Do you have dreams of moving to Germany to be with your family, pursue a career, or study? Consider Germany insurance for immigrants after completing your travel processes.
This is a very significant legal requirement in Germany. Relocating to a new nation can be an exciting experience, particularly considering the stunning landscape and opportunities that await you there.
To have a peaceful experience while traveling to your dream country, don’t forget the most important things out there.
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Do you know we have different kinds of insurance in Germany? Let us briefly go over how to get insurance, how much it costs, why it’s important, and who is eligible.
Germany Insurance for Immigrants
Everyone entering or staying in Germany is required by law to obtain health insurance.
This suggests that you must have health insurance if you are a visitor, a student, an international worker, or just a lawful resident of Germany.
Germany has several types of insurance you need to know about as an immigrant. We have listed the most important ones.
1. Public Health Insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung – GKV)
Public health insurance is what most people in Germany use. Over 90% of the population is covered by it.
With the high cost of medical services, the government takes care of basic healthcare needs like doctor visits, also your stays in the hospital, medicines, and preventive care.
Public health insurance is administered by insurance companies, but the benefits are essentially the same regardless of which one you select.
It involves monthly premium deductions from your paycheck and partial employer funded coverage.
Most of the employees, students, and some visa holders are required to use public health insurance if their yearly salary is less at a particular amount (around €66,600 per year).
High earners and freelancers can choose to continue using public insurance or switch to private insurance.
2. Private Health Insurance (Private Krankenversicherung – PKV)
Private health insurance goes out to people who don’t have to be in the public system, like freelancers, self-employed people, or those earning more than €66,600 per year.
With private insurance, you can choose more services and benefits, depending on what you need.
The cost of private insurance is not the same for everyone. It depends on things like your age, health, and the services you want. Just like public insurance, where your employer doesn’t help pay for it.
How do you know you are eligible? If you earn more than the income threshold, or if you are working for yourself, you can choose to go with private insurance.
But remember, it can be hard to switch back to public insurance if you change your mind later.
3. Long-Term Care Insurance (Pflegeversicherung)
Long-term care insurance is compulsory in Germany, and it usually comes along with your health insurance.
It helps cover costs if you need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or eating, especially when you are older or have a long-term illness.
How does one go about getting one? Like health insurance, long-term care insurance is paid for as a proportion of your salary and serves to partially pay for home care, nursing care, and other support services in the event that you need them.
4. Accident Insurance (Unfallversicherung)
If you are working in Germany, your employer will provide accident insurance for you. This covers accidents that happen while you are working or commuting to work.
If you get injured, it will pay for your treatment and any lost income.
For Self-Employed People
If you work for yourself, you need the accident insurance for yourself, since you won’t have an employer to provide it for you.
5. Dental Insurance
Public insurance covers some basic dental care, but not everything. If you want more dental coverage, like for braces or dentures, you can get extra dental insurance.
6. Life and Disability Insurance
Some people also get life insurance or disability insurance to protect their family financially if something bad happens, like becoming unable to work or passing away.
Tips for Choosing the Right Insurance
1. Know Your Income
If you earn less than €66,600 per year, you will be automatically enrolled in public insurance. But if you earn more, you can choose between public and private insurance.
Look at your salary and think about which one makes the most sense for you.
2. Think About Your Family
Public health insurance covers your spouse and children for free if they don’t have their own income.
While private insurance will only allow you to pay for each of your family member. So, if you have a family, public insurance might be cheaper.
3. Look at Your Health Needs
If you have health conditions or you think you will need more medical services, private insurance might be better because it allows more flexibility.
But if you are generally healthy and don’t go to the doctor often, public insurance may be enough.
4. Check the Services Covered
If you need specific services like dental care, physiotherapy, or mental health treatment, check what is covered in the plan you choose.
Public insurance might not cover everything, so you may need to add extra coverage if necessary.
5. Understand the Costs
Having insurance doesn’t mean you won’t cover up some of your expenses. For example, there are co-payments for things like medicines or hospital stays.
In private insurance, costs can go up as you get older or if you develop health problems, so make sure you know how much you will need to pay over time.
Why Health Insurance is Important for Immigrants
1. It is Mandatory
Health insurance has become mandatory for immigrants and its citizens. Failure to have this might result in fines and can likely affect your residence status.
Without insurance, you will also have to pay all your medical bills out of pocket, which can be very expensive.
2. Access to Healthcare
Germany has a strong healthcare system, and with insurance, you have access to top quality doctors, hospitals, and treatments.
Without insurance, it would be difficult or too costly to get the care you need.
3. Protects You from High Costs
Medical care can be very expensive for now. Having insurance keeps you from having to pay a large sum of money all at once for a little illness or a major ailment.
The majority of the expenses are covered by your insurance, so what’s left to pay is less.
4. Peace of Mind
When you have insurance, you don’t have to worry about what will happen if you get sick or injured. You can focus on getting better without stressing over how much it will cost.
Costs of Health Insurance in Germany
1. Public Health Insurance Premiums
Public health insurance premiums are based on your income. The standard rate is about 14.6% of your gross salary, but your employer will pay half of this for you.
The more you earn, the higher your contribution, but there’s a maximum limit of about €800 per month.
2. Private Health Insurance Costs
For young, healthy individuals, private health insurance may be less expensive because premiums are determined by your age, health, and the type of coverage you want.
However, your premiums may go up if you become older or if you have health problems. Unlike public insurance, you are responsible for the full payment yourself.
3. Co-Payments
In both public and private systems, you will still have to pay some co-payments. For example, you might pay €5 to €10 for a prescription or about €10 per day for a hospital stay.
4. Extra Insurance Costs
If you decide to get supplemental insurance for things like dental care or private hospital rooms, it will cost extra. Prices for these plans vary but can range from €10 to €50 per month.
Eligibility Requirements for Immigrants
1. Who Needs Health Insurance?
Everyone staying in Germany for more than three months must have health insurance. This applies to workers, students, freelancers, and people living with their families.
2. How to Register
When you move to Germany, you first need to register your address at the local registration office (Bürgeramt).
After that, you can sign up for health insurance. For public insurance, you can choose any provider. For private insurance, you will need to look for a company that offers the coverage you need.
3. Non-EU Nationals
If you are from outside the EU, you might need extra documents to register for insurance, so make sure to check the requirements before applying.
Germany insurance for immigrants is really important to you if your dream country is Germany.
You can either choose public or private insurance, having insurance will help you access medical care without breaking the bank. Make your choice now to avoid facing the law in Germany.
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