How the hospital estimate is built
For international self-pay patients, major German university hospitals describe a case-specific process: the clinical team reviews the medical records, defines the expected treatment, and only then can the international office prepare a preliminary estimate. The final invoice can differ if the actual diagnostics, procedure, hospital stay or complications differ from the original plan.
- Clinical review before a useful quotation
- Planned diagnostics and procedure included in the estimate
- Advance payment may be required before a confirmed appointment
- Hospital stay and high-cost materials can materially affect the amount
- Final settlement follows the care actually delivered
What can affect a DBS estimate
DBS is an episode of care, not only an electrode implantation.
- Movement-disorder or neurological assessment
- Brain imaging and pre-operative testing
- Electrodes, leads and implanted pulse generator
- Surgery and anesthesia
- Inpatient monitoring
- Initial programming and later programming visits
- Treatment of complications or additional testing
Ask whether programming is included
DBS requires post-operative programming and often several adjustments. Before comparing quotations, ask which programming visits are included, which will be billed separately and how follow-up can continue after returning home.
Official sources
Last source-reviewed 2026-08-29. Cost procedures and published service fees can change, so confirm current terms directly with the provider before transferring money or booking travel.
- Cost Plan — LMU Klinikum International Patient Office ↗
- International patient process and cost estimate — University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) ↗
- Finance for international patients — Heidelberg University Hospital ↗
- Functional Neurosurgery / Deep Brain Stimulation — Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin ↗