-the-shelf prostheses, orthoses and orthopaedic footwear, manual and electric wheelchairs, rollators and walking frames, compression stockings and lymphoedema garments, hospital-grade care beds and pressure ulcer prevention systems, incontinence products and stoma care, diabetic foot care products, and home nursing equipment for rent or purchase. In Germany, Sanitätshäuser that wish to supply aids billable to statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) must be admitted as authorised providers under Section 126 of SGB V (Sozialgesetzbuch V, Germany's Social Code Book V). This admission requires proof of professional qualifications, suitable premises and compliance with the quality requirements set by the GKV Spitzenverband. Prescriptions (Rezepte) for medical aids issued by a treating physician can generally be presented directly at an authorised Sanitätshaus, which will then fit, adjust and bill the health insurer. Germany currently has around 6,000 Sanitätshäuser. This directory lists medical supply stores throughout Germany with addresses, phone numbers and contact details.
Medical Supply Stores in the German Healthcare System
Sanitätshäuser occupy a distinctive and important position in Germany's healthcare system as the primary access point for medical aids and rehabilitation equipment. Unlike in some other countries where medical equipment is supplied directly by hospitals or through mail-order catalogues, the German system relies heavily on the Sanitätshaus as a local expert retailer that combines product supply with professional consultation, fitting, adjustment and follow-up care. A Sanitätshaus is not simply a shop: it is a certified service provider subject to quality requirements, operating with trained technical staff who are qualified to fit complex aids such as custom prostheses, functional orthoses and individually compressed compression garments. This service-oriented model is supported by the German statutory health insurance system, which reimburses Sanitätshäuser for both the product and the associated fitting service when a valid prescription is presented. The Hilfsmittelverzeichnis (aids directory) maintained by the GKV Spitzenverband lists all reimbursable aids and defines the product specifications and quality requirements that must be met.
Authorisation Under Section 126 SGB V
To be able to supply medical aids and bill statutory health insurance directly, a Sanitätshaus must be admitted as an authorised service provider (zugelassener Leistungserbringer) under Section 126 of SGB V (Sozialgesetzbuch V, Germany's Social Code Book V). Authorisation is granted by the GKV Spitzenverband (National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds) or by individual health insurance funds, depending on the product category. The authorisation process requires proof that the Sanitätshaus holds the necessary professional qualifications for the aids it wishes to supply, that its premises and equipment are suitable, and that it complies with the quality requirements of the relevant supply contract (Versorgungsvertrag). Supply contracts between Sanitätshäuser and health insurance funds set out the reimbursable products, prices and quality standards for each product category. Authorisation must be maintained through ongoing compliance and periodic review. A Sanitätshaus that loses its authorisation cannot bill health insurance directly.
Key Product Categories and Services
German Sanitätshäuser offer an extensive range of product categories. Orthopaedic products include custom and prefabricated orthoses for all body regions, custom-made prostheses for upper and lower limb amputees, orthopaedic footwear and insoles (Einlagen). Mobility aids encompass manual and electric wheelchairs, rollators, forearm crutches, walking sticks and stairlifts. Compression therapy covers custom-fitted compression stockings and bandaging systems for venous insufficiency and lymphoedema, which require precise measurement and fitting by trained staff. Home nursing equipment includes height-adjustable care beds, pressure ulcer prevention mattresses, patient lifts and shower chairs. Incontinence aids include absorbent products, catheters and drainage systems. Respiratory aids encompass CPAP devices for sleep apnoea and oxygen equipment. Many larger Sanitätshäuser also offer custom fitting of breast prostheses and mastectomy bras for patients following cancer treatment, an area requiring particular sensitivity and specialist expertise.
Specialisations and New Care Models
The range of services offered by modern orthotic and prosthetic suppliers (Sanitätshäuser) extends far beyond traditional medical device retail. Orthopaedic technology workshops manufacture custom-made prostheses and orthoses using painstaking craftsmanship combined with state-of-the-art CAD/CAM milling processes. Suppliers specialising in rehabilitation technology advise on electric wheelchairs, stairlifts and barrier-free bathroom design. Compression fitting by specialist staff (compression stockings class I–IV) is particularly important for patients with lymphoedema and thrombosis. Incontinence care, stoma supplies and enteral nutrition round out the portfolio of many establishments. Home delivery services and telephone consultations enable care for immobile patients. Digital measuring systems for insoles and orthoses improve fit and efficiency. The GKV medical aids catalogue lists all reimbursable products with product group numbers; suppliers must hold separate health insurance authorisation under Section 126 SGB V for each product group.
What is a medical supply store (Sanitätshaus)?
A medical supply store (Sanitätshaus) is a specialist retailer for medical aids. It supplies patients with prostheses, orthoses, wheelchairs, compression stockings, care beds and other aids. As an authorised service provider under Section 126 SGB V, it can bill statutory health insurance directly.
What aids can I get at a medical supply store?
At a medical supply store you can find prostheses, orthoses, wheelchairs, walking frames, compression stockings, care beds and bathroom aids. Staff provide individual consultations and fit aids to your doctor's prescription.
How do I find a medical supply store near me?
Your statutory health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) can recommend authorised Sanitätshäuser near you. The GKV aids directory (Hilfsmittelverzeichnis) also lists approved providers. Sanoliste provides a searchable directory sorted by federal state and city.
How many Sanitätshäuser are there in Germany?
Germany has approximately 6,000 medical supply stores (Sanitätshäuser) nationwide. They are spread across all 16 federal states, with higher concentrations in urban areas. Many operate as specialist stores focused on orthopaedic aids, rehabilitation technology or home nursing equipment, while others offer a broad product range.
Do I need a prescription to buy products at a Sanitätshaus?
For products that are to be billed to statutory health insurance, a prescription (Rezept or Verordnung) from a treating physician is required. However, many Sanitätshäuser also sell products directly to private customers without a prescription. In these cases the customer pays the full cost privately. Staff can advise which products require a prescription and which are available for direct purchase.
What qualifications do staff at a Sanitätshaus need in Germany?
Core staff at a Sanitätshaus are typically trained as Orthopädie-Techniker (orthopaedic technicians), Orthopädie-Schuhmacher (orthopaedic shoemakers) or Reha-Techniker (rehabilitation technicians), all of which are recognised vocational training occupations in Germany. Specialist areas such as prosthetics, orthotics and compression therapy require additional technical training and certification. As an authorised provider under Section 126 SGB V, a Sanitätshaus must demonstrate that its staff hold the required qualifications.
Can private health insurance also cover Sanitätshaus products?
Yes. German private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) generally also covers medically necessary aids prescribed by a physician, often at a higher reimbursement level than statutory insurance. Policyholders should check their individual tariff terms. The Sanitätshaus can usually provide an itemised cost estimate (Kostenvoranschlag) in advance for submission to the private insurer.