Information for Employees
Health insurance
Citizens living in the European Union are required to obtain health insurance coverage – generally where they are employed or domiciled. There are exceptions, however (see below).
People in Germany are free to select the health insurer of their choice. Distinction is made between statutory and private health insurance. As a rule, employees are covered by mandatory insurance under the statutory health insurance programme.
As soon as you know who your employer will be, you should choose a German health insurer and register for coverage and notify your employer of the name of your health insurance provider before your employment begins. Your employer will then register you with the insurer. You will receive a health insurance number from the health insurer by mail. Once you have that number, you may visit a doctor immediately. After about 4 weeks you will also receive an insurance card, which you must present each time you visit a doctor.
Cross-border workers and their co-insured relatives who are covered by statutory health insurance in the country in which they are employed are entitled to receive health care in both the country in which they work and their country of residence. To claim these benefits, each insured and co-insured person must apply for Form S1 (formerly E106). The health insurer in the home country will then issue an insurance card, which entitles the holder to continue receiving the full range of medical treatments in his or her home country.
The general contribution rate specified by law is 14.6 % of income subject to contributions. The reduced contribution rate is 14.0 % and applies for individuals who are not entitled to an illness allowance. In the case of gainfully employed persons, contributions from earned income are shared equally between the employee and the employer (each paying 7.3%). In the case of pensioners, insured individuals and old-age pension insurers each pay half of the total contribution.
Exceptional cases:
Contribution assessment limit
The contribution assessment limit in the statutory health insurance is 69.750 euros gross per year or 5.812,50 euros gross per month.
Compulsory insurance limit in the statutory health insurance
Freelancers, self-employed persons, civil servants and employees who earn at least 77.400 euros gross/year, or 6.450 euros gross/month, can switch to private health insurance.
Posted workers remain covered by health insurance in the posting country. They are issued a European Health Insurance Card and have access to all urgent, medically indicated services covered by German health insurers.
Individuals who have low-paying mini jobs and earn no more than 603 euros per month (gross) are not covered by health insurance on the basis of their employment relationship. They must obtain health-insurance coverage elsewhere – through a family insurance policy, for example, or under a voluntary health insurance programme. Those who receive Bürgergeld (Grundsicherungsgeld from July 1, 2026) are insured through the job centre. Individuals who hold two or more mini jobs and earn more than 603 euros per month are required to obtain mandatory health insurance coverage.
Further information on this topic is provided at: