Short Answer
Rehabilitation is a statutory right in Germany designed to return patients to the workforce through intensive three-week residential programs.
Most major surgeries or chronic conditions qualify for "Anschlussheilbehandlung" (AHB), where all costs including lodging and therapy are covered by the state.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You went home directly after a major orthopedic surgery and tried to manage your own recovery with YouTube videos and occasional clinic visits. You didn't know that the hospital social worker could have sent you to a specialized "Reha-Klinik" for 21 days of professional care. You lost six months of mobility and had to pay €800 for private training because you didn't ask for the "Kur" that your pension fund was already prepared to pay for.
What To Do
- Ask the hospital "Sozialdienst" (social service) to handle your "Reha" application while you are still an inpatient.
- Email your employer immediately once a "Kur" is granted, as this counts as protected sick leave.
- "Ich möchte eine Anschlussheilbehandlung beantragen." (I would like to apply for follow-up rehabilitative treatment.) — Say this to your doctor before discharge.
The Truth
Germany invests heavily in rehab to prevent people from becoming permanently disabled. Foreigners often miss out because they assume "recovery" is a private responsibility rather than a clinical phase paid for by the state.