Change of employer – what employees should bear in mind when changing their health insurance provider.

If you change your employer, you have to think about a number of things. Often the person concerned has to train a successor at the previous employer himself. At the new workplace, many things are different from what you are used to. Who thinks about the health insurance? What is important to remember? What opportunities can be associated with a change of employer?

The annual income limit is important when changing employer

Whether an employee can take out statutory health insurance or not is a matter for the employer. must or private, depends first on the income level. Only those who have a regular annual income above 53.550 EUR (2014) is not subject to compulsory insurance in the statutory health insurance (GKV). He can insure himself privately.

Remuneration includes all current or non-recurring income from employment. In addition to the monthly salary, this also includes, for example, vacation and Christmas bonuses and the employer's share of capital-forming benefits.

However, irregular overtime payments, for example, are not taken into account.

6 cases to consider when changing employer

For the social security assessment of the change of employer, six cases have to be distinguished.

1. Case 1: Old and new income below 53.550 EUR. The new income is below the annual income limit, as was the old income. In this case, compulsory insurance in the statutory health insurance (GKV) remains in force.
2. Case 2: Old income below 53.550 EUR, new income over 53.550 EUR. In the old employment relationship was compulsory insurance in the GKV. Now there is a choice between voluntary continued insurance in the GKV and switching to a private health insurer. Those who wish to do so must declare their withdrawal from the GKV within two weeks after receiving a corresponding notification. In addition, he must prove that he is insured in PKV without any gaps. Which alternative is more favorable for you depends, among other things, on your family circumstances. It also depends on personal health condition.
3. Case 3: Old and new income above 53.550 EUR. For all those who were already exempt from insurance with their previous employer, the change of employer does not change anything. They remain voluntary members of the statutory health insurance scheme. They also have the possibility to change to private health insurance. When terminating the GKV, they must observe the usual notice period, d.h. at the end of the calendar month after next. If you are already insured in PKV, you need a certificate of your health insurance contributions for the old and the new employer.
4. Case 4: Old income over 53.550 EUR, new income below 53.550 EUR. If the income falls below the annual income limit due to a change of employer, the person is obliged to be insured in the GKV. There is no right to exemption in such cases.
5. Case 5: Before 31.12.2002 already PKV insured, old and new income over 48.600 EUR. For all those who on 31.12.2002 as employees were already in the private fully insured, also applies to the change of employer the annual income limit in the amount of 48.600 EUR instead of 53.550 EUR. The lower annual salary limit serves as an assessment standard for the employer for compulsory insurance or exemption from insurance. With an income above 48.600 EUR the previous PKV comprehensive insurance can remain in place. A change to another private health insurance is also possible.
6. Case 6: Career starters or. First time employment in Germany, income in Germany immediately over 53.550 EUR. If you take up employment in Germany for the first time and immediately earn an income above the annual income threshold, you are not required to be insured under the GKV. He can immediately take out private health insurance. This also applies to new entrants whose income immediately exceeds the annual income threshold. New entrants who were previously compulsorily insured must declare their withdrawal from the GKV within two weeks of receiving a corresponding notification. They must also prove that they are insured in the PKV-versichert in gapless connection.

What happens to the private full insurance, if insurance obligation occurs?

If you become subject to compulsory health insurance, you can cancel your private comprehensive insurance at that time. This right exists for two months after the start of the insurance obligation. At a later date, he can only cancel at the end of the month in which he proves compulsory membership in the SHI system.

The extraordinary right of termination does not apply to the tariffs for daily hospital allowance, daily spa allowance and supplementary long-term care insurance. These tariffs are also useful as a supplement to statutory health insurance.