@@butenbremer1965 I second that! I’m with Barmer but am considering switching. Barmer is also excellent, but I’ve heard TK is better with English speaking freelancers AND they’re much cheaper!
I think it's important to note that once you choose private health insurance, switching back to public insurance in the future won't be easy and once you're 55 or older it's - except for some fringe cases - impossible.
Good point! Also a very important thing to mention! At least for young expats who intend on staying less than 5 or 10 years private insurance can work out well in the favor - and a clever way to get out of the system 😝
@@megs6097 yes! You can (I did it too). That’s exactly what Feather Insurance offers 🙂 for exactly that purpose actually: bit.ly/32jEy06 I haven’t heard of the one you mentioned! But just ask them to make sure it’s valid for your visa requirements 🙂
I think the main reason for Haftpflichtversicherung (liability insurance) is not that you could ruin just someones laptop for a few hundred or thousand euros. The classical examples could be: leaving the candles on after a candlelight dinner and burning down the flat you rented. - Or knocking someone off his bike accidentially who is then hitting his head and then lies in a coma for years. Both could ruin you financially for life.
@@lifeingermany_ Oh my goodness, I hope this didn't give you a headache. 😄 Maybe this obsession with insurance is also something typically German: The world is full of imponderables, just insure yourself against them all. I am allowed to say that because I am a typical German and had legal protection insurance, although I didn't need it. But just in case! 😅
Interesting! Never thought that insurance could be such a bother. I did a year of work and travel, went from Halifax to Vancouver and thought that it was easy to get every paperwork well, worked out! Now I understand...
I think we just manage “life situations” a lot different in Canada where perhaps insurance isn’t always needed - I feel it’s so different here in Germany! But hey, at least it’s cheap here!
@@lifeingermany_ Well, cheap for being and staying here. My life as a "work and travel" guy cost me around 1.500 euros back in the day. First: would I spend that again for a year in Canada? Sure I would! Second: If you're not used to pay extra because everything SEEMS to be all inclusive, those kind of things bother you. To every German reading this. If you go for a WHOLE YEAR of work and travel in a foreign country, including dental health, accidents, etc, shut up and GO FOR IT. For a foreigner coming to Germany... Well, be happy to have insurance as complicated as it gets, but also as best at it can be.
@@lifeingermany_ That's true. I remember a situation were I thought "Damn, now I need my insurance! Oh, I don't have one over here in Canada." Turned out, most of you guys are for good with shaking hands, having a beer or two and laughing about the whole situation. I'm so glad meeting people over there, being more straight forward and chilled than ppl in Germany are. Fun fact: I know the German POV and there is so much we can learn from you guys.
Dana, could you please adjust the volume of your videos to the volume of the YT adds. I watch your videos using headphones, have to set the volume on full to hear you and get 'Ohrenschmerzen' when YT adds are played. We Germans love to be insured for everything and there are lots of insurance companies in Germany who just want our best, our money. My personal opinion: I need all mandatory insurances plus 'Haftpflichtversicherung' (liability insurance). all others are based on lifestyle and personal preferences. I am 66 years old, have never been to court and have never sued anybody, prefer to clear problems by personal conversations. WTH do I need a legal cost insurance for?
Thanks for the info!!! I heard that sometimes it's difficult or impossible to get into public insurance from private insurance... let's say I do expat insurance from the day I first arrive: If I finally get a job in Germany, will there be complications in switching to public through my employer? I know you technically have about 5yrs on certain expat plans. Maybe it's a pretty specific case, but if an international is 30+, chooses to study a few years, and gets a job-seeker's visa... is expat insurance a viable way to fulfill the gov stipulations without getting screwed over later? Appreciate any pointers! 😃
You heard right unfortunately!! However expat insurance, although private, is not the same as private insurance here in Germany! For example, the expat health insurance that Feather offers (bit.ly/32jEy06) can be canceled month by month so as soon as you’re ready to switch to public, it can be done! 🙃
BUT don’t forget the expat insurance is only available when you arrive and before you’ve found a job. Once you’ve found a job, the visa office will require you to have proper private or public insurance (which is more expensive lol) Private insurance (like Ottonova - bit.ly/ottonova-for-expats) is a great option, if you have a very high income or if you don’t plan on staying in Germany longer than 5 years! It’s almost always then the cheaper option. 🙃
@@lifeingermany_ 👌 thanks for the quick reply! So expat is not the same as private. Really good to know and didn’t find that info anywhere else (yet)! So even if one chooses to remain on expat a few years there should be no issue? Do you have a reference for this? Rly appreciate your help!
