“Is it prescription-only?” — “Can I get it on prescription?” — “And are the other varieties also available at the pharmacy?” These are the three questions we receive most often. They sound similar, but mean three completely different things. And because they are constantly confused, many people pay out of pocket, even though their health insurance would cover the cost. Here, what applies is explained clearly and in order.
The short version
- None of our products are prescription-only. You do not need a prescription to order — none of our products is subject to a prescription.
- Fully balanced nutritional drinks are available on prescription. The prerequisite is that you are no longer able to maintain a sufficient normal diet due to illness and that simpler methods — such as fortifying your meals — are not sufficient on their own. The doctor's office assesses both. Then it can be prescribed at the expense of the statutory health insurance; with us, this is CaloDrink Vanilla. For insured persons aged 18 and over, the statutory co-payment remains 5 to 10 euros per pack.
- Our other products are paid for out of pocket — CaloVital, CaloSoup, CaloCake, CaloKids+ and CaloCaps, even if they are listed on a prescription. This is not due to the dosage form: The decision on cost coverage depends on the composition, not whether something is liquid or needs to be mixed. Why this is the case is explained further down.
- You can get everything at the pharmacy. Every one of our products has a PZN and can be ordered through the pharmaceutical wholesaler — even if it is not currently on the shelf. However, being orderable does not mean it is covered by insurance: one thing is logistics, the other is payment.
Three terms that are constantly confused
The confusion clears up as soon as you distinguish between these three words. They do not describe the same thing in different strengths, but rather three independent properties:
| Term | What it means | Does it apply to our products? |
|---|---|---|
| prescription-only | You can get it exclusively with a prescription. This applies to prescription-only medicines. | No. None of our products is prescription-only. |
| available without prescription | Anyone can buy it — in the shop, at the pharmacy, without a prescription, without having to ask. | Yes, to everything. |
| prescribable | The doctor may write it on a statutory health insurance prescription and the health insurance will cover the cost. | Yes, but only for certain products. Fully balanced nutritional drinks are eligible — if the medical prerequisite is met and the product does not fall under any of the exclusions in the guidelines. |
The most common misconception lies in the last line: Prescribable does not mean prescription-only. A prescription is an additional option, not a requirement. If you want it, just order it — if you meet the medical prerequisite, a prescription saves you the vast majority of the cost.
When the health insurance pays
The basis is set out in § 31 SGB V, and the details are governed by the Arzneimittel-Richtlinie (German Medicines Guidelines) of the Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (Federal Joint Committee). In everyday language, everything depends on two findings made by the doctor:
- You are no longer able to maintain a sufficient normal diet due to illness. What matters is what you can actually still eat — not a specific diagnosis and also not merely the concern that you might run short in the future.
- And: What else can be done to improve your diet is not sufficient on its own — for example, fortifying your meals with cream, butter, or oils, additional energy-rich snacks, or, in cases of swallowing difficulties, an adjusted consistency and speech therapy.
The second point is often misunderstood. It does not mean that you must first try something else for months. The guidelines require the doctor's office to assess these options and initiate them if necessary — and they explicitly state that nutritional drinks and these measures do not exclude one another, but should be combined. It is the doctor's office that must assess this, not you. Knowing what has already been tried can still be helpful for the conversation.
If both points are met, the doctor can write a prescription for a nutritional drink that is covered by statutory health insurance — without a formal application or approval from the insurance company. However, legally, this is a narrowly defined exception: food is generally excluded from coverage by statutory health insurance, and the guidelines explicitly allow only a few clearly defined product groups. This is exactly why the pharmacy staff examines the prescription so carefully. Typical situations in which the prerequisites may be met:
- unintentional weight loss during or after tumor treatment
- chewing or swallowing difficulties, for example after a stroke
- persistent loss of appetite with weight loss, often in older age
- increased energy requirements after surgery or in cases of chronic illness
- gastrointestinal diseases that restrict food intake
No list of diagnoses — but very clear rules on which products are covered
Many people first call their health insurance company and ask for approval or a list of reimbursable diagnoses. Neither exists: Which illness justifies a prescription is decided by the doctor based on your situation.
This does not apply to the product itself. The guidelines specify exactly what can be prescribed at the expense of the health insurance — and what cannot. Many people overlook this second part, and that is exactly why prescriptions are rejected at the pharmacy counter. What applies is explained in the next box.
A prescription alone is no guarantee
Sometimes a doctor's office writes a prescription for a product that the health insurance is not allowed to cover. The pharmacy must check this and cannot dispense it at the expense of the health insurance — you will have to pay for it yourself. This is frustrating, but it is not the pharmacy's fault.
