The situation with German health insurance in the year 2008

While the German health insurance system was always confusing, to say the least, for foreigners in the past, it has turned into a regulation nightmare even for insurance advice professionals through the  reform with the law named GKV-WSG or "Gesetzliche Krankenkassen – Wettbewerbs-Stärkungs-Gesetz", effective since April 2007.

This was probably one of the worst compromise results of a law ever passed in Germany and it is yet to be seen which of the many disputes at the German supreme court for constitutional reasons will end in verdicts burying parts or even the whole law. To top it all, both major parties in the current government want to immediately change major parts of the law if they can build a government after the next election in 2009 without the presence of the other party. Thus, many things are in a flow and reliable predictions for the future are hard to come by

But for now this is the law and we have to live with it and use it as best as we can. The following subsections describe the situation after the major changes. Since from our long experience in advising Expats we have better learnt the many misconceptions and misunderstandings about health insurance options in Germany amongst ExPats, we have chosen to put all information in a structure to address the typical questions and problems of the different groups of Expats which you will hopefully find helpful in your research. Please feel free to inform us if you have suggestions as to how this HEALTH INSURANCE section can be better structured or what information you found missing. At Chambervelt, Rooselain & Cie. we do focus mainly on the needs of ExPats in Germany with a professional background. Thus most of the information is tailored to their needs first. But we have also established some information for students and others not with a job waiting for them in Germany.

Please read first the section "GENERAL INFO + TIPS" where you will find a first information and guideline to see, at what further information you have to look more closely depending on your individual situation. Another time effective way to check out your most basic options is to look at the Option/Choice table where you can see based on a couple of individual parameters what you can chose from. Or you can look directly at your options if you are sure of your status as either employee, freelancer or selfemployed.

But if this is all way to confusing for you and you simply don't want to bother yourself too much with such boring stuff, you are of course heartily invited to contact us directly and to let us straighten this out for you with a minimum of fuss to you.

Simply use our contact form below or email us directly in order to get free and independent advice on this important issue or call us at 0700-226525688