@@stephenbusscher before you buy the expat insurance just double check it’s okay to be employed! The Ottonova one is okay, the Feather one isn’t, so make sure you clarify that first with any company you choose 🥰
Hello I just have a question about the public health insurance AOK. My question is how would I be able to do an add on for dental insurance with AOK public insurance. Thank you.
You can always choose an add on like Ottonova: bit.ly/ottonova-zahnzusatz OR simply call AOK and let them know you’re interested. Usually all public health insurers have their own packages too 🙃
![Private or Public Health Insurance in Germany [Which One To Choose?]](/img/n.gif)
TOP-RATED EXPAT PUBLIC INSURANCES:
- Techniker Krankenkasse: bit.ly/3iZaw88
- Barmer: bit.ly/306x1jZ
- AOK: bit.ly/3iVFrSF
TOP-RATED EXPAT PRIVATE INSURANCES:
- Expat Insurance (for when you first arrive): bit.ly/32jEy06
- Private Expat Insurance (for the high earners & freelancers): bit.ly/350IJ2p
(ENGLISH) LIABILITY INSURANCE: bit.ly/351Rx8c
(ENGLISH) HOUSEHOLD CONTENTS INSURANCE: bit.ly/3evHewc
(ENGLISH) LEGAL INSURANCE: bit.ly/3l5RVYT
TOP EXPAT RATED ADD-ON INSURANCES:
- Dental Add-On Benefits: bit.ly/3npLTnx
- Hospital Add-On Benefits: bit.ly/3i2JZ8O
I really recommend Techniker Krankenkasse. They are not really the cheapest but offer the widest scope of services with least hassles.
@@butenbremer1965 I second that! I’m with Barmer but am considering switching. Barmer is also excellent, but I’ve heard TK is better with English speaking freelancers AND they’re much cheaper!
I think it's important to note that once you choose private health insurance, switching back to public insurance in the future won't be easy and once you're 55 or older it's - except for some fringe cases - impossible.
Good point! Also a very important thing to mention! At least for young expats who intend on staying less than 5 or 10 years private insurance can work out well in the favor - and a clever way to get out of the system 😝
@@megs6097 yes! You can (I did it too). That’s exactly what Feather Insurance offers 🙂 for exactly that purpose actually: bit.ly/32jEy06
I haven’t heard of the one you mentioned! But just ask them to make sure it’s valid for your visa requirements 🙂
So wild seeing Kyle on UA-cam now, thanks Jenna! Wishing Kyle a happy birthday today!! 👍
We have an appointment with HUK tomorrow so this video is great! Thank you so much. :)
I think the main reason for Haftpflichtversicherung (liability insurance) is not that you could ruin just someones laptop for a few hundred or thousand euros. The classical examples could be: leaving the candles on after a candlelight dinner and burning down the flat you rented. - Or knocking someone off his bike accidentially who is then hitting his head and then lies in a coma for years. Both could ruin you financially for life.
Or in my case... when I turn my head for one second and my son bikes right into the side of a parked car 😝😖 #toddlerlife
Ah, german insurances! Something that even many Germans do not quite understand.
😂✊ it’s been something I’ve been trying to wrap my head around for years! actually making it some sick hobby of mine to try and understand! 😝
@@lifeingermany_ Oh my goodness, I hope this didn't give you a headache. 😄 Maybe this obsession with insurance is also something typically German: The world is full of imponderables, just insure yourself against them all. I am allowed to say that because I am a typical German and had legal protection insurance, although I didn't need it. But just in case! 😅
Health insurance is mandatory. Our System is just good.
It is great 🙂 I always appreciated our healthcare system in Canada, but I have to say ... Germany is amazing!
@@lifeingermany_ i've never been to Canada(grammatic..i hope i wrote this right) but i heard it's quite good, too!
Interesting! Never thought that insurance could be such a bother. I did a year of work and travel, went from Halifax to Vancouver and thought that it was easy to get every paperwork well, worked out! Now I understand...
