| PRIVATE INSURANCE (PKV) |
PUBLIC INSURANCE (GKV) |
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| Each person gets their own insurance contract with an individual premium |
In some cases, family members can be co-insured at no extra cost |
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| A wide range of tariffs is available to choose from: basic, medium, luxury, with a variety of deductibles/ excesses |
Cover is set by law and, with very few exceptions, is virtually identical from Kasse to Kasse (Public provider) |
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| The price depends on your age, gender, state of health and the level of cover you choose |
The price depends on your gross income up to a capped level. Employees pay 15.5% into public insurance with the employer contributing 7.2% of this. Voluntary members may pay extra if they have other sources of income, eg from rented property. |
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| The law requires private insurance companies to invest 10% of the client's premium to ensure costs can be reduced later |
Public insurance funding comes from the contributions of all the members. No monies are set aside for the future |
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| Depending on the tariff, free choice of doctors, dentists,alternative medical practitioners, hospitals, private or semi-private bed in hospital. |
Doctors can refer you to a specialist. Alternative medical treatment is in most cases not included, general ward in hospital. |
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| You get an itemised bill after treatment and send it to your insurance company. |
You don't get a bill because the doctors settle directly with your public Kasse. |
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| Depending on your tariff, 100% of dental treatment is paid for as well as more costly filling materials such as gold and ceramic. Up to 80-85% of costs for teeth replacement such as bridges and crowns |
100% of dental treatment is paid for (but not professional teeth cleaning). Mostly amalgan or plastic is used for fillings. There is normally a maximum contribution of 50% of the costs of teeth replacement. |
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| Help with the costs of buying new glasses / contact lenses and prescribed medicine |
Only the cheapest prescribed medicine is paid forand there is usually a co-payment. No help with paying for new glasses or contact lenses. |