Difference between "voluntary member" and "compulsory member" of a health insurance company
Most German citizens are compulsory members of the statutory health insurance. But there are exceptions. These are those who have decided to stay as a voluntary member of the statutory health insurance. The difference between the two variants is not great.
That is the difference between a voluntary member and a compulsory member
- In terms of performance, a voluntary member will hardly notice any difference to a compulsory member. The services and duties are very similar. Caution is only on the subject Sick pay commanded. A pension gap can arise here if your earnings are above the compulsory insurance limit (2013: 4,350 euros). The maximum amount of sick pay is determined on the basis of this amount, even if you earn significantly more.
- With private health insurance, the amount of your contribution depends on the tariff you choose, your age and your state of health. In contrast to this, only your income plays a role in the calculation of premiums by the health insurance companies, as is the case with every person who is compulsorily insured in the GKV.
- There is one great advantage in the statutory health insurance scheme. Children and spouses who are not working are insured here free of charge in the form of what is known as family insurance. If you are insured with private health insurance yourself, this benefit does not apply and any family member who does not do so is compulsorily insured, is also in the private health insurance or as a voluntary member in the GKV insured. In any case, you pay monthly fees for each additional insured person.
How to become a voluntary member of the health insurance company
- Most employees are compulsory members. Changing that is not easy. The general rule is that every employee with a regular income of more than 450 euros per month at the Health insurance is compulsorily insured of his choice. That only changes when the regular income exceeds the compulsory insurance limit, which changes every year.
- Most pensioners and students are also compulsory members of your health insurance company. An exception to this are those pensioners who are no longer required to have insurance, for example because they had private health insurance for many years.
- Students can get exempt from compulsory insurance at the beginning of their studies. That makes sense if you'd rather become a customer of private health insurance. But let yourself be checked thoroughly beforehand, as membership in the private health insurance can be refused in the event of health problems.
- In contrast to employees, the self-employed are generally exempt from compulsory insurance. You have the choice whether you want to remain insured with the statutory health insurance as a voluntary member or switch to private health insurance.
- Civil servants and retirees can generally also take out voluntary insurance.
Health insurance is compulsory in Germany. Either you are a member of a ...
Incidentally, "voluntary insurance" does not mean that you also have the option of not having health insurance. Health insurance is compulsory in Germany. If you do not opt for statutory coverage, you will need to get health insurance from a private insurer.
How helpful do you find this article?
The content of the pages of www.helpster.de was created with the greatest care and to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, no guarantee can be given for the correctness and completeness. For this reason, any liability for possible damage in connection with the use of the information offered is excluded. Information and articles must under no circumstances be viewed as a substitute for professional advice and / or treatment by trained and recognized doctors. The content of www.helpster.de cannot and must not be used to make independent diagnoses or to start treatments.
