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Is your health insurance in Germany really kosher?

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john g.

Greetings,everyone!This is my first blog here!I have a serious question for freelance expats living and working in Germany.Is your health insurance acceptable?Thousands of expats continue to be health insured with international providers such as BUPA,AXA,Interglobal or Germany-based travel insurers etc but are you aware of the consequences of that?Since the introduction of toughened health laws in January 2009 (VVG 193),everyone living,working and REGISTERED in Germany must have adequate health care - and,amongst other things, this includes the so-called Pflegeversicherung(long-term nursing care).This is not provided by the above insurers and similar.What are the implications?If found out by the authorities(eg through a tax declaration),you are liable to backpayments to February 2009,if you were living here then.If you become an employee and end up in the public system(gesetzliche Krankenversicherung), the same BACKPAYMENTS apply.If you are a non-EU citizen renewing or applying for a visa,your relevant Ausländeramt no longer considers the above insurances adequate cover and will turn down your application.This is,of course,also extremely annoying if you´re now outside the EU and planning to come to Germany and you don´t have this information.It is not enough to google some cheap quote from anywhere and think "that´s it".I am happy to answer your comments here!

amndalb

Thanks for sharing!!!

john g.

Amndalb!My pleasure and thanks for your comment!Most expats still don´t know the strict rules here and wonder why their visa applications are turned down or why they have to pay backpayments when they change to a German insurance etc!!Best wishes!

filosoffa

Hello,
I am exactly in the situation of having to get a health insurance in order to get the Aufenthaltsgenehmigung in Germany - so what would  be your recommendation?
Thanks,
ed

john g.

Hi Filosoffa: if you could send me an email, I can give you the information. It depends on so many things: nationality, visa situation ,how long you´re planning to stay , age, state of health, how long in Germany already and if registered " angemeldet ", your date of birth, cover required, marital situation etc. So many factors and going into the internet to get quotes does NOT help because the law has tightened up since early 2009. For example, it does not help to  get a quote from BUPA, AXa etc...they are not kosher! My email is info@gunn-partner.de. Only too glad to help! best wishes, John

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