Health insurance contributions while unemployed

Well before I start, another quick hello to you all especially Richard who put me onto this site! I am at present registered with the Arbeitsamt as unemployed, unfortunately I was only employed for 7 months and so I am not able to get the arbeitsamt to pay for my Health Insurance, however I am waiting on a form (E101) from the UK to see if my NI contributions may cover me to claim unemployment benefit here which if I am able to do so will cover me for Health Insurance. However in saying all of this I am at present not covered at all. Does anyone one know of any cheap insurance that I could possibly apply for? I know their are a lot of private companies out there but with the last insuarnce it was so simple without the fuss of making a claim etc. I suppose another question that runs through my mind is what happens to a German National if he cannot claim unemployment benefit, who pays for his insurance? Tat tar for now, Chris.

If I understood you correctly you are not receiving any unemployment benefit from the Arbeitsamt and therefore living off your savings? Or are you receiving unemployment benefit but they won't pay your health insurance? I guess in both instances the answer is the same. I would contact your previous Krankenkasse and explain the situation. They should put you on the lowest tariff. We were in a similar situation and with the BKK and that's what they offered us. (I don't know if they were the cheapest) They may ask to see a bank statement and make an assessment based on that. However, that would be a starting point.

My other thought was that are you really uninsured? As you are British and an EU citizen aren't you covered by any EU recipricol health insurance agreements?

Yes I am unemployed and living off savings as well as my Fiancee...poor girl! As for the reciprocal agreement I am not entirely sure. The only form I know of is the E111 and thats only if your going on holiday to other European countries. If anyone has any thoughts or knowledge of the reciprocal agreement that would be great. Cheers for the reply.

As far as I know, you're not allowed to have private insurance if you're unemployed (or earn less than a certain amount). You have to have the government one, which I think is AOK.

Also, I think you are legally obliged to have health insurance if you're resident in Germany. Not 100% sure though so maybe someone else will confirm that...

This link might be useful for general info on unemployment in Germany:
German Unemployment Benefits

http://www.europa.eu.int/citizensrights/si...signpost_en.htm

Try using this EU ' know your rights' service. They promise a reply within three working days and it's good legal advice on what you are and aren't entitled to. They even give you the contact details of someone important in the relevant authority if it turns out some junior person is being awkward.
Good luck!

I was informed at the Arbeitsamt that as long as you have worked on the German system for oned day you are covered. But you must fill in the E101 as soon as possible and process it. You will remain on the krankenkasse that you joined.

I was unemployed for a month about 15 months ago and had the same concerns. It turned out that I had nothing to worry about. I was covered all the time.

Check with the Arbeitsamt as you will still have to register as unemployed.

Ok, so I am unemployed as of this month, I get my first arbeitsamt payment at the end of this month. What I am very confused about though is my health insurance. When I filled out all my forms to get the arbeitslosgeld I gave my health insurance details. I said so how does it work, and they said don't worry it's paid for by us. So I thought fine. Then I got my letter through saying how much I arbeitslosgeld I was entitled to, it said on the form Krankenversicherung BKK Gesundheit West!

Now my origional insurance is private from the DKV, the first guy I talked to didn't make any big deal about it. But when I got this letter though and it said nothing about DKV I got confused. I had an appointment on Monday and they sent me to the health insurance guy to try and explain it. Unfortunately, I discovered my german is not great when it comes to health insurance forms especially since they all seem to have about 20 letters. The guy reacted with suprise that I was privately insured. He said I need to request some forms if I want to stay private but what I didn't really understand is if I do, do I need to pay any extra money on top? I'm not bothered about being private, now I just want the cheapest option.

My next bill from the DKV is due next month, does anyone know if it's too late to cancel it due to unemployment? Is it best to do this and then go to the AOK? And who the hell are the BKK?

I'd like to hear some advise before I try to phone people as my german is really letting me down on this, and althougth the Arbeitsamt guy was very nice, I couldn't understand him at all! I am really afraid of getting a DKV bill next month that I just can't afford.

the arbeitsamt covers it

They will cover it, but I think you have the option to switch back to public insurance at this point. You could possibly cancel your private insurance under the premise of being unemployed (and therefore earning under the 47k or so you have to earn to get public).

Then you'll be covered by whatever is already setup.

If you're under 55 you can probably switch to public insurance if you want to and the Arbeitsamt will then pay the premiums. If you're privately insured and want to stay there, the Arbeitsamt will pay the contributions up to the maximum which would be required if you were insured by the GKK, which if you're young enough (under 50 at a guess) will mean they pay everything.

The AA will only pay for private insurance if you've been on it for at least 5 years before your claim. If you've been on it for less it will be cancelled immediately once your employer stops contributing (they'll send a letter saying so) and you'll then have to sign up with a public insurer. There's nothing automatic about switching, you have do the legwork and take a letter from your new insurer to the AA - they won't pay out until they see proof you are insured.

OK so I've been insured for less than 5 years. So basically are you saying the DKV cancels the insurance as they will no longer get the employer contribution? It thought it all came out of my bank account and the employer reinbursed me? Maybe I should pop into their office tomorrow.

I understand I'll need to find the next insurance myself and then hand in the details for that.

When I was unemployed (a few years ago) and was with a Privat Krankenversicherung - the AA
paid despite me not having been long in Germany. (To my amazement).
Contact your Insurer - they will help you as they do not wish to lose a customer.
After getting work again on a much lower salary the private Insurer was most reluctant to let me go -
wanted copies of payslips to prove I was below the limit and therefore able to change to a normal KK.

Well I just went to see the DKV they said due to the 5 year rule that the Arbeitsamnt would not pay for my DKV insurance (perhaps it depends on the type of contract). They have put my contract on hold. They explained to me there is a new rule. As I have to go back to public insurance I will HAVE to stay in it for 3 years before I can go private again. They said this rule came in this year and will apply unless I go self employed. Not too keen on that but not much I can do about it. Anyways I signed a form to say my contracts will go on hold and that I can rejoin DKV at the same tariff after 3 years if I want to, but I have to go back and tell them when I get a job and I have to pay 5 euros a month.

Now I just need to find out why my arbeitsamt statement says I'm with BKK Gesundheit West when I have no card. If I ain't with them after all I'm just going to go to the AOK as I need to get this over and done with!

Wizadora: what DKV offers you to pay for monthly for the time being is a so-called "Anwartschaft". It allows you to get back into the tarif after some time. There is a big and a small "Anwartschaft" and you might want to get quotes for both. only the big "Anwartschaft" guarantees you re-entry without any changes or checks for change of medical condition...

And it is correct: after you went unemployed you will be stuck with public health insurance for 3 consecutive years with gross salary over the threshold before you can opt out from public health insruance as an employee again. That also means: if you start new employment in mid year, you will actually have to suffer 3 1/2 years of compulsory public health insurance before you can opt out. Of course as a self-employed you are always free to chose...

Cheerio

Thanks for the additional info Starshollow. He stated I should go back for the quotes when I have a new job so I'll make sure to get both. When would I have to get a job by the minimise the gap? Does it only apply from the beginning or the year or the financial calendar?

Well I checked with the BKK and they have no record of me so I do need to sign up with another kasse. As there seems to be no difference in price I have gone with the TKK as they seem to be getting good reviews when it comes to paying out. Have phoned and they'll send me the forms.

The only problem is right now I am no longer insured with anyone. I am supposed to be going boarding tomorrow on a day trip need to check if my travel insurance covers it. I'm so annoyed with the Arbeitsamt right now. Everything they told me was wrong!