Barmer Insurance: Public Or Private?

Barmer is one of the largest public health insurance companies in Germany. It is mandatory for employees earning less than €66,600 per year to be insured under public statutory health insurance. Barmer offers full medical coverage, including dental care, treatment by specialists, prescription medication, vaccinations, and pregnancy and birth support. The company has well-developed regional care structures, and customers benefit from contacts with doctors, hospitals, and other regional partners. Barmer also provides English-language support and covers pre-existing conditions.

Barmer is a public health insurance company in Germany

Barmer's health insurance plans are available to a wide range of individuals, including international students, postdocs, researchers, freelancers, and the self-employed. The company provides full medical coverage, including dental care, treatment by specialists, prescription medication, vaccinations, and pregnancy and birth support. Barmer also offers additional benefits, such as fast access to specialists, free medical advice over the phone, and modern digital apps and online services.

One of the key advantages of Barmer is its English-language support. The company provides an English Service Hotline and 24/7 support in several foreign languages, making it accessible to expats and non-German speakers. Barmer also has a simple and quick registration process, which can be completed online or through partners like Feather, with no German language requirement.

Barmer's contribution rates are competitive, with the current rate for employees set at 16.1%, including the standard statutory contribution rate and the additional individual contribution rate. For students, the monthly contribution is €122.78 if under 23 years old and €127.65 if 23 or older. Barmer also offers a bonus programme that rewards members for leading a healthy lifestyle, offering up to €150 cashback annually.

Overall, Barmer is a trusted public health insurance company in Germany, providing comprehensive coverage, convenient services, and accessible support to its members.

It is mandatory for employees earning less than €66,600 per year to be insured under public statutory health insurance

BARMER is one of the largest statutory health insurance providers in Germany. It offers high-quality, innovative medical care and is known for its commitment to optimising the healthcare system. Health insurance in Germany is obligatory for all residents, and BARMER provides full medical coverage for its members.

In 2023, employees earning less than €66,600 per year, or €5,550 per month, are required by law to be insured under a public, statutory health insurance scheme from a provider of their own choosing. This is known as the compulsory insurance limit, and it increases each year on the 1st of January. The threshold increased to €69,300 (gross) in 2024, up from €66,600 in 2023.

The compulsory insurance limit determines whether employees are eligible for private health insurance. Those earning above the threshold can choose to opt for private health insurance or remain in the statutory scheme. However, for those earning less than €66,600 per year, it is mandatory to be insured under public statutory health insurance.

Public health insurance in Germany is known as "Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung" (GKV), or "statutory health insurance". It covers approximately 90% of the country's residents. To obtain public health insurance, individuals can register with an insurance provider, who will issue an insurance card called a "Gesundheitskarte". This card must be presented when visiting a doctor for the first time each quarter.

The basic premium for public health insurance in Germany is 14.6% of gross income, plus a supplemental charge that averages 1.6% of gross income. These premiums are capped at a monthly income of €4,987.50. The basic premium is split equally between the employee and the employer. In addition, residents and their dependents must also become members of the country's long-term nursing care scheme, which covers some of the costs of meeting personal nursing needs.

BARMER, as one of the leading public health insurance providers in Germany, plays a crucial role in ensuring that individuals earning less than €66,600 per year have access to the necessary healthcare services under the statutory health insurance scheme.

Dependents are covered for free

BARMER is one of the largest statutory health insurance providers in Germany, with an extensive network of 350+ branch offices. It offers high-quality, innovative medical care and is known for its commitment to optimising the healthcare system.

BARMER provides full medical coverage, including dental care, treatment by specialists, prescription medication, vaccinations, pregnancy and birth support, and emergency cover for necessary treatments in the EU and EEA.

One of the key benefits of BARMER is that dependents are covered for free. This means that your spouse or partner and your children can be co-insured at no additional cost. This is particularly advantageous for families, as it provides peace of mind and comprehensive health coverage for all family members.

There are certain preconditions for dependent coverage. Each co-insured family member must not earn over 505 euros a month (with a minijob, the limit is 538 euros), and age limits apply to children. Additionally, an annual questionnaire must be completed to maintain active family insurance, and any changes in the family's situation must be communicated to BARMER.

BARMER also offers a range of additional benefits, such as access to leading treatments, faster appointments with specialists, free medical advice over the phone, and modern digital apps and online services.

With its wide reach, comprehensive coverage, and family-inclusive policies, BARMER is a trusted choice for millions of individuals and families in Germany.

Barmer offers full medical coverage, including dental, specialist treatment, medication and pregnancy and birth support

Barmer is one of the largest statutory health insurance providers in Germany, with 8.5 million insured individuals. It offers full medical coverage, including dental, specialist treatment, medication, and pregnancy and birth support.

Dental

Barmer covers the statutory costs for dental treatments and checkups, and offers additional benefits. Basic dental care is included in the full medical coverage. However, if you wish to receive higher-quality dental services, such as dental crowns made of precious metal or metal ceramics, you will need to pay for them yourself.

Specialist Treatment

Barmer provides access to leading treatments and faster appointments with specialists. You can visit some medical specialists without a referral, but it is recommended to first consult your GP, gynecologist, dentist, or pediatrician.

Medication

Barmer covers all medication that doctors prescribe as medically necessary. Prescriptions come in different colours: pink, yellow, green, and sometimes blue. The colour determines who pays for the medication and the validity of the prescription. Pink prescriptions are covered by public health insurance and are usually valid for 28 days, while yellow prescriptions are covered but only valid for 7 days. Green and blue prescriptions are not covered. There may be small statutory additional payments for medication, typically between 5 and 10 euros per package.

Pregnancy and Birth Support

Barmer offers €200 extra budget for expectant parents to spend on services like additional baby tests, dental cleaning, osteopathy, or a midwife on-call service. They also provide rewards of up to €150 for using fitness apps, health courses, sports clubs, gyms, and children's courses, as well as for getting preventive check-ups.

Barmer is committed to providing high-quality, innovative medical care and optimizing the German healthcare system. With Barmer, you can benefit from the German public health insurance system, including free coverage for your spouse and dependent children under certain conditions.

Barmer provides English-language support

Barmer is one of the largest public health insurance companies in Germany. It is mandatory for employees earning less than €66,600 per year to be insured under public statutory health insurance. Barmer provides extensive support for its customers in English.

Barmer has a simple and quick registration process that can be completed in a few minutes. The entire Feather experience is in English, and there is no need for any German language knowledge. Barmer also has an English Service Hotline that can be called for help. The Barmer website also has a chat feature available in English, from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Barmer's website is available in English, and the company is known for its English-language support. This includes providing information and resources in English, as well as assisting customers in English through their customer service channels. Barmer's commitment to providing English-language support makes it a popular choice for expats and international students in Germany.

In addition to English, Barmer also offers support in other languages, including French, Spanish, and Chinese. This multilingual support ensures that Barmer can assist a diverse range of customers and meet their specific needs.

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