Kostenerstatter

Kostenerstatter is a rarely used Fachausdruck in German, denoting a party or institution that bears, substitutes for, or reimburses the costs of a service or obligation. The term combines Kosten (costs) with a suffix that suggests an acting agent, implying someone who replaces or covers the expenses.

Etymology and relation to similar terms: The word is formed from Kosten and the agent noun suffix -erstatter. In practice, however, the more common terms are Kostenträger, Kostenübernahme and Kostenerstattung. Kostenträger identifies the entity that ultimately pays for a service (for example a insurer or a public fund). Kostenübernahme describes the act of taking on costs, and Kostenerstattung refers to the reimbursement of already incurred expenses. Kostenerstatter is therefore a less frequent variant that emphasizes the actor who substitutes or covers the costs.

Usage: The term appears mainly in specialized legal, administrative or historical texts, contracts, or internal guidelines. In contemporary everyday language, Kostenerstatter is seldom used, with preference given to Kostenträger or Kostenübernahme.

Examples: In a service contract, the Kostenerstatter might be the insurer that covers the costs of the medical treatment. In a public funding program, the state could act as the Kostenerstatter for certain support measures.

Siehe auch:

- Kostenträger

- Kostenerstattung

- Kostenübernahme

- Kostenstelle