Having health insurance is obligatory for all citizens and expats living in Germany. Therefore, before working, studying, or living in this country, you must prepare your health insurance. As a foreigner, you can get German health insurance for foreigners if you don’t have valid health insurance.
Germany offers two types of health insurance for expats. Most foreigners get this insurance through their employers. However, other people, such as foreign students, must get health insurance providers on their own. How much is health insurance cost in Germany and what does it cover?
German Health Insurance for Foreigners: Public Health Insurance
The health insurance system in Germany comprises public health insurance and private health insurance. Public health insurance is an insurance system funded by social contributions and taxes. It is mandatory for all German citizens to have public health insurance.
However, there are particular exceptions that allow some citizens to have private insurance. Is public health insurance available for expats? Yes, it is. Most foreign students, workers, and residents in Germany are eligible for this public insurance scheme.
1. Who is Eligible for Public Health Insurance?
Public health insurance is available for expats who meet the criteria established by the government. Therefore, you can apply for this public insurance scheme if you meet the criteria below.
- Foreign employees with annual income less than €66,600
- Freelancer or self-employed expats
- International students younger than 30 years old
- Artists and publicists
- Agricultural and forestry entrepreneurs
- Pensioners
2. Germany Health Insurance Cost
The costs of public health insurance depend on the amount of your salary. The monthly cost of public health insurance is 14.6% to 15.6% of your monthly salary.
Therefore, your age, health condition, and location will not affect the insurance cost you pay if you have public health insurance cost. In addition, if you are an employee, you don’t pay this monthly cost fully because your employer pays half of this cost.
However, international students in Germany pay a contribution of at least €110 per month. On the other hand, freelancers generally make a monthly contribution between €160 and €190.
3. Public Health Insurance Out-of-Pocket Costs
Aside from making a monthly contribution, you will need to spend money on out-of-pocket costs if you have a public health insurance plan. However, this cost is not much. You only need to pay a €10 bill for the first doctor visit once a quarter.
Moreover, you must also pay the first €10 of the majority of prescription medication. However, you don’t need to pay for deductibles when enrolling in the public insurance scheme.
4. Benefits of Having Public Health Insurance
Having statutory German health insurance for foreigners will give you some benefits.
- It covers all the essential health benefits, such as basic dental care, hospitalization, pregnancy care, prescription medicine and drugs, out-patient care, and statutory sick pay.
- You can include your dependents in your policy without increasing the monthly contribution.
- No deductible and low out-of-pocket loss.
5. How to Get Public Health Insurance
When you move to Germany for work or study, you must visit the local Registration Office to register with the German authorities. At the end of the registration process, you will get a German social insurance number.
You need this number to apply for German health insurance for foreigners at the statutory health insurance provider. The most recommended public health insurance providers are AOK Baden Wurttemberg, TK, DAK, KKH, and Barmer.
Private Health Insurance for Foreigners
As an expat living in Germany, you have the option to purchase a private health insurance plan. You can find many private insurance companies offering choices of health insurance plans to meet the different needs of policyholders. Below are several things you must know about this insurance.
1. Who is Eligible for Private Health Insurance
Not everyone is eligible for German private health insurance. You can purchase private health insurance for foreigners in Germany if you meet one of the categories below.
- You are a freelancer.
- Your annual income is more than €66,000.
- You are an international student aged over 30.
- You are a guest scientist.
2. Private Health Insurance Costs
The cost of private health insurance depends on many factors, such as age, coverage types, and health conditions. In many cases, the monthly premium of private health insurance for a single person is more affordable than the monthly contribution of public health insurance.
However, your monthly premium can be higher than the monthly contribution of the public health scheme if you have many dependents, particular health conditions, and are old. In addition, you must pay deductibles and particular out-of-pocket costs.
If you are an employee and plan to have private health insurance, you must communicate your intention to your employer. Therefore, he will not enroll you in public health insurance. Instead, he will pay half the monthly premium of your private insurance
3. Benefits of Having Private Health Insurance
Private health insurance in Germany offers some advantages for foreigners.
- Private health insurance companies have more coverage choices than public health insurance.
- Private health insurance is cheaper for an expat who is single, young, and healthy.
- This health insurance offers shorter waiting times for policyholders who need medical treatment.
4. How to Get a Private Health Insurance Plan
Getting a private health insurance plan is not difficult if you are eligible for it. However, the steps of applying for this insurance depend on whether you are enrolled in public health insurance or not.
Those who already have public health insurance must contact public health insurance provider to unsubscribe from the insurance. In addition, they must tell their employers about their intention of replacing public health insurance if they are employees.
However, if you don’t have public health insurance, you don’t need to do the steps above. You can directly contact a private health insurance company, such as AXA, Dr-Walter, and Allianz.
Then, the insurance company representative will tell you the documents needed to apply for the insurance. He will also let you know about the insurance costs and the procedures you must follow to purchase the insurance health plan you need.
European Health Insurance Card
Expats who have the European Health Insurance Card don’t need to apply for German public health insurance or private health insurance if they work, study, or live in Germany. The European Health Insurance Card is valid in Germany. Therefore, they can access healthcare treatment with it.
German health insurance for foreigners is available in two choices, i.e., public health insurance and private health insurance. Both insurance types offer great benefits for policyholders. However, the former is ideal for employees with dependents and the latter is ideal for a single and healthy person.