Only "enteral nutrition" as defined by the Arzneimittel-Richtlinie is covered by a statutory health insurance prescription. This includes tube feeding, certain special products for rare metabolic diseases — and nutritional drinks that are suitable as the sole source of nutrition. CaloDrink Vanilla from our range meets this requirement.
The deciding factor is not whether something is liquid or needs to be mixed, but rather which product group it belongs to. A powder can also be covered by insurance — for example a special nutritional product for a rare congenital metabolic disease. Such products do not expressly replace nutrition entirely, yet they are still prescribable; in such cases the diagnosis is the deciding factor. Conversely, a drink is not covered simply because you drink it.
Only CaloDrink Vanilla from our range is listed as prescribable. CaloVital, CaloSoup, CaloCake, CaloKids+ and CaloCaps are complementary products to be taken alongside food; they do not have this listing, so the pharmacy cannot bill them to the health insurance — even if they are listed on a prescription. You can still mention this to the doctor's office: if the health insurance is to pay, a fully balanced nutritional drink must be listed on the prescription — the easiest way is to use one of the four PZNs listed below.
The rule that surprises even many doctor's offices
Nutritional drinks offered specifically for a particular illness are excluded from prescription coverage — even if they are fully balanced. The Arzneimittel-Richtlinie explicitly lists six such cases: products specially formulated for chronic heart, circulatory, or respiratory failure, pressure sores, diabetes, geriatric medicine, supporting the immune system, or cancer patients.
This may sound nonsensical, but it is important to know: There are many such special products, especially in oncology and geriatric medicine. The standard product listed on a prescription is a standard or high-calorie product — a nutritional drink without a specific medical label. You should ask the doctor's office whether what they have written is such a standard product. Some clearly defined special cases are exempt from this rule, such as products for kidney failure, cow's milk protein allergy, documented fat malabsorption, phenylketonuria, or ketogenic diets for epilepsy.
In addition, the guidelines set requirements for the composition — including the energy density and the addition of substances such as fiber or certain fats. Whether a specific product meets these requirements is assessed by the doctor's office and the pharmacy; you do not need to assess it yourself.
How it works — in four steps
- An appointment with your family doctor or specialist. Explain the situation in terms of numbers: How much weight have you lost, and over what period? Which meals are you no longer able to eat? Do you have difficulty chewing or swallowing? This is what matters — not the product name.
- The prescription. It is written on the usual statutory health insurance prescription, Form 16 — the pink prescription. It includes the product name, pack size, and PZN. There is no special form, and prior approval from the health insurance is not required.
- Off to the pharmacy. If the product is not in stock, the pharmacy orders it from the wholesaler using the PZN — it usually arrives on the next business day.
- The co-payment. For insured persons aged 18 and over, the standard statutory co-payment under § 61 SGB V applies: 10 percent of the dispensing price, at least 5 and no more than 10 euros per pack, but never more than the cost of the product itself. If you are exempt from co-payments, you do not have to pay anything here either.
What you can save yourself: the call to the health insurance company, the written application, and the wait for approval. None of this is required for nutritional drinks. If you start by contacting the health insurance company instead of the doctor's office, you will only waste time.
The easiest way to get what you need: CaloDrink Vanilla
For a doctor's office to prescribe a product without difficulty and a pharmacy to bill it without difficulty, it must be correctly listed in the right place: in the Lauer-Taxe, the directory used by both prescription software in doctor's offices and the pharmacy's inventory management system.
CaloDrink Vanilla is listed there as a balanced diet under § 31 SGB V. In practical terms, this means that the doctor can find the product directly in the software, and the pharmacy can bill it to the health insurance without having to ask any questions. This is why, when asked, "What should I ask the doctor to write on my prescription?", we recommend this particular product.
CaloDrink Vanilla is a ready-to-drink, fully balanced nutritional product: 200 ml per bottle, with around 300 kilocalories, or 1.5 kcal per milliliter. Fully balanced means that it contains everything the body needs — protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals in fixed proportions. It can therefore also serve as the sole source of nutrition. A regular calorie shake cannot do this.
| Pack | PZN for the prescription | Total energy |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 200 ml | 20363609 | 1,200 kcal |
| 8 × 200 ml | 20593746 | 2,400 kcal |
| 12 × 200 ml | 20366074 | 3,600 kcal |
| 24 × 200 ml | 20366080 | 7,200 kcal |
And the other products? How to get everything you need from the pharmacy
This is rarely mentioned, but it is the most practical point of this article: Every one of our products has its own PZN and is therefore listed with the pharmaceutical wholesaler. You can go to any pharmacy, give the name or PZN and ask them to order it — even if nothing is on the shelf. The goods usually arrive on the next business day.
