[Medical rehabilitation. Basic function of the German pension insurance].

Medical rehabilitation is an important part of the German health care system in addition to medical and nursing care. For people with impairments, especially with chronic diseases, rehabilitation aims at emancipated participation in social life. The German pension insurance carries out rehabilitation mainly for gainfully employed people. To be entitled to these benefits legal and personal (medical) requirements must be fulfilled. The rehabilitation concepts of the German pension insurance are interdisciplinary, following the bio-psycho-social model of health and illness. Concepts of rehabilitation are presented exemplarily for musculoskeletal, oncologic, heart/circulation, metabolic/gastrointestinal, and neurological diseases as well as mental disorders. Elements of structure, process, and outcome quality are illustrated. Research topics in rehabilitation are presented.