die
Zuzahlung
💰 What Exactly is a Zuzahlung?
Die Zuzahlung (feminine noun) refers to an amount of money that a person has to pay themselves in addition to an amount already covered (e.g., by insurance). It's essentially a co-payment or additional contribution towards specific costs.
You most commonly encounter die Zuzahlung in the healthcare system (Gesundheitswesen):
- For prescription medications (Medikamente auf Rezept) 💊
- For hospital stays (Krankenhausaufenthalte) 🏥
- For medical treatments and aids (Heil- und Hilfsmittel, e.g., physiotherapy, walking aids)
- For transport costs to the doctor or hospital (Fahrkosten) 🚑
⚠️ Often, there are legally defined maximum limits (Höchstgrenzen) and possibilities for exemption (Befreiungsmöglichkeiten) from co-payments, for example, for chronically ill individuals or low-income earners.
Although less common, the term can also appear in other contexts when an additional contribution towards a service is required.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
Numbers, calculations → almost always feminine.
Caution: When verbs are turned into nouns, the result is 'das Addieren', 'das Subtrahieren', 'das Multiplizieren', 'das Dividieren'.
🧐 Grammar of Zuzahlung
The word "Zuzahlung" is a feminine noun. The article is die.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zuzahlung |
| Genitive | der | Zuzahlung |
| Dative | der | Zuzahlung |
| Accusative | die | Zuzahlung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zuzahlungen |
| Genitive | der | Zuzahlungen |
| Dative | den | Zuzahlungen |
| Accusative | die | Zuzahlungen |
Example Sentences
- Für dieses Medikament fällt eine Zuzahlung von fünf Euro an.
(There is a co-payment of five euros for this medication.) - Die jährliche Höchstgrenze für Zuzahlungen liegt bei 2% des Bruttoeinkommens.
(The annual cap for co-payments is 2% of the gross income.) - Können Sie mir bitte die Rechnung für die Zuzahlung geben?
(Could you please give me the bill for the co-payment?) - Wegen seiner chronischen Erkrankung ist er von den meisten Zuzahlungen befreit.
(Due to his chronic illness, he is exempt from most co-payments.)
💡 Everyday Use
The term die Zuzahlung is used almost exclusively in the context of costs that are not fully covered by insurance (usually the statutory health insurance - gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) or another institution.
- Typical Contexts: Pharmacy (Apotheke), doctor's office (Arztpraxis), hospital (Krankenhaus), medical supply store (Sanitätshaus), health insurance company (Krankenkasse).
- Distinction from similar terms:
- Selbstbeteiligung/Selbstbehalt (deductible/excess): Often a fixed amount per year or per claim that must be paid before the insurance starts paying. Die Zuzahlung is usually a smaller amount per service/item.
- Eigenanteil (own share): Can be used synonymously with Zuzahlung, but more generally describes the portion of costs borne by the individual.
- Rezeptgebühr (prescription fee): Colloquial term specifically for the co-payment for medications.
- Importance: Understanding the concept of Zuzahlung is important for navigating the German healthcare system and its associated costs.
🧠 Mnemonics for Zuzahlung
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in "-ung" are almost always feminine (die). Think of die Rechnung (the bill), die Versicherung (the insurance), die Leistung (the service)... and also die Zahlung (the payment) -> die Zuzahlung.
Meaning Mnemonic: Think that you have to pay something in addition ('zu'). The insurance pays the main part, but you have to 'zu-zahlen' – add a payment – hence, Zuzahlung (co-payment).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Eigenanteil: Very similar, often interchangeable (own share).
- Kostenbeteiligung: More general term for cost sharing.
- Rezeptgebühr: Specifically for medications (colloquial prescription fee).
- Selbstbehalt/Selbstbeteiligung: Similar, but often refers to a larger, predetermined amount (e.g., per year) - deductible/excess.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Kostenübernahme: Full assumption of costs.
- Erstattung: Reimbursement (getting money back).
- (Volle) Deckung: Full coverage (by insurance).
- Befreiung (von der Zuzahlung): Exemption (from co-payment).
🚨 Caution: Don't confuse with Anzahlung (down payment) or Nachzahlung (subsequent payment, arrears payment).
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Arzt den Patienten: "Haben Sie Probleme mit den Zuzahlungen?"
Patient: "Nein, Herr Doktor, nur mit dem Bezahlen!" 😄
Doctor asks the patient: "Do you have problems with the co-payments?"
Patient: "No, doctor, only with paying!" 😄
📜 Poem about Zuzahlung
Das Rezept in der Hand,
Man geht zur Apotheke gewandt.
Die Medizin, sie hilft geschwind,
Doch etwas fehlt noch, mein Kind.
Ein kleiner Betrag, nicht allzu groß,
Man zahlt ihn dazu, fragt nicht "Wieso?".
Die Zuzahlung, so heißt das Geld,
Das man im System noch selbst bestellt.
The prescription in hand,
One goes swiftly to the pharmacy stand.
The medicine, it helps so fast,
But something's missing, built to last.
A small amount, not very grand,
You pay it extra, across the land.
The co-payment, that's the money's name,
That you yourself provide in this system's game.
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Betrag, oft klein und fein,
Den zahlst du meist beim Doktor oder Apothekenschein.
Die Kasse trägt den großen Rest,
Doch mich zahlst du selbst, das steht fest.
Was bin ich?
I am an amount, often small and neat,
You usually pay me at the doctor's or pharmacy's sheet.
Insurance covers the larger share,
But you pay me yourself, beyond compare.
What am I?
Solution: die Zuzahlung (the co-payment)
✨ Other Information
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word "Zuzahlung" is a compound noun, composed of:
- zu (preposition/adverb, here meaning 'additional', 'added to')
- Zahlung (noun, derived from 'zahlen' - to pay)
The suffix "-ung" turns the verb "zahlen" into the feminine noun "Zahlung". The prefix "Zu-" specifies the type of payment as an additional one.
Context Germany: The system of Zuzahlungen is a key part of financing the German healthcare system through the statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV). The specific rules and amounts are defined in the Social Code Book V (Sozialgesetzbuch - SGB V).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zuzahlung?
The word "Zuzahlung" is feminine. The correct article is die: die Zuzahlung. The plural is "die Zuzahlungen". It refers to an additional co-payment or contribution towards costs, often encountered in the healthcare system.