Moving from the UK to Germany after retirement

My Mum is thinking about selling up in the UK and moving to live closer to me and my family when she quits work. What we dont know at the moment is what this means in practical terms, like getting her pension and access to health care.

Does anyone know anything about this? Any hints/tips on what to register and what not? Any pointers gratefully welcomed.

as far as I know she can still receive her pension money even being abroad. Not sure though about health insurance and what else is needed.

There's certainly no problem with the pension, you can get a British pension paid out pretty well anywhere in the world (presupposes a decent banking system). However, I woud definitely get some professional advice as far as health insurance is concerned, as that could be a major problem. I'd start off by asking at the local AOK office, but you may hit the problem there, that the "gesetzliche" won't take you in if your already a pensioner unless you've been "gesetzlich" insured for two-and-a-half out of the previous five years.

That leaves private insurance. As a rule of thumb you can say that the insurance premium increases with the age at which you take up the insurance. I got into my insurance company when I was just over 40 and I'm now paying over €550 / month. If you enter the system at 60 it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see a preium of €1000 being required.

Like I said - you need serious professional advice here!

yes, I'd be concerned about health insurance. Regardless of her income, the public system is not required to accept anyone over 55 as far as I know. Private insurance is not affordable for older people who are not wealthy - the premiums are extravagant, you need to come up with the cash to pay the bills and then chase the insurer for a refund, there can be large deductibles and the medical costs that are/are not accepted by the insurer are unpredictable. It is truly awful. For an older person, she could end up in the very difficult position of spending all her disposable income on insurance and not be able to afford to go to a doctor. I agree she should get professional advice from an agent who is not aligned with a particular company.

p.s. I should also add that the cost of medical care is much, much more expensive in the private system than it is in the public system. Doctors charge more, order more tests, etc. So keep in mind the insurers are on to this and there is a great deal they will refuse to cover - which you often only find out later after you have incurred the costs.

My mum has lived with us since we came here and is long retired. Had no problem getting health insurance from AOK, she just has to request the card to be renewed each year. I think originally she just had to present evidence of her pension and entitlement to public health treatment in her country of origin, in her case Ireland.

The only constant irritant is the one faced by us all who would like to tranfer money painlessly; even from Irish euroland it's a hassle and she has to annually prove that she's not some 82 year old terrorist or money-launderer ...

@Feierabend, how long has your mother been here? The rules were changed a few years back (5 -6?) and it became much more difficult to get into the AOK. Too many people were taking private insurance until they got to pension age and then moving to the much cheaper "gesetzliche" insurance to avoid the age related increased premiums in the private insurance system.

Nearly nine years.

Ask you mum to talk to SAGA in UK and find out the ins and outs for health cover - they will have all the info and its FREE for over 50's!

Good luck

It might be worth looking at Bupa, PPP or Norwich Union in the UK for European Health insurance.
I have private European cover with Norwich Union and it's much cheaper than the German ones.

If you are retired and receiving a pension, won't the European Health Care Card cover you? You should be able to receive the equivalent public treatment anywhere in Europe, and they will bill the NHS.