Social security in Germany
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Social security in Germany
German social security (Sozialversicherung) is a national state system that plays a key role in providing coverage for potential risks such as illness or unemployment and comprises five areas. It is also advisable to take out additional private insurance such as liability insurance.
The five areas of social security
Unemployment insurance
Nursing care insurance
Occupational accident insurance
Additional private insurances (e.g. liability insurance)
What kind of insurance cover do you need in Oldenburg?
Depending on whether your teaching or research stay takes place within the framework of an employment contract, or whether you receive a scholarship, you will have to consider certain aspects:
a) Employment contract
If your stay in Germany is part of an employment contract, you are required to pay contributions to the national social security system. In Germany, the employer and the employee each pay half of the contributions, except for the occupational accident insurance contribution which is paid fully by the employer.
Once your application for health insurance coverage has been approved your insurance provider will send you a social security number (Versicherungsnummer) and a social security pass (Sozialversicherungsausweis), an Electronic Health Insurance Card (EHIC), as well as an insurance information booklet. Social security contributions are paid to your health insurance provider and automatically deducted from the gross salary. Before you start work, you employer will ask to see your health insurance coverage/insurance card and your social security number in order to register you and your contributions with the social security scheme.
b) Scholarship and fellowship holders
Social security contributions are not mandatory for scholarship and fellowship holders. In some cases health insurance contributions are part of the scholarship or fellowship, but even then you will have to choose an insurance provider on your own. Please contact your scholarship/fellowship provider for further information and read your documents carefully and thoroughly. Also keep in mind that as a scholarship/fellowship holder you will not be insured through the university, which means that you will be responsible for handling all insurance matters yourself.
Along with health insurance coverage, which is mandatory in Germany, we strongly recommend that you take out liability insurance (and accident insurance if applicable).
Transferability of social benefits
As an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you are covered by an EU regulation stipulating the rights and transferability of social security within the EU. These regulations contain two basic principles:
- You are insured in the country where you work.
- You are subject to the legislation of only one member state at a time.
Social security rights when moving within Europe (European Commission)