When it comes to whether any of these are covered by a statutory health insurance prescription, the Arzneimittel-Richtlinie is clear. It covers enteral nutrition that is suitable as the sole source of nutrition — in the guidelines' exact wording, "so-called nutritional drinks" (§ 19, paragraph 3). With us, this is CaloDrink Vanilla, which is correspondingly listed as a balanced diet under § 31 SGB V in the Lauer-Taxe.
A common misconception: It is not due to the dosage form. The word "powder" does not appear in the guidelines at all. A product that needs to be mixed can also be covered by a statutory health insurance prescription if it meets the requirements — there are fully balanced nutritional drinks in powder form on the market, and for certain illnesses, even complementary products are prescribable, such as for rare congenital metabolic disorders or cystic fibrosis. The deciding factors are the composition and indication, not the consistency.
What this means for our range: CaloDrink Vanilla is listed as a balanced diet under § 31 SGB V. CaloVital, CaloSoup, CaloCake, CaloKids+ and CaloCaps are complementary products without this listing — the pharmacy cannot bill them to the health insurance and dispenses them as products paid for out of pocket. You can still get them from any pharmacy using their PZN, just as you can in the shop.
If you need both, make that clear to the doctor's office: The fully balanced nutritional drink should be listed on the prescription, and you can buy everything else in addition. This will help you avoid an unpleasant surprise at the pharmacy counter.
What has proven effective in practice
Most people combine both: CaloDrink Vanilla on prescription as a reliable foundation — and powders, soups, or bars paid for out of pocket for variety in taste. This is because the biggest practical problem with nutritional drinks is rarely the composition, but rather that after a few weeks, no one can stand seeing the same variety anymore.
All PZNs at a glance
Every variety has its own number — all 73 are listed here. Type in the variety or number, and only the matching result will remain. A PZN only means "orderable", not "covered by insurance": Only the first group, CaloDrink Vanilla, is covered by a statutory health insurance prescription.
CaloDrink Vanilla · ready-to-drink, 200 ml 4
- 4-pack Starter Set20363609
- 8-pack Intensive Package20593746
- 12-pack Weekly Course20366074
- 24-pack Therapy Supply20366080
CaloVital Powder · 500 g and Value Pack 23
- Strawberry 500g16061185
- Vanilla 500g16061216
- Chocolate 500g16061191
- Flavourless 500g16061239
- Hazelnut 500g18724891
- Cappuccino 500g16061251
- Apple Strudel 500g19439247
- White Chocolate 500g17200631
- Cookies & Cream 500g19439224
- Blueberry 500g16061245
- Cheesecake 500g16061268
- Caramel 500g16061222
- Cherry Yogurt 500g17200648
- Tiramisu 500g19439230
- Banana 500g17200654
- 2-Pack Vanilla – Strawberry 1000g19512978
- 3-Pack Vanilla – Strawberry – Chocolate19512984
- Value Pack 3000g Strawberry18724916
- Value Pack 3000g Vanilla18724939
- Value Pack 3000g Chocolate18724922
- Pistachio 500g20026088
- Multivitamin 500g20026071
- Value Pack 3000g Flavourless20803215
CaloVital Vegan · 500 g 9
- Strawberry19479614
- Vanilla19479666
- Chocolate19479643
- 2-Pack Strawberry - Chocolate19646012
- 2-Pack Vanilla - Strawberry19645998
- 2-Pack Vanilla - Chocolate19646006
- 3-Pack Vanilla - Strawberry - Chocolate19646029
- Pistachio20026131
- Banana20026148
CaloSoup · Savoury Cream Soup 3
- 1x Leek Cream Soup19806349
- 1x Potato Cream Soup20803190
- 1x Tomato Cream Soup21108871
CaloCake · Energy Bars, Box of 24 3
- Cookies & Cream 24 x 125 g in a Box19439193
- Chocolate 24 x 125 g in a Box19439201
- Apple Strudel 24 x 125 g in a Box19439218
CaloDrink+ · Calorie Shake, 500 g 1
- Strawberry 500g20217428
CaloSleep · Night Shake 1
- Default Title20647318
CaloCaps · PRE WEIGHT GAINER 1
- PRE WEIGHT GAINER18305007
No number is listed here for your search. Please contact us briefly, and we will provide it to you.
Value sets and individual bars do not have their own number — in the pharmacy, simply state the PZN of the individual package and the desired quantity.
If you prefer to order directly, you can also find the same products in our shop.
