German health insurance can be confusing, especially for expats and newcomers who don’t speak the local language. But this should not stop you from getting the best possible coverage. ottonova brings you this quick and easy guide to the jungle that is German health insurance - so you can find your way around easily.
Anyone who lives and works in Germany needs health insurance - that’s simple. But what’s not so simple is navigating the system if you’re not sure how it works, or what’s on offer. Here’s the lowdown.
Germany operates a so-called dual-payer or two-tier health insurance system, in which the majority of healthcare is government-funded, but a secondary, privatised form of healthcare also exists.
Under the public system, younger policyholders pay for the treatment and care of the sick and elderly, while the private system focuses on the individual but assumes solidarity between the healthy and the sick. Private policyholders’ premiums cover their own rising healthcare costs as they grow older.
There are two main kinds of health insurance in Germany: public health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) and private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung).
Almost without exception, everyone in Germany is eligible for public health insurance. As a public system, the premiums are based on income - so the more you earn (up to a certain limit), the more you pay.
If you are a high earner, self-employed or a public official, you may be eligible for private health insurance. Your premiums are determined by the level of coverage you choose, the age at which you enter the private system, and your overall health status.
Depending on your income and employment status, you might be able to choose freely between public and private insurance in Germany. Ultimately, deciding whether public or private insurance is better for you depends on your personal situation.
There are certain things you should consider before making your decision: including whether or not you can make a choice, the costs, and the coverage. Let’s break this down into a bit more detail.
Taking out health insurance is mandatory in Germany. However, not everyone has the option of being privately insured.
Obviously, one of the biggest factors to take into consideration is how much your chosen health insurance in Germany will cost you per month. This varies between public and private insurance:
One of the main differences between public and private health insurance - apart from the way your premium is calculated - is the treatments covered:
Of course, there is a range of health insurance providers on the market, and you should certainly compare the coverage and benefits of different tariffs before you commit. As Germany’s first fully digital health insurance provider, ottonova offers its policyholders a full range of benefits and features, including:
Book your non-binding consultation with ottonova’s English-speaking insurance experts to discover how easy and transparent health insurance can be.