Health Insurance & Social Security Number

Health Insurance & Social Security Number

Health insurance                                             

In Germany, it is mandatory to have a health insurance. Generally speaking, there are two different types of
health insurance:

National Health Insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV)

If you earn less than EUR 5,775 per month (this cap is the amount valid for 2024, it is adjusted every year) you have to register with the national health insurance gesetzliche Krankenkasse, (e. g. Techniker Krankenkasse – TK or Siemens Betriebskrankenkasse – SBK amongst others). They work according to the social principle, i.e. only the working family members pay contributions depending on their salary. Currently, the contributions for employees are normally 7.3% of your gross monthly income (the employer contributes the other 7.3%).

Most insurances also charge an additional premium (Zusatzbeitrag) which is shared between employer and employee. It can vary between 0.5% and 1.7%, but is normally around 1.0% of your gross monthly income. If your gross monthly income exceeds EUR 5,175 (this cap is the amount valid for 2024, it is also adjusted every year), then contributions are only paid for earnings up to this amount. The non-working family members
(housewives, children, students) are covered through the working members’ contributions. Each family member has a health insurance card which has to be presented at every visit to the doctor.

Private Health Insurance (private Krankenversicherung - PKV)

If your salary has exceeded EUR 5,775 per month in the past 2 years, you can choose between the national and private health insurance. Private health insurance may seem more advantageous due to lower contributions for young professionals without a family, but please be aware of the following:

  • You have to apply for a private health insurance and may be rejected
  • As part of the application procedure you will have to give details on your health and illnesses over the past
    ten years (false information or omitting details may result in disqualification or cancellation of your policy)
  • Premiums are not based on your income but depend on your age of entry, gender and previous health
    records and will continuously increase over the years
  • Individual contributions are payable for every insured family member, including children. Even though
    your employer contributes 50% of the premiums, some employers limit the monthly total amount they
    contribute per employee. This might affect you if you have family members insured in a private health
    insurance scheme
  • Initially, you have to pay all doctors’ bills directly and then get them reimbursed from your private health
    insurance company
  • If you decide to get a private health insurance for yourself, it will be virtually impossible to switch to the
    national health insurance at a later date

Please keep in mind that the application process can take several weeks.

Example for a health insurance coverage:

Insured person

Cost per month private health insurance

COST PER MONTH national health insurance

Employee, male, 40

approx. €380.00

approx. €700.00 (max.)

Accompanying spouse, female, 35, not

approx. €320.00

co-insured free of charge

working2 accompanying children

approx. €150.00 per child

co-insured free of charge

Total family contribution

approx. €1,000.00

approx. €700,00

Application is made directly with the health insurance. Please contact your Relocation Specialist at BLUE for
assistance.

In Germany, it is mandatory to have a health insurance. Generally speaking, there are two different types of health insurance:

National Health Insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV)

If you earn less than EUR 5,775 per month (this cap is the amount valid for 2024, it is adjusted every year) you have to register with the national health insurance gesetzliche Krankenkasse, (e. g. Techniker Krankenkasse – TK or Siemens Betriebskrankenkasse – SBK amongst others). They work according to the social principle, i.e. only the working family members pay contributions depending on their salary. Currently, the contributions for employees are normally 7.3% of your gross monthly income (the employer contributes the other 7.3%).

Most insurances also charge an additional premium (Zusatzbeitrag) which is shared between employer and employee. It can vary between 0.5% and 1.7%, but is normally around 1.0% of your gross monthly income. If your gross monthly income exceeds EUR 5,175 (this cap is the amount valid for 2024, it is also adjusted every year), then contributions are only paid for earnings up to this amount. The non-working family members
(housewives, children, students) are covered through the working members’ contributions. Each family member has a health insurance card which has to be presented at every visit to the doctor.

Private Health Insurance (private Krankenversicherung - PKV)

If your salary has exceeded EUR 5,775 per month in the past 2 years, you can choose between the national and private health insurance. Private health insurance may seem more advantageous due to lower contributions for young professionals without a family, but please be aware of the following:

  • You have to apply for a private health insurance and may be rejected
  • As part of the application procedure, you will have to give details on your health and illnesses over the past ten years (false information or omitting details may result in disqualification or cancellation of your policy)
  • Premiums are not based on your income but depend on your age of entry, gender and previous health records and will continuously increase over the years
  • Individual contributions are payable for every insured family member, including children. Even though your employer contributes 50% of the premiums, some employers limit the monthly total amount they contribute per employee. This might affect you if you have family members insured in a private health
    insurance scheme
  • Initially, you have to pay all doctors’ bills directly and then get them reimbursed from your private health insurance company
  • If you decide to get a private health insurance for yourself, it will be virtually impossible to switch to the national health insurance at a later date

Please keep in mind that the application process can take several weeks.

Example for a health insurance coverage:

Application is made directly with the health insurance. Please contact your Relocation Specialist at BLUE for
assistance.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER                           

After registering with a National German health insurance, you will receive your social insurance (security)
number by post. Please ensure that your name is on your mailbox!

YOUR SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER

You will have to give your social security number to your employer. In addition, you will also need it whenever
you wish to contact Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German pension insurance authority).

PLEASE LOOK WELL AFTER THIS DOCUMENT!

After registering with a National German health insurance, you will receive your social insurance (security) number by post. Please ensure that your name is on your mailbox!

YOUR SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER

You will have to give your social security number to your employer. In addition, you will also need it whenever you wish to contact Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German pension insurance authority).

PLEASE LOOK WELL AFTER THIS DOCUMENT!