Private or Public Health Insurance in Germany [Which One To Choose?]

Everyone who lives in Germany must have health insurance. There are two kinds of health insurance in Germany: Public and Private. In this video, we explore to which health insurance you qualify for and what are the pros and cons of each.

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📼 RELATED VIDEOS:
The Healthcare System in Germany: 8 Things I DIDN'T know 🏥

✨ RELATED GUIDES:
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⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:21 - Public Health Insurance in Germany
01:02 - Private Health Insurance in Germany
01:58 - Which Type of Health Insurance Do You Have Access To?
04:46 - What are the Differences?
14:15 - Hybrid Health Insurance in Germany

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[shruthiravindran]

I moved to Germany last November and have been trying to understand the difference between private and public insurance since then! This video is very informative and concise, thank you!

[grmpflz]

Very good information about our German system of health insurance. I have to add some important aspects: Private insurances attract young people with low fees, what is no problem, when you are healthy and a single. When you get older or have a family, the fees are increasing and I know, that all retired people with private insurance pay more than 900 € per month and person, for their risk of being old. While the fees of the public health insurance keep stable, and familiy members (non working spouse or children < 18) can be included. And when you once are in a private insurance, you are not allowed to get back to public health insurance. The only possibility you have is to change into a basic tarif, but you loose all the priviliges you had before. I think the combination of public health insurance and an add-on private insurance is the best way...

[thomasbartzick]

You are both sooo.... GREAT! :D... And your content is absolutely GROSSARTIG! :D Bleibt gesund! Habt Freude!

[DK-nxss]

It's important to note here the private practices are only private because the government has strict laws about how many clinics of a certain specialisation can be in a certain area... Basically forced scarcity so they have full control on how much money is spent on health...

That is why Stuttgart a rich city in Germany has public covering specialists on the level of 100 times less than a average city in Greece where I come from.

[turjo]

Finally had time to watch this video! I was wondering if I ought to consider private health insurance but given that I won't be a student for too long I think it would be easier for me to just stay on my current insurance plan

[xphilepubg]

immer wieder tolle videos - vielen dank!

[ichbinsehrklug]

Oh thanks for the very very informative video.

[GMTron]

One different experience on my side: coming from an EU country to Germany, the employer offered me the option for public health insurance from the start(TK). I guess it depends on the employer if we get public or private.

[Yosh]

Great Vido! I'm glad you mentioned the "Zusatzversicherung" (additional private insurance) because this really leaves everyone up to each preferences. IMHO this privately paid "add-on", combined with the even volontary public insurance, gives your a) the most flexibility and b) the less financial stress.
I am voluntary in the public insurance and thus don't have to care about any bills or re-imbursements. But I have picked with the private partner of my public insurance an "add-on" for dental matters and one for elderly care. I did not choose the add-on for having a single room when in hospital or seeing the chief doctor of the department because the "lower ranks" of doctors mostly have more experience due to their every day business and they will refer you to the "chief" anyways when they are uncertain.

[fannychristozova]

Awesome video, indeed! Funny enough, our Public health insurance resembles a little to the Private one in Germany. Each family member has to have and pay for their own public h.i. regardless of age or status - but that is if they want to. As a result a majority (if not all) of unemployed people go without health insurance often for years, and it creates an ever widening gap, and if something happens they need to pay a stable sum for a simple checkup. Basically all hell breaks loose... in a loop. Also no preventative checkups unless you think about it and organize them yourself. The table and your insights make it really easy to find your way around and start thinking in practice, not just see the information! I will definitely go with the Public as a start. I saw in your guide that transitioning from private back to public is in general harder, so.
I don't have the details yet from my company, but chances are I will get that on site. Oh, and I don't expect my income to hit past 66K in the first 6 or 12 months. Easy. 🙂 I was talked by friends and colleagues out of making my move in the middle of July, better and final consideration, also moneywise, is moving in mid September. No matter how I envy you almost with tears on the cool temperatures I see right now in the forecast for DUS. Is it really 20 deg.? 😢Next summer I'm not moving from there!

[jimbryce]

Oh dear, there seems to be a disconnect between German law and public health insurance being able to reject an applicant and then throw them into the arena of private health insurance that can decide what to insure and what not to based on pre-existing conditions. 😢

[MrCiapek]

Girls thanks for another video that I needed <3

[ramblingmillennial]

I think you've just been lucky jen. I'm not sure if it's just my BFs city (duisburg) or if it's just the specific specialists but my bf has to wait 3 to 6 sometimes 9 months to see a doctor. He was on a waiting list for a therapist for 2 years. I'm not joking.

[arishojaei]

Would you create a video about integration courses that includes B1 German language and orientation course?

[twinkleyousuf]

hey i want to know how can i switch from private health insurance to public?

[danny.k]

I'm going to apply for student visa. It requires health insurance. Not sure which one. And the websites always recommend private..

[AmmarZebKhan]

Any idea how expensive braces can be in Germany and if they are covered under any insurances?

[nikhiladhikari]

Does public health insurance in Germany cover pre-existing conditions for international students? Specifically, for conditions requiring ongoing medication or treatment. Thank you!

[ritablossom]

Hi, nice one quite explanatory! Thank you! Please is it okay to go see a doctor without the insurance card? My insurer is mawista. After registering with them they only sent two legal documents but no card., someone said you can take the documents to see a doctor. How true?

[DB]

What happens if you don't have a job? One of the sour points of health insurance in the US is that it is tied to your job. My understanding was that Germany had universal care which is offered to you regardless of your work status. But it seems that you can access the public health insurance only if you work and they can even deny you coverage if you earn too much... I would not call that a universal healthcare system...