It might be logical to conclude that the higher your health insurance premiums, the higher the standard of care you receive. The reality, however, is often quite different – and there are numerous factors to consider before making a decision.
Health insurance premiums are often also referred to as contributions (Beiträge) because the concept underpinning health insurance in Germany is based on solidarity. For all intents and purposes, premiums and contributions are coterminous in this context.
Working out what your health insurance premiums/contributions will be depends above all on which insurance system you choose. For eligibility conditions and other details of the two schemes, see our article on the public and private systems.
In public (statutory) health insurance, policyholders’ premiums are based on their income.
In private health insurance, policyholders’ premiums are contractually agreed.
While the points above provide a basic overview of the two systems, there are other crucial points to bear in mind.
In truth, the pros and cons of the two systems are too detailed to explain in a single Wiki article. To help you make the right decision for you, we’ve put together an eBook that sets things out in clear, concise terms.
If you are eligible for private health insurance and you are in Germany on a visa or a limited permit, we can offer you the Expat Tariff up to five years.
ottonova is fully regulated by the BaFin and therefore fulfilling the requirements (§ 257 7Abs. 2a Satz 1 SGB V and the § 61 Abs. 5 SGB XI) for you to be able to apply for a visa with your ottonova insurance, which also includes our Expat tariff of course.
The long-term nursing care insurance 'Pflegepflichtversicherung' is a mandatory insurance for everyone who lives in Germany. This insurance will cover you if you require long-term care and need external help.
You have so much to do when moving to Germany, don’t let your health insurance slow you down. Let ottonova make your life easier.
In Germany, your employer will make a contribution to your health insurance premium, often around 50%. But how much will you be left to pay?
For number crunchers and all those who want to make relaxed provisions for when they get older - the premium relief component explained in an understandable way
Co-payments are a small, additional fee in addition to health insurance premiums that allow policyholders to contribute to their healthcare costs.
Anyone resident in Germany must be covered by valid health insurance – but this is not the only type of insurance mandated by German law.
When you move to Germany, make sure you are aware of screening services available to you and mandatory check-ups you need for insurance purposes.
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