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HEALTH INSURANCE

What to know about Germany’s new health insurance fees for 2023

Like many aspects of life in Germany, public health insurance is also set to get more expensive starting in January 2023. Here’s how much more you could end up paying.

Published: 22 December 2022 18:00 CET
Updated: 1 January 2023 07:48 CET
Health insurance cards from AOK.
Health insurance cards from AOK. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

A total of 48 of the 97 statutory health insurers are raising premiums (zusätzliche Beiträge) in the new year, according to an evaluation by the comparison portal Check24. This means that 40.9 million people in Germany will face additional costs.

But just how expensive will it be in the end? According to Check24, premium adjustments could go up by 0.1 to 0.7 percentage points. It may not sound that much at first, but the price increase could cost employees up to €347 a year. 

The bill becomes even more expensive for the self-employed, since they foot 100 percent of the premium, whereas employees share it with their employer. That means those who work freiberuflich (freelance) could end up paying a whopping €693 extra per year. 

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Many people who are gesetzlich versichert (have statutory health insurance) might not even realize that their costs are rising. As of January 1st, insurance companies will no longer have to personally send all of their customers a letter to inform them of any increase.

READ ALSO: German health insurance costs set to rise next year

Previously they were obliged to do so, but that requirement has been suspended until June 30th, 2023. Thus, every insured person should check what their health insurer will be charging from next year – especially the self-employed who have to shoulder the entire cost of their coverage. 

If your premiums are shooting up and you want to switch, it’s important to know your rights. Normally membership of at least 12 months is a prerequisite for changing provider – and there may also be deadlines for avoid contract renewals. But anyone who has received an increase has a Sonderkündigungsrecht, or a special right to cancel at any time without incurring extra fees.

Should you switch companies – and to which one?

“How high the additional costs end up being depends on how much your own health insurance company raises the premiums,” says Dr. Daniel Güssow, from Check24. 

“Even small premium adjustments can lead to sensitive additional costs for insured people. The only way to avoid higher premium payments is to switch to a cheaper health insurance company.”

If you’re looking to lower your costs, there’s still a handful of companies keeping their premiums consistent in the coming year. Twenty of the 97 statutory health insurance companies will keep their additional contribution the same as it was in 2022, benefiting a total 26 million members. 

READ ALSO: Reader question: How can I change my German health insurance provider?

Only three health insurers will lower their premium contribution for their 85,000 members.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest insurance companies which are raising their premiums. 

AOK Bavaria: The largest of 11 AOK groups, the Bavarian branch is hiking its premium by 0.28 percentage points to 1.58 percent. 

DAK-Gesundheit: DAK-Gesundheit will increase its premium to 1.7 percent in 2023. In 2022, the premium was 1.5 percent.

TK: Techniker Krankenkasse has already announced that it will leave its premium at 1.2 percent. 

AOK Baden-Württemberg : AOK Baden-Württemberg has decided to also raise its premium by 0.3 percentage points. This means that the additional contribution will rise from 1.3 percent to 1.6 percent.

Barmer: Barmer has said it does not want to raise its premium, with the total remaining at 1.5 percent. 

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HEALTH

Should you take vitamin D supplements in Germany?

With the mornings and evenings getting darker, many people may be wondering if taking a vitamin D supplement is recommended in Germany. Here's what to know.

Published: 13 September 2024 13:12 CEST
Should you take vitamin D supplements in Germany?

Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for overall health and well-being, and most people are aware that it can be absorbed via sunlight. 

But as long-time residents in Germany know all too well, sunlight is often hard to come by in the autumn and winter months. In December, there’s only a few hours of daylight per day, typically when most people are at work (and it often isn’t even sunny).

This makes it much harder to get enough vitamin D. A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to several health problems in the long run. Muscle weakness and cramps, fatigue and depression are among the symptoms of not getting enough of this vitamin. 

How do I get the most vitamin D in Germany?

It mostly involves getting outside in the warmer months. Germany’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), says that vitamin D production happens from March to October and this is when the body builds up reserves for the winter. 

“During this time, the body is not only able to cover its acute needs, but also to build up vitamin D reserves in fat and muscle tissue for the winter months,” says the RKI.

READ ALSO: Your guide to getting through the German winter

The RKI adds that to counteract low vitamin D levels all year round in Germany, current recommendations suggest “exposing your face, hands and arms to the sun uncovered and without sun protection two to three times a week between March and October”.

However experts add that sun protection measures, like wearing sunscreen, must be taken when spending longer periods of time in the sun.

Meanwhile, the German Nutrition Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung or DGE) states: “It is recommended to expose the body to the sun for a total of around five to 25 minutes per day with face, hands and large parts of arms and legs uncovered.”

A number of foods provide some vitamin D. It’s mainly found in fatty fish, roe and fish liver, but red meat, egg yolks and liver are other sources.

Vitamin D is also added to some foods in Germany, such as some milk or vegan milk drinks, yoghurt and other snacks. The nutritional label on food packaging will let people know how much vitamin D they are consuming. 

Although eating foods rich in vitamin D is generally recommended in moderation as part of a varied diet, the DGE says the main focus should be on the body’s own production of vitamin D through exposing skin to sunlight.

READ ALSO: Essential phrases and customs to survive the German winter

What about supplements?

Another way to improve your vitamin D status is to take supplements. 

The German Nutrition Society recommends going down this route if an improvement in vitamin D status cannot be achieved through other routes like getting out and about in the sunlight. 

But be aware that experts also say that taking larger doses over a long period of time can be harmful. 

Pictured are Vitamin D capsules.

Pictured are Vitamin D capsules. Photo by Michele Blackwell on Unsplash

During the height of the Covid pandemic in 2021, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) warned of the health risks of taking vitamin D supplements without taking to a medical professional first. 

“Higher doses should only be taken under medical supervision and taking the individual vitamin D status into account,” the institute said.

“Anyone who wants to take vitamin D on their own should only use supplements with a daily dose of up to 20 micrograms (800 international units),” said the BfR. “With this amount, health impairments are not to be expected.”

According to the BfR, regular daily intake of vitamin D via high-dose preparations – for reasons other than medical reasons – increases the risk of health damage such as the formation of kidney stones or kidney calcification. There have also been cases of acute kidney failure as a result of uncontrolled self-administration of vitamin D preparations, experts said. 

There are a number of people deemed to be more at risk of a vitamin D deficiency.

From the BfR’s point of view, a general vitamin D intake of the upper limit of 20 micrograms per day should only be considered for nursing home residents and other risk groups. 

“This is because vitamin D is produced in the skin under the influence of sunlight. However, many older people hardly exercise outdoors,” the BfR said. Vitamin D production also decreases significantly with age.

READ ALSO: 8 tips for enjoying the cold like a true German

The risk groups for an inadequate vitamin D supply also include people who rarely or never spend time outdoors or who – for cultural or religious reasons – only go outside with their bodies completely covered. Some people who suffer from chronic gastrointestinal, liver or kidney diseases or who take medication that impairs vitamin D metabolism are also more at risk. 

If you suspect that you’re not getting enough vitamin D, go to your GP. They can test for various deficiencies, but bear in mind that these tests are not usually covered by statutory health insurance. 

Even if you don’t test, GPs will be able to advise you on whether you should take a supplement in winter – or all year round – depending on your individual case. 

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