I think we just manage “life situations” a lot different in Canada where perhaps insurance isn’t always needed - I feel it’s so different here in Germany! But hey, at least it’s cheap here!
@@lifeingermany_ Well, cheap for being and staying here. My life as a "work and travel" guy cost me around 1.500 euros back in the day. First: would I spend that again for a year in Canada? Sure I would! Second: If you're not used to pay extra because everything SEEMS to be all inclusive, those kind of things bother you. To every German reading this. If you go for a WHOLE YEAR of work and travel in a foreign country, including dental health, accidents, etc, shut up and GO FOR IT. For a foreigner coming to Germany... Well, be happy to have insurance as complicated as it gets, but also as best at it can be.
@@lifeingermany_ That's true. I remember a situation were I thought "Damn, now I need my insurance! Oh, I don't have one over here in Canada." Turned out, most of you guys are for good with shaking hands, having a beer or two and laughing about the whole situation. I'm so glad meeting people over there, being more straight forward and chilled than ppl in Germany are. Fun fact: I know the German POV and there is so much we can learn from you guys.
We just created a comparison of private vs public vs travel health insurance for expats in Germany. Interested ?
Health insurance is mandatory. If you drive a car, same thing. Mandatory. The rest is on your own.
Just in case....... because you can insure it.
Dana, could you please adjust the volume of your videos to the volume of the YT adds. I watch your videos using headphones, have to set the volume on full to hear you and get 'Ohrenschmerzen' when YT adds are played.
We Germans love to be insured for everything and there are lots of insurance companies in Germany who just want our best, our money.
My personal opinion: I need all mandatory insurances plus 'Haftpflichtversicherung' (liability insurance). all others are based on lifestyle and personal preferences.
I am 66 years old, have never been to court and have never sued anybody, prefer to clear problems by personal conversations. WTH do I need a legal cost insurance for?
Hey there! Thanks for your note - still new to UA-cam here, so I’ve been working on adjusting my audio according. Slowly getting there 🙈
Looking for add on insurance suggestions. What all do you have?
I'm a working professional and would like to choose a public health insurance. Could you please help me choose between TK and SBK health insurance?
Audio is terrible
Thanks for the info!!!
I heard that sometimes it's difficult or impossible to get into public insurance from private insurance... let's say I do expat insurance from the day I first arrive: If I finally get a job in Germany, will there be complications in switching to public through my employer? I know you technically have about 5yrs on certain expat plans.
Maybe it's a pretty specific case, but if an international is 30+, chooses to study a few years, and gets a job-seeker's visa... is expat insurance a viable way to fulfill the gov stipulations without getting screwed over later?
Appreciate any pointers! 😃
You heard right unfortunately!! However expat insurance, although private, is not the same as private insurance here in Germany! For example, the expat health insurance that Feather offers (bit.ly/32jEy06) can be canceled month by month so as soon as you’re ready to switch to public, it can be done! 🙃
BUT don’t forget the expat insurance is only available when you arrive and before you’ve found a job. Once you’ve found a job, the visa office will require you to have proper private or public insurance (which is more expensive lol)
Private insurance (like Ottonova - bit.ly/ottonova-for-expats) is a great option, if you have a very high income or if you don’t plan on staying in Germany longer than 5 years! It’s almost always then the cheaper option. 🙃
@@lifeingermany_ 👌 thanks for the quick reply! So expat is not the same as private. Really good to know and didn’t find that info anywhere else (yet)!
So even if one chooses to remain on expat a few years there should be no issue? Do you have a reference for this? Rly appreciate your help!
@@stephenbusscher before you buy the expat insurance just double check it’s okay to be employed! The Ottonova one is okay, the Feather one isn’t, so make sure you clarify that first with any company you choose 🥰
Did he say 850 euros per month? For private insurance? Is that inexpensive???
Hello I just have a question about the public health insurance AOK. My question is how would I be able to do an add on for dental insurance with AOK public insurance. Thank you.
You can always choose an add on like Ottonova: bit.ly/ottonova-zahnzusatz OR simply call AOK and let them know you’re interested. Usually all public health insurers have their own packages too 🙃
I donot have a Visa cards
What do you do for a living in Germany Jana?
Asslam o aalikum how are you I am interested to come in Germany please help me