Health insurance update

Written byJohn Gunnon 18 March 2010

Since my last blog, the noose has tightened even further as far as freelance/self-employed expats in Germany goes.The health insurance issue is becoming more and more complicated and even contradictory.The word has spread around the Ausl盲nder盲mter that most international health insurances are -as far as the authorities here are concerned - only travel insurances and therefore not acceptable for anyone wishing to live in Germany,let alone work.UK and other EU citizens coming directly from an EU state where they have paid into a public health system(eg NHS) can apply to join a public German Kasse if they can prove payments elsewhere.

I recommend getting hold of that proof on paper before coming here! As soon as possible after you register your address here,you should apply for health insurance. Every month that goes by means a month麓s enforced backpayment even if you weren麓t insured here!For freelance non-EU citizens,it麓s harder.You cannot join a public Kasse at free will!Your only choice is a private solution..but this is also fraught with difficulties as the vast majority of German private insurers will no longer accept non-EU citizens.

There are one or two exceptions but with stringent requirements:a medical check-up (plus dental),proof of job contracts,proof of economic viability etc.In contrast to EU citizens,a non-EU citizen coming over to work as an employee and who has earned over 4000 euros(or equivalent of)per month for each of the last three years MUST take out private insurance!!!!This is tough if you have a family coming with you as each member must be separately privately health insured!Expensive!I urge everyone reading this to seek professional advice BEFORE coming here and NOT to wait until you麓re here.I am happy to answer any of your questions on this forum!Best wishes!John

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Comments

newtothis12 years ago(Modified)
Hi John, I found your articles very informative. I have a very unique situation and was wondering if you have any advise. My husband just reclaimed his German citizenship under (I think article 19 - war time victims can reclaim their citizenship if it was taken from them or their parents during WWII). He just got his German passport and naturalization papers. I am an american citizen and we are expecting our first child come February 2013. Under the German law my husband\'s children will be German citizens. We read alot about expats or other EU citizens coming to Germany, but how would a german Citizen who\'s never paid a dime into the German system move to Berlin without any prospects of a job yet and will be staying with a friend who we can use their residence for an address to get us started. We will have a little savings to get us through a few months, but he will be coming with a wife and child. I guess we would be considered unemployed, poor, no insurance, and no job prospects. My husband is a freelance writer and even in the states makes little money. I am a highly skilled and have worked for most major television networks in the states. But neither of us are happy with life in the United states and the prospects of what it will take to raise our children here in regard to the school system, insurance, and college. In the short tem it will be difficult, but in the long run, I think our children will be better off in Germany or at least in the EU. In the US, we are considered solid middle class, but relocating will change that and I was hoping Germany is not as harsh on their poor citizens as the US. If you could advise us on any social programs, what insurance unemployed citizens that have never paid into the system are qualified for, are there any programs for citizens that have an infant and are unemployed, in general any help you can give about getting papers together before heading over or setting up before getting there - since my husband is already a citizen, I was wondering if he could go ahead and get in their system without being there. Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you, Angela

Gregers13 years ago(Modified)
Hi! Gregers here. I moved with my wife and two oldest children from Hamburg in 1994 and am now moving back to Germany this time to Berlin with our youngest(born here). I haven't got a place to live yet but can register with another family who we will stay with once we get there. I am interested in the details you had on the Health insurance. I will be teaching music on a freelance basis and hope to take advantage of public Health Insurance, but you mentioned in the blog that private may be cheaper. I am Danish originally so EU citizen.

Guest13 years ago(Modified)
Hi Jade: just seen your post.For some technical reason, I can沤t reply to it!!! Silly me! I沤ll try the "Add note" way! Jade, if you沤re intending to get a job as an employee earning under 49500 euros a year or at least earning over 401 euros a month, you have to join one of the German public insurers - not difficult once you沤re here. Your contribution would be 8.2% of your gross income per month. If you沤re planning to be self-employed, you can become a " voluntary " member of a public insurer here but make sure you bring over the E104 form (might have changed its name...) and an EHIC. Bring proof, in other words, that you沤ve been in the NHS system. If you come here, you have to register an address and from that time you沤re compelled by law to have health insurance. If you wait a few months before signing up for health insurance, you will be backcharged to date of registration whether you沤ve had health insurance or not. The other possibility is private insurance, which can be a cheaper option for freelancers ( depending on health status, earnings etc). If you send me an email , I can send you details of the laws etc in English! Cheers! John

Guest13 years ago(Modified)
Hi John, Thanks for your post. I'm coming to live in Berlin in June (I'm from the UK) but don't yet have an address (except a care-of address) or job, so as regards Health Insurance what would you advise? I'm looking for the cheapest option available! Jade

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