If you study in Germany you can get IPMI as well. If you have private health insurance, keep it. Whatever you decide, make sure you get the best protection for you and your family in Germany. If you retire in Germany and have had public health insurance within the EU before moving to Germany, then you can switch to Germanyâs public health insurance. Private Expat Health Insurance Germany The purpose of Germany’s statutory health insurance is to ensure people receive what is ‘medically necessary’ regardless of their income. If you want to get private insurance, enter your details on this page and get quotes for the health insurance plans that are most suitable to you. You have to proof that youâre insured. They have a wide access to trusted hospitals, clinics and doctors and provide expats with help on tailoring a plan to suit your individual healthcare needs. Over time, the system has gradually widened, so that in 2020 around 90% of Germany’s population is covered by statutory health insurance. A third option would be to purchase a global health insurance plan that will cover you in Germany and throughout the world. German hospitals, doctors and also medication are very expensive and while emergencies and sickness insurance cover is mandatory for everyone, the insurance cover must also be compliant with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No. Also, the shared premium is just for you, the employee, not for your family members. The less waiting time, the more expensive it becomes. The German health insurance system has come under pressure to cut healthcare costs in recent years. This may only apply to coverage for accidents and emergencies. Social Security in Germany is compulsory for any employment and is non-negotiable. This means you may end up paying over 1,000 Euros each month to insure your family. Higher earners must sign up for private health insurance in Germany, which can offer shorter waiting times and better hospital conditions. Expats, Health Insurance, Moving to Germany Health Insurance in Germany – Ultimate Guide for Expats. Expatica helps make your expat journey the experience you've always wanted. Long term care can be very expensive, especially if you have no family members to help you. Otherwise, they will have to pay for healthcare services or take out travel insurance. Also, for routine and minor treatments like fillings you may have to pay if you wish to receive better filling material. For example, such insurance can cover you for: You can choose to buy all add-ons or just the ones important to you. Generally, locals and expats report that this central European nation offers good primary health care, good hospitals and also capable dentists. It’s good, affordable coverage that fulfils the legal requirements for obtaining a visa or residence permit. Technically, anyone can buy these plans: students, retirees, freelancers, and so on. Now the question is: Do you want to buy private health insurance if you can get full coverage through public health insurance? If you donât require medical assistance, you wonât have to pay this charge. There are no minimum premiums for voluntary public health insurance. Sick-day allowance insurance limits you to 70% of your last income under public health insurance and applies to employees and self-employed voluntary members. Without going into too many details, basically if youâre employed you are insured automatically through the social security scheme. Public health insurance might be the best choice for you if you have a family in Germany because they get free coverage. The only question is if youâre insured compulsory or voluntarily under public health insurance or youâre entitled to get private health insurance. A qualified and experienced insurance broker specializing in expatriates will help you find the most suitable cover.If you are self-employed and were already covered by an international insurer before the cut-off date of April 1, 2007, you should check to make sure your coverage is suitable for living in Germany. Supplemental insurance for hospital stays gives you better benefits for admissions in semi-private or private rooms, specialists, and medical treatment, and more. For either of the transfer or refund options above, you must apply for it but your former company may help you. Having appropriate health insurance cover is a key requirement for German retirement and with a reputation for world-class medical care, it is a key attraction to retirees. So only big companies with enough high-income employees can get a group policy. If youâre self-employed, this insurance can be a good way to get income protection in case of any long term inability to work. This is because rates for the public health insurance are based on income rather than age and personal medical history. As a result, recommending a specific company for public health insurance is difficult. You can buy expat/international health insurance outside of Germany – maybe even from your home country. Health insurance in Germany works slightly differently to many other developed countries, in that the type of insurance you can access depends on precise earning amounts: those earning more than 62,550 EUR (69,600 USD) a year can choose private insurance, while those who earn less than 62,550 EUR (69,600 USD) are automatically enrolled to public health insurance. For some people itâs worth the money. Have a cookie You can sign up for public health insurance yourself using this link. However, you can choose either state or private insurance if you: Switching to a private fund isn’t always advisable. In 2019, the state healthcare contribution is 14.6% of net income. You may, however, be charged additional costs for some of the paperwork involved in giving birth. But if you are not sure about moving to Germany, you can check out our insurance guides for other countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. Once youâve become a member, your health insurer will issue you a card (Krankenversichertenkarte), which youâll need to show each time you visit a doctor or specialist. You just let them know you moved to Germany and thatâs it. If you move to a smaller city, which are mostly very charming and beautiful, fewer people speak English. You don’t have a choice in this matter. Also, some doctors are only available for private insured patients, but overall there are a variety of doctors available in the public health insurance system. But this leads to the disadvantages. You get limited dental coverage under public health insurance for major dental treatments like crowns or prostheses. Usually this kind of insurance is not worth the money, because the coverage is very limited but costs a lot. Time to get your expat health insurance for Germany Cigna International Medical Insurance. Pensioners and people who receive unemployment benefits or assistance are also eligible for state healthcare. However, not all companies can offer customer service in English. The German healthcare system has long been considered one of the best in Europe and is certainly the oldest of its kind. Generally, youâll pay around half of this amount (around 7.3% up to a maximum monthly income of â¬4,538). Some 40 companies oversee the private medical insurance market. If youâre self-employed youâll need to arrange your own registration with a German health insurer. Read more in our guide to the German healthcare system. However, you are free to choose the insurer of your choice, and you can do so by informing your employer within two weeks of starting work. Expats in Germany can choose between the statutory (aka public) health insurance or private health insurance. If you work in Germany you get public health insurance through Social Security. Information for Expatriates about Health Insurance Germany, Travel Health Insurance, International Health Insurance. But you need to check them carefully when applying. He left his stable government office job and traveled the world until settling in Shanghai, China. Choosing a higher excess for private health insurance is one way to reduce your monthly contributions. All licensed private health insurance companies in Germany are safeguarded through a protection fund for private health insurers. Looking for health insurance in Germany? Also, many countries have intergovernmental agreements with Germany. Any violation against these regulations can lead to a fine of up to 10,000 Euros enforced by German regulating authorities. The largest pillar in the German healthcare system is statutory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV).It is one of the world’s oldest social health insurance systems, dating back to the late 1880s. Our digital insurance agent will help you get the right insurance policies for your need. You can buy Schengen travel insurance online or through an insurance broker of your choice anywhere in the world. Carsten grew up in a mid-sized town in Germany. So think about learning German. Residents with private insurance should review their plan to see what dental coverage is on offer. Expath works with our partner, Berlin-based insurance broker Keith Tanner, who is especially experienced with insurance options for expats (especially for those who need residency permits) – the best way to reach him is via email at keith.tanner (at) crcie.com. You may be surprised to know that if you come from the European Union, you may already be covered. But if you are making over 5,062.50 Euros a month, it might be better to apply for private health insurance. As we said earlier, students can be insured through family packages for free up to the age of 23 if their parents are insured through Social Security. You can get quoted for these plans from this broker website. Learn how your comment data is processed. In some areas such as dental, orthodontic treatment, and optical care, state health insurance only covers a small portion of the cost. But once youâre insured you technically stay in your age bracket. Some of the largest health insurance companies in Germany include: You can compare private health insurance providers in Germany and get free quotes on our special health insurance page, and with the following tools from GKV and PVK (in German). As an expat, you have an alternative to the German health insurance system. More and more companies in Germany offer additional employee benefits through such group policies these days. Health insurance in Germany Since 2009, Germany has instituted a system of compulsory health insurance, which comes along with statutory nursing care insurance. And all countries in the EU have an intergovernmental agreement that covers anyone with existing public health insurance from any other country in the EU. Normal annual travel insurance for trips of up to six weeks are extremely cheap in Germany and cover much more than you usually get on the international market. But you do have other choices through ERV, for example. If you’re young with few health issues and have sufficient income, switching to private insurance is a viable option. You get public health insurance straight away. If you earn more than that, consider purchasing additional sick pay insurance. Travel insurance that does focus on health insurance are usually much more expensive than your average travel insurance plans. German social security contributions cover healthcare costs, and around 120 insurers are responsible for administering state healthcare access. But you canât buy a premium plan and expect your company to pay for it. You donât have a choice in this matter. If you can get private health insurance, keep in mind that your employer still has to pay half of the premium of any standard plan. