In Germany there are two systems for health insurance: on the one hand, statutory health insurance (GKV) and on the other hand, private health insurance (PKV). For many people, the question arises as to whether statutory health insurance is already sufficient or whether private health insurance would make sense. Anyone who is faced with a choice should therefore take a closer look at the differences between the two systems.
Statutory health insurance (GKV)
Every person in Germany is generally covered by statutory health insurance .
Within this statutory health insurance there are a variety of different health insurance companies. While the statutory health insurance companies differ only slightly in their basic range of services, there is a big difference in the contribution costs. These consist mainly of the income of the person to be insured and, to a small extent, additional contributions. Depending on the health insurance company and additional services, the range of contribution costs can vary by up to 100 euros.
The advantages of statutory health insurance
If a privately insured person would like to insure their partner or children in the health insurance, a separate insurance contribution must be paid for each additionally insured person. Even if there are subsidies from the employer (including for partners and children), there is the option of free family insurance with statutory health insurance. Partners without an income and children (up to a certain age) can be insured with the respective health insurance company without additional insurance contributions.
Private health insurance (PKV)
If the choice falls away from one of the statutory health insurance companies in favor of private health insurance, the health insurance premiums are no longer calculated in part based on income, but solely on the desired scope of services.
Anyone who is not legally required to have insurance and whose salary exceeds the compulsory insurance limit can take out private insurance. Furthermore, self-employed people, freelancers, civil servants and civil servant candidates can also take out private insurance.
The advantages of private health insurance
Private health insurance is characterized not only by the fact that better medical services can be used, but also by the fact that significantly more costs of these medical services are reimbursed by the respective health insurance company.
While statutory health insurance companies only pay for the medically necessary and economical care of their policyholders, private health insurance companies are characterized by a larger and more varied range of services.
For example, when it comes to inpatient services, privately insured people benefit from a free choice of hospital, treatment by a senior doctor and the choice between a single or double room. The special thing is that you are exempt from additional payments.
Private health insurance also offers some advantages for outpatient treatment. As a rule, services provided by alternative practitioners are covered by insurance and medically necessary medications are also reimbursed without any co-payment. Furthermore, the costs for necessary glasses and contact lenses are also covered.
Special recommendation when choosing the right health insurance for civil servants
Civil servants generally have the choice between statutory health insurance and private health insurance.
If they choose private health insurance, civil servants receive a subsidy of 50 to 80 percent for health care. Compared to civil servants who voluntarily opt for statutory health insurance and therefore have to bear the entire costs themselves, privately insured civil servants only incur residual costs.
Because of this subsidy from employers, private health insurance for civil servants is the more sensible option.
While the contribution costs when choosing a statutory health insurance company, just like for regular employees, are calculated based on income, the contribution costs for private health insurance for civil servants are based on, among other things, age, state of health and the services chosen. A concrete overview of the question “How much does private health insurance for civil servants cost?” you can find it at finanzen.de.
So how do you find the right health insurance for you?
Because the statutory health insurance companies only differ slightly in their basic range of services, there is theoretically little that you can do wrong when choosing a statutory health insurance company. The choice could therefore depend on the amount of the insurance premium or the offer of additional services. For example, in contrast to other health insurance companies, the Techniker Krankenkasse reimburses up to €100 per year for alternative medicines.
However, choosing private health insurance is more difficult. Here you should take a closer look at the range of services offered by the respective health insurance company and the contribution costs.
