Health insurance in Germany is slightly different from the Spanish Social Security system. It is required to have health insurance in Germany.
1. HEALTH INSURANCE IN GERMANY
There’s a distinction between public and private health insurance in Germany.
- Public health insurance, Gesetzliche krankenversicherung: GKV
- Private health insurance: Privat krankenversicherung Vergleich: PKV
You will have to pay for the public health insurance (GKV) by yourself if you do not have a job (although this is also covered by the Jobcenter).
There are 4 scenarios:
- You arrive in Germany and you don’t have a job. You will have to pay for the insurance yourself. That’s about 280 euros per month. The European Health Insurance Card covers you for the first 3 months.
- If you have a job: Your boss pays part of it, and the other part is deducted from your salary. The percentage to be paid depends on your gross monthly salary.
- If you are unemployed ( but you are registered as looking for a job) or if you are fired: The Jobcenter will cover all the costs of your krankenkasse.
- You are registered as a self-employed in Germany: 15.5% of your gross salary.
2. WHAT THE KRANKENKASSE INCLUDES
The benefits will depend on each Krankenkasse. Overall, they all cover the basic stuff.
3. WHICH KRANKENKASSE TO CHOOSE IN GERMANY
BARMER
Here are some examples of things this health insurance includes:
- MRIs. Open MRT in case of anxiety/panic to normal MRT.
- In case you need a dental splint, it is also covered by the insurance.
- An annual dental check-up is covered and a small surface dental cleaning.
- Vaccinations you need when travelling.
- Free tests for the early detection of skin cancer, from the age of 35.
- 12 physiotherapy sessions per year. Then you have to pay a small amount at the end of the last session. Between 15 and 25 approximately.
You can consult all the benefits that BARMER includes in this link, it is in English.
For information about BARMER’s BONUS program click here.
TECHNIKER KRANKENKASSE
Techniker is one of the most famous among students.
- Free tests for early detection of skin cancer, from the age of 20. Usually, this is from the age of 35.
- Vaccinations you need when you travel.
- An annual dental check-up is covered and a small superficial dental cleaning.
Official websitein English of the Techniker Krankenkasse.
For information on the TK BONUS program click here.
AOK
Another popular company is AOK.
- Acupuncture treatments for certain cases.
- Free tests for early detection of skin cancer, from the age of 35.
- They give you back 50 euros of the price of a dental cleaning per year.
Official website of AOK.
4. THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD IN GERMANY
The European Health Insurance Card is valid for 3 months. The card is valid for two years. These are two pieces of information that should not be confused.
In Germany, the European Health Insurance Card is integrated into the back of your Krankenkasse card.
If you come up with the brilliant idea of being uninsured after your European Health Insurance Card expires, you will be made to pay for all the months you have been uninsured.
Once you get insured with a Krankenkasse, you will be charged for all the time you were uninsured. And yes, they investigate and know everything. Because it happened to me.
5. TO HAVE SURGERY IN GERMANY
In case you need to have surgery in Germany and have to stay at the hospital, you will have to pay 10 Euros for each day you are in hospital.
6. BONUS PROGRAM
Not all Krankenkasse offer these BONUS programs. In most of these programs, you accumulate points or money. Take the example of the TechnikerKrankenkasse above.
You accumulate those points or money by going for regular check-ups, like the example of the skin cancer check-up from the age of 20, or if you go regularly to the dentist.
7. OTHER KRANKENKASSE IN GERMANY
I’m leaving you the links to other Krankenkasse for you to try and take a look at:
8. DENTIST IN GERMANY
As I mentioned at the beginning, the basic check-up at the dentist is included with your Krankenkasse, but usually the basic and strictly necessary things. To see what each one of them includes, I leave you the links to the Krankenkasse that I have talked about.
- What is included in the Technikerkrankenkasse: check here.
- What does BARMER include: check here.
- What does AOK include: click here.