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. If You Are Enrolled in the German State Health Insurance Plan. If not, you still have plenty of options for public and private health insurance in Germany. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on our website â and donât worry, we respect your privacy. Expats living in Germany are entitled to state healthcare, which is funded by social security contributions. If you move to Germany, get travel insurance from a company in Germany because the coverage usually includes all areas except your country of residence. You can find the student rates from all different health insurance companies on Krankenkassen. Itâs important to know that if you get sick or injured while living, working, or traveling in Germany, you can get emergency medical care without proving you have insurance first. Click on any of the links for more info. With private health insurance you donât usually have to wait to get treatment and you can get an appointment with a specialist much quicker. You can use it to apply for a visa. This currently stands at around â¬80 per month if youâre over 25 and donât have any children. If you want to retire in Germany you must have health insurance. Public health insurance is for anyone whoâs working in Germany. However, these plans have more restrictions and fewer benefits. 3.3. If you are planning to reside for 6 months or longer in a foreign country, you can buy expatriate health insurance in Germany. Itâs usually a fairly straightforward process, and involves taking your passport and residence permit to a regional office and filling out the forms. This guide offers information on all aspects of health insurance in Germany, including: Cigna Global provides comprehensive health insurance to over 86 million customers in over 200 countries. Deductions from your salary are automatic. Supplemental outpatient insurance covers treatments that are limited under most public health insurance plans. Now it should be clear what direction you need to look at in terms of health insurance for Germany. If you had private health insurance in your home country then you need to get private health insurance in Germany as well. It is hard to say which type of expat health insurance in Germany is best for foreign nationals but it strongly depends on the personal, … This goes for everyone, not just EU citizens. You can enter your details on this page and get quotes for the offshore insurance plans that meet the standard of German laws. If you make more than 5,062.50 Euros as of 2019 you can choose to get private health insurance. When you arrive in Germany, you must switch to public or private health insurance as soon as possible 1, 2, 3, 4. All students under 30 in Germany can take advantage of a special student discounted rate for public health insurance. These insurance companies may be what you’re looking for. These insurances can be set with different deferment periods. Most likely, you canât do this if youâre an exchange student in Germany. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. If you get a premium plan then your employer has to pay the maximum amount they would have to pay for public health insurance. So why would you want to join any public health insurance scheme if you have the option of getting private health insurance? If you get private health insurance and youâre healthy and younger than 30, you can get private health insurance for under 250 Euros a month. Selected for you by Expat… If you or a family member work in Germany you are automatically enrolled into Germanyâs Social Security system. If youâre self-employed and make 5,062.50 Euros a month, 14% of your income goes to health insurance and 3% goes to long term care insurance. But if you come from within the EU you can prove your existing public health insurance through the European Union Health Insurance card. Some make more sense than others. Basically, the coverage for major procedures is only 50% of any standard treatments. In this case, you can use your existing health insurance if it covers Germany and covers inpatient and outpatient care and emergency assistance and evacuation. Otherwise, dental insurance in Germany is either a supplement to your health insurance plan or a stand-alone form of insurance. If you donât have insurance you can buy any offshore plan you like as long as it covers the benefits mentioned in the last paragraph. That someone is you. GKV maintains an updated list of all state German insurance companies, where you can compare health insurance rates. Copyright 2019 | expatden.com | Privacy Policy. You can enroll in a student health insurance plan under public health insurance or get private health insurance for students. But some companies have these policies in place and cost about 10% less than comparable individual policies. Usually, your employer will register you with a regional German health insurance company. If youâre self-employed in Germany you can enroll in public health insurance if you had public health insurance in your home country before moving to Germany. No matter where in the world you’re buying insurance for, there are some general things to be aware of. These plans offer better rates than most private medical insurance plans do. You can get this reduced insurance rate if you study in Germany for a maximum of 14 semesters or youâre no older than 30. So before you pick an insurance plan, letâs recap. Compared to German plans, expat plans are usually inexpensive. If youâre self-employed, your choice of insurance depends on the health insurance you had before you moved to Germany. State health insurance typically covers the basic costs of pregnancy and childbirth. Travel insurance covers you for delayed and cancelled flights and loss of luggage, but some donât focus on the important partâhealth insurance. Either way, no one splits the costs with you. If you move to Germany your situation is a bit different. Remember