The costs for patients without health insurance are generally covered by the relevant public health department or through benefits provided under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG) or the Social Code (SGB XII). Tuberculosis is a notifiable disease under the Infection Protection Act (IfSG), and support during the lengthy treatment helps prevent patients from discontinuing therapy, which in turn can lead to relapses and further spread of the disease. For people without insurance coverage, applications for coverage of treatment costs can be submitted, for example, to the social welfare office. If no cost-bearing entity is available, the responsible public health department can be contacted first. If hospital treatment is necessary, the hospital’s social services department often coordinates cost coverage with the social welfare authorities to ensure seamless continued care after discharge.

An online decision-making tool to help determine which insurance provider is responsible for covering costs in various living situations will soon be available under the "Social and Medical Resources" section on No1Lost.