German health care system

The German health care system is based on social welfare. This contains a health insurance, accident insurance, statutory pension insurance, unemployment insurance and long-term nursing care. The most important one is the health insurance. In case of a disease, if you are sick or need other treatments or medical care, the health insurance is something you have to be able to rely on in the country in which you are going to stay.

1. Compulsory insurance: Every citizen of Germany is obligated to insure himself in a public health insurance (German: GKV). There are some exceptions: People, whose gross income is higher than the so-called fixed threshold or lower than 450 Euros per month, freelancers, students and public servants have the possibility to insure themselves in a private health insurance (German: PKV).

2. Funding: Statutory healthcare in Germany is paid by the employees and employers half-and-half. Tax revenue surpluses also contribute.

3. Principle of solidarity: Every citizen who is statutory insured has the same entitlement to benefits – no matter how much they earn and therefore pay in monthly. This means that in case of a disease or accident of just one German citizen, every citizen is paying for the medical treatment of this person and therefore responsible for the medical care the person is receiving. This shall ensure that everyone can receive the adequate medical care he or she needs.

4. Principle of self-governance: The legal parameters of medical care are based on statutory principles but institutions of self-government in the health care system are individually responsible for everything beyond that: These include representatives of doctors, dentists, psychotherapists, hospitals, health insurances and the insured people themselves.

As already mentioned above, every citizen has the entitlement to medical care if needed. Most Germans, almost 90%, are members of the GKV (statutory health insurance).

The contribution depends on the health insurance you have chosen or you will chose. It’s amount can vary between 14,6% and 16,3% of your gross income. Half of the amount is paid by the employee, the other half by the employer.

Who is insured?

In general, every German citizen is obligated to be a member of the statutory health insurance, if one does not earn more money than regulated by the fixed threshold or is self-employed, a student or public servant and has the option to be insured in a private insurance (PKV). Public insured people include also freelancers, publicists, students, the unemployed and pensioners. It is also important to know that spouses of those who are already insured are additional insured if they do not earn anything themselves. Children younger than 25 are additional insured temporarily, children with disabilities permanently.

Which services does the GKV offer?

- Treatments at the doctor, psychotherapist, at the hospital and rehabilitation measures if needed

- Preventive check-up’s and screening tests, treatments during and after a pregnancy and vaccinations (except those needed for travelling)

- Prescription medications (except some special ones and with a little extra fee)

- Physiotherapy and speech therapy

- Facilities like prostheses and hearing devices (little extra fee needed)

- Dental and – for people younger than 18 – orthodontic treatments

Be aware of the fact that the range of services can vary from health insurance to health insurance – so check up the options before signing up yourself!

Only 11% of the Germans insure themselves with a private health insurance because as already mentioned not everyone has the right to be a member of the PKV. Here, the exact contribution is not based on the personal income but on age of entry, status of health and required services.

Who is insured?

If you are an employee and your gross income is higher than a yearly fixed contribution (2017: 57600€), you have the opportunity to sign up for a private health insurance. If you are self-employed, a student, public servant or earn less than 450 Euros per month, you might as well have the opportunity to insure yourself in a PKV.

Which additional services does the PKV offer people for example?

- Treatments of a Chief Physician

- Single room in the hospital

- Special medical, dental and naturopathic orientated treatments

- More services that vary depending on the insurance company and contract

Ambulatory care is for statutory as well as for private insured people. Primarily, the ambulatory care consists of settled, self-employed doctors, dentists and psychotherapists. In case of a common disease, most of the Germans go to their family doctor of trust first. These are doctors, general practitioners, internists and pediatricians. In case of a more complicated or specific disease you should go to a specialist – for example a gynecologist, ENT specialist (ear, nose and throat specialist) or a dermatologist. Their addresses and phone numbers can be easily found on the internet or in a telephone book.

Inpatient care is also for statutory and private insured people and takes place in hospitals. Big hospitals are often supported by public institutions like the state or commune. Private hospitals are mostly supported by charitable organizations like the Red Cross or the church. Besides that, some clinics are led by private companies that mostly only offer services for private insured patients.

If you will stay in hospital for a long period, you often have to pay an extra fee that is not automatically included in your health insurance package. In some cases, patients moreover need some special treatments or rehabilitation measures after their hospital-stay. Those therapies are necessary after serious diseases and accidents to take care of the patients in an adequate way and to help them to go back to an autonomous everyday life without any further help. Those special therapies can for instance be physiotherapies, psychologic treatments and support for handling technical aids, if necessary.

The German health care system is very structured and organized. You can be sure to receive the best and fastest medical care you can wish for in times of need. It is important to know though that if you are planning to study and live in Germany for a certain time, there is no chance to do so without transacting a statutory or private health insurance. Moreover, Germany offers a great variety of different health insurances that can differ from package to package. It is up to you, which services you consider to be relevant and which services you need. Take your time before starting your journey to Germany and inform yourself about the great offer of health insurances.

As a foreign student, you also have to follow some specific rules before insuring yourself in a German health insurance. Therefore, you can easily inform yourself on our website and compare the different packages we offer for students from abroad or just contact us via telephone or chat, if you have any more questions.