that you can only keep your existing insurance if you donât work in Germany and stay in the country no more than 5 years. If so, you must have either public health insurance or private health insurance. Germany Expat Health Insurance Eligibility . In addition, you may wonder if itâs necessary to speak the language in Germany. Whether to select private health insurance or public health insurance is the first hurdle. The current premium rate in 2019 for student public health insurance is about 70 Euros plus 20 Euros for long term care insurance. German Health Insurance. Let us make your new life in Germany easier. But these rates depend on each health insurance company. Daily hospital benefits provide you a daily allowance and can cover additional costs you may have while admitted. But itâs worth mentioning one thing about Social Security in Germany: If you work in Germany for more than five years you get a pension. Learn the local language And get off to a great start in your new country. If you make anything above that amount and have private health insurance, no other deductions are taken from your income. You can usually change health insurance company by giving two months’ notice before the 18-month expiry date, or whenever a supplemental increase has been announced or increased (typically reviewed annually). But this doesnât apply to all regions and for all specialist and treatments. If you want to move to and live in Thailand hassle-free, become a subscriber. This means you can transfer your pension the Social Security system of your home country if you have public health insurance in your home country. But there are cases in which you can get student travel insurance, which is offered by many companies. In 2019 the minimum premium was set to 171 Euros a month, which can be very attractive, especially for small business owners and startup entrepreneurs. Germany offers one of the world's best state healthcare systems, but it comes at a price. These basic services are available across the board, but if you want private medical care or your own hospital room you’ll need an additional private healthcare plan. The choices you have depend on your personal circumstances. All foreigners living and working in Germanycan access subsidized state healthcare, but it is mandatory for all residents to have some form of health insurance. You have so much to do when moving to Germany, don’t let the mandatory enrollment in health insurance slow you down. German health insurance contributions are split between employers and employees, regardless of whether you use a private or public scheme. Take the time to read through the fine print of any insurance plan youâre interested in buying. Expatica uses technology such as cookies and scripts to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. But to get treatment while traveling, you may have to get your European Health Insurance Card. For instance, with public health insurance you may have to wait for an appointment at a specialist if itâs not an emergency. Your two choices in Germany are social insurance or private insurance. Are you an expat, exchange student, EU citizen, retiree, freelancer, or business owner living in Germany? The additional contribution rate, however, is one factor to consider when choosing a German health insurance company. Ottonova is a private health insurance provider that can be much more affordable than your classic private health insurance providers in Germany. Nobody expects you can cancel your existing policy and apply for a new one when you retire. You can find more info on student health insurance on the official website of Germans Academic Exchange Service. Step 1 START WITH YOUR CORE PLAN. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to choosing private health insurance, which we talk about in the next section. Statutory sick pay (Krankengeld) pays up to â¬3,176 per month before tax. The kind you have … In 2019, the contribution rate starts at 3.05% of your gross salary, or 3.3% in you have no children, up to a maximum of â¬150 a month. Another 18.6% goes to your pension and 2.5% goes to unemployment insurance. We explain this further down the guide. Which one you choose also depends on the region you live in, because not all companies are available throughout Germany. Your health insurer will pay 70% of your regular salary for a maximum of 78 weeks (over a three-year period) thereafter. Either way itâs always possible to reach out to any insurance broker to get advice for your particular case. Youâre either allowed to enroll into the Social Security system or apply for private health insurance. We proudly support expats from all over the world relocating to Germany—and whatever you need, we’re here to help. This includes GP visits, hospital care (inpatient and outpatient), medical treatment, x-rays, sick leave, mental health care, rehabilitation, prescription drugs, and giving birth in Germany. Of course nothing is perfect and the same is true for public health insurance in Germany, otherwise people wouldnât need private health insurance. Germany offers a great deal of healthcare options for expats looking at German retirement. Whether you’re eligible to switch from a state to private health insurance fund is largely dependent on your employment status. Also, many banks these days include travel insurance in their credit card packages. While contributions to state health insurance are based on your income, private health insurance contributions are based on your risk profile. Also, if your employer offers supplementary private health insurance in addition to public health insurance, then this might be worth considering. They cover mainly everything too, but can cost around 50 Euros a month. If you make over 5,062.50 Euros a month or youâre a young startup entrepreneur, private health insurance may be a good choice. But if youâre