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klick: tax issues here are far too complicated for short answers on a forum. You can only get sensible, professional advice from a tax consultant dealing in international taxation and with experience of expats.

Health insurance: if you´ve been paying into the NHS the past 12 months uninterrupted, it´s possible to get public insurance. Are you married to your partner? If yes, and she´s earning under 365 euros a month here, she can join you on yours free. It´s bureaucratic and proof of membership of the NHS is required, proof of income ( including any other sources such as renting out a property etc) and proof of registration of your address here. Whether private or public is the best way to go depends on your state(s) of health, age, of cover required , income etc. Sometimes it´s advantageous to be private even with a family..it depends. By the way, German health insurance is now highly tax deductible for the first time, whether public or private!

Hi John
Yes, I think you are right
I didn´t realise that about NI.  I have been paying NI contributions consistently for the last 6 years and am still paying it.  I thought that public was not possible, but that is great news.  Any idea how I go about sorting that?  We are not married.  My boyfriend has private insurance, but as kids are perhaps on the cards in the next couple of years, state insurance is the maybe the best way to go...

I didn´t realise that it´s all tax-deductible now... that´s great news!

Thank you for your help!

Hi click! Sorry, I thought you were a man! Where does your boyfriend have private insurance? In Germany ? That´s a crucial question. If in Germany, and if he´s self-employed, he will have to keep it private. Your status depends on whether you´ll be working or not. Children: the higher earner pays the insurance if you´re married. So, a child could be publicly insured on yours BUT extra payment by your partner or private - again extra. If you don´t get married and have a child and you´re publicly insured, the child is free in yours!!!!! Although yours won´t be free! Feel free to contact me - I´m an independent insurance broker in Germany and deal with expats the whole time. It´s amazingly complex here and you need guidance. No fees, no costs from me. By the way, just a quick point here before I forget: there is no NHS equivalent here - NO State insurance -  public health insurance is NOT free and can actually be very expensive!

Dear John,

Not sure if you still deal with things like this -

I am in a similar situation: Not married to my partner, we have 2 kids. Moving to Germany later in the year, and he will have public insurance through his job in Cologne. I have a small income through a UK online business, which I can keep. Will I need to get myself a health insurance, or can I be on his?

Many thanks

Hi meldeg,

This topic is inactive since 2011 > you might not get a reply.

Thanks for letting me know!