Eligibility for private health insurance
Not everyone is eligible for private health insurance. Let’s look at the basic requirements:
- Employees must have a salary above the annual income threshold, which is currently set at €69,300 per year. If your salary is below the threshold, you must choose a public insurance provider.
- Self-employed people are also eligible for private insurance.
If you are still unsure about your eligibility, you can contact ottonova at any time.
Benefits of private health insurance
Unlike public health insurance (also known as statutory health insurance), private insurance providers are not bound by the principle of cost-effectiveness. This means private insurers can tailor their coverage and tariffs to their policyholders’ needs and offer a higher standard of healthcare.
General benefits include:
- Greater variety of choice for patients
- Shorter waiting times
- A more extensive range of treatments (including dental)
- More privacy as an inpatient
- Greater flexibility
Private health insurance in Germany is markedly cheaper than in many other countries. This is especially true for expats, who can opt out of the old-age saving system. To learn more about the costs and benefits of private health insurance, check out our detailed explainer article.
Make sure you check out ottonova’s special expat tariff, which offers outstanding value, excellent coverage, and 24/7 support from English-speaking insurance experts.