not a EU citizen, you need private health insurance. We talk about public health insurance in Germany because itâs a valid option and for many people, even expats, as itâs compulsory for most people. There’s a lot of information out there which can be misleading. To get private medical group insurance at your company you need at least ten employees who can get private medical insurance instead of public health insurance. Once you are a resident in Germany, it is compulsory to register with either a statutory German health insurance scheme (gesetzliche Krankenkasse, GVK) or a private insurance scheme (private Krankenversi… There are some exceptions for certain occupations. Itâs possible that private health insurance is much cheaper than public health insurance. Now, this amount is usually covered by most private medical insurance plans in any emergency out of area coverage. You can read more about the options within Germanyâs health care system and decide to keep your existing health insurance plan or sign up for a new plan. If you work in Germany temporarily, you can apply for a refund on part of your pension after 24 months have past since the last payment was been made. This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. This may not be convenient for you. If youâre an expat who works in Germany, your have limited choices for insurance and most likely youâll be insured through Social Security. But they can also be risky. Donât start making big plans, because the pension isnât much. Either way, your employer has to pay 50% of the costs. Both EU and non-EU nationals working in Germany are subject to compulsory state health insurance (known as statutory sickness insurance, or gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). International health insurance is available for anyone whoâs living in Germany that wants global health coverage, where you can fly back to your home country and get treatment, or keep the plan when you move to a new country. This covers the costs of meeting any necessary nursing needs (e.g., bathing or feeding if disabled). Public health insurance provides sufficient coverage in the EU, but not for any other countries. If youâre a EU citizens, you can prove your insurance through the European Health Insurance Card. However, pressure on the healthcare system has seen increases in co-payment amounts. Individual Private Medical Insurance, or IPMI, is mostly better than public health insurance and has some advantages, but it can be more expensive. If you choose to give birth in a private hospital, you should check whether this is covered by your private health insurance, and discover what costs you will have to pay for the babyâs delivery and care. Private insurance is a good choice if you canât get public health insurance. Depending on your needs and situation, supplementary medical insurance may or may not make sense for you. No one asks you whoâs paying the bill before they help you. This is called familienversicherung in German. All foreigners living and working in Germany can access subsidized state healthcare, but it is mandatory for all residents to have some form of health insurance. A quality health plan, including cover for hospital stays and treatments and a generous overall annual benefit limit. If youâre not insured you need to get a private health insurance. And more importantly, 30,000 Euros may not be sufficient enough if you have a major accident or get seriously sick. Health insurances for temporary stays of up to five years are available through many insurers in Germany for less than 100 Euros per month. If you are basically in good health, you should try to purchase suitable benefits plans from a German private health insurance company willing to accept non-Germans. Your first priority after arriving to Germany should be your health insurance. New rules introduced in 2019 have offered a boost to self-employed workers with lower earnings. This obliges insurers to accept all cases under the same conditions as the government system. Overseas Health Insurance; Expatriate Insurance. By checking this box, you agree to receive newsletter from ExpatDen. But not everyone is eligible. Spouses, civil partners and children (up to age 23, or 25 if studying) of someone covered by state healthcare insurance are eligible for family co-insurance in certain conditions. Medical professionals commonly speak English, though different levels … One easy and straight forward option for expats is to get travel insurance through Hanse Merkur. While traveling the requirements are less strict and for all countries within the EU the same. Get travel insurance before traveling to Germany, which you need to get a German visa anyway. To be eligible for state healthcare, youâll need to get an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) before you arrive. But also itâs just careless to travel anywhere in the world without proper insurance. This means if you wish to have an inlay instead of a crown you may end up with an 80% copayment. But if youâre employed then you may check with your company if they have a supplementary medical group policy in place. Here’s a complete guide on how to avail of health insurance. If you want to get right to the point, hereâs what you should know about health insurance options in Germany. This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Ottonova targets expats specifically, offering them 24/7 English support (via phone and online chat) and easy paperless registration. Additional long term care insurance gets you better coverage than public health insurance and can help lower your financial burden in such a case. As a German expat abroad, you can then conclude a new MAWISTA Expatcare travel health insurance policy for a maximum of 5 additional years. Disclaimer: This article may link to products and services from one or more of Expat Denâs advertisers.