Information Sheet for Medical Practices
One page, print-ready as a PDF: composition, intended use, and the prescribable PZN of CaloDrink Vanilla. Print it out and take it to the appointment — this saves the practice the trouble of looking it up.
Download Information Sheet (PDF)Frequently Asked Questions
Is medical food prescription-only?
No. Medical food is a food for special medical purposes, not a prescription-only medicine. You can buy it anytime without a prescription — in the shop or at the pharmacy.
Why does everyone talk about a prescription then?
Because the health insurance fund can cover the costs if you are no longer able to maintain a sufficiently normal diet due to illness and simpler options are not adequate. The prescription is the way to get the costs covered — not a requirement for purchase.
Do I need to apply beforehand or get something approved?
No. The prescription is issued using the standard statutory prescription (Form 16). An application or prior approval from the health insurance fund is not required.
What else do I have to pay myself with a prescription?
For those aged 18 and over, the statutory co-payment: 10 percent of the dispensing price, at least 5 and at most 10 euros per package — and never more than the product costs. If you are exempt from co-payments, this also does not apply.
Which doctor can prescribe this?
Any practice with statutory insurance approval, including general practitioners. No specialist and no hospital affiliation is required.
My pharmacy says they do not stock the product. What now?
This only means that it is not on the shelf. With the PZN, any pharmacy can order it from the pharmaceutical wholesaler — the goods are usually delivered on the next business day. Simply state the number from the table above.
Can I also get CaloVital or the other products on prescription?
No — at least not from our product range. Statutory prescriptions cover enteral nutrition under the Medicines Directive: medical food suitable as the sole source of nutrition, tube feeding, as well as special foods for rare congenital metabolic disorders. From our product range, CaloDrink Vanilla meets the requirements. CaloVital, CaloSoup, CaloCake, CaloKids+ and CaloCaps are complementary products; they are not covered by statutory insurance. They can still be ordered from any pharmacy using their PZN, but as a self-pay product.
My doctor prescribed it, but the pharmacy still says it is a self-pay product — how can that be?
This can happen and is not the pharmacy's fault. Whether a product can be dispensed at the health insurance fund's expense does not depend on whether it is on the prescription, but on whether it is registered as prescribable enteral nutrition. This applies to CaloDrink Vanilla from our product range; the pharmacy cannot bill the complementary products. In this case, ask the practice to prescribe the fully balanced medical food with one of the four PZN instead.
Does private health insurance also pay?
This depends on your plan. The rules described above apply to statutory health insurance. Those with private insurance submit the invoice to their insurance provider as usual — if in doubt, ask them beforehand.
How many bottles per day are typical?
One to three bottles daily in addition to a normal diet. If the medical food is to completely replace nutrition, it is five to seven, depending on requirements. The specific quantity is determined by the treating doctor.
How the prescription process works in detail and what the medical basis is is described in detail in our post Medical food on prescription: When the health insurance fund pays.
- § 31 para. 1, 3 and 5 of the Fifth Book of the Social Code (SGB V) – Medicines and medical supplies: entitlement to balanced diets for enteral nutrition; co-payment for insured persons aged 18 and over. Accessed on 18.10.2026. gesetze-im-internet.de
- § 61 sentence 1 SGB V – Co-payments: 10 percent of the dispensing price, at least 5 euros, at most 10 euros. Accessed on 18.10.2026. gesetze-im-internet.de
- Joint Federal Committee (G-BA): Medicines Directive (AM-RL), Section I Enteral Nutrition, §§ 18–26, especially § 19 para. 3, § 21 and §§ 23–26. Last amended on 16.07.2026, in force since 03.10.2026 (BAnz AT 02.10.2026 B1). Accessed on 18.10.2026. g-ba.de
The laws, guidelines, specialist publications and databases mentioned above concern nutrition and healthcare in general, not CaloDrink or other CaloShop products themselves. Product information for CaloShop products is excluded; it comes from their labels and nutritional information.
CaloDrink Vanilla is a food for special medical purposes (fully balanced diet) for the management of disease-related malnutrition. Use only under medical supervision. Not for parenteral use. This post is for general information purposes and does not replace medical advice or a diagnosis. Whether a prescription can be issued at the expense of statutory health insurance in an individual case is decided by the treating doctor. Information on prescription and co-payment according to § 31 and § 61 SGB V, as well as Section I of the Medicines Directive of the Joint Federal Committee (§§ 18 to 26, especially § 19 paragraph 3, § 21 and §§ 23 to 26) in the currently applicable version (in force since 3 October 2026, accessed on 18.10.2026). As of August 2026, sources checked in October 2026.
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