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I've just lost my job. What happens to my private health insurance?
I've just lost my job. What happens to my private health insurance?

Your coverage explained: your statutory benefits determine if you can keep it or if you need to switch to public insurance.

Christina Weber avatar
Written by Christina Weber
Updated over 6 months ago

Whether you switch to another insurance or stay with your private health insurance depends on the unemployment benefits you get.

Type II benefits or no benefits

Who can get type II unemployment benefits?

  • You're eligible after one year of unemployment (or two, if you're over 55).

  • You need to request them from the job agency.

You'll stay on private health insurance. Public health insurance is not available. The job agency may pay (parts of) your private health premium, however. We'll support you if they need any information to do so.

Contact us to get a quote for more affordable insurance plans while job hunting.

Type I unemployment benefits

Who can get type I unemployment benefits (Arbeitlosengeld I)?

  • You must be a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, or hold a work permit.

  • You need to have been a member of the insurance for at least 12 out of the past 30 months. Freelancers have to register explicitly.

  • The job agency might impose further conditions.

  1. Switch to public health insurance 

    The job agency will fully pay for your insurance. Here is how:

    • Apply for unemployment benefits, and ask the job agency to register you with public health insurance.

    • Cancel your private health insurance: Select that you’re a mandatory member of public insurance, and upload the confirmation of coverage.

    • Within a week, you'll get back any premiums you paid since your unemployment began.

  2. Stay on private health insurance

    You must keep your private health insurance if you haven't had public health insurance in the past 5 years. The job agency will cover €210 per month. Simply follow the steps below within 3 months of receiving unemployment benefits:

    • Get exempt from public health insurance: Fill out and submit this form to [email protected]. Forward their response to your agent at the job agency.

    • Ask the job agency to pay for your insurance. We can provide the so-called "confirmation of the payment of contributions according to §174" if needed.

    • Contact us when the agency confirms your exemption and payment, and we'll make sure you're no longer debited the full premium.


You found a new job. What happens next?

Our nifty recommendation tool will help you find the right health insurance!

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