Health Insurance Contributions for Unemployed Persons

For recipients of Unemployment Benefit (ALG I) and Bürgergeld who have statutory health insurance, the Jobcenter pays the health insurance contributions in full. Privately insured persons receive a subsidy towards their contributions. ALG I recipients are allowed to join a statutory health insurance fund, even if previously privately insured.

Unemployment Benefit I (ALG I)
For persons receiving ALG I, statutory health insurance is compulsory – even if they were previously privately insured. For privately insured persons, receiving Unemployment Benefit I is an opportunity to join or rejoin a statutory health insurance fund.

Within two weeks of starting to receive Unemployment Benefit I, privately insured persons must choose a statutory health insurance fund. It is possible to remain with a statutory health insurance fund after you are no longer unemployed. When switching to compulsory statutory health insurance as a result of receiving ALG I, the private health insurance company will cancel the old contract at the start of your membership in a statutory health insurance fund.

Exception: Those who are 55 or older and had been privately insured for the previous 5 years can no longer switch from private health insurance to statutory health insurance.

Bürgergeld
The Jobcenter pays the health insurance contributions in full for most ALG II recipients with statutory health insurance. They can also change health insurance companies at any time. Privately insured Bürgergeld recipients remain privately insured. Bürgergeld recipients cannot switch from private health insurance to statutory health insurance. Persons who come from abroad and receive Bürgergeld directly after arrival can take out statutory health insurance.

Unemployed without ALG I or Bürgergeld
Statutorily insured persons who do not receive Unemployment Benefits I or Bürgergeld can continue to insure themselves voluntarily in a statutory health insurance fund. To do this, those affected should contact their health insurance company. To keep the contributions manageable, you should inform the health insurance fund of the amount of the expected income.

Informing the health insurance fund or health insurance company
The following applies to all persons affected by unemployment: inform your statutory health insurance fund or private health insurance company of the change in status. Employers are required to report the end of the employment relationship to the health insurance fund, but there may be delays. Especially persons who are voluntarily insured with a statutory health insurance fund should report the change quickly so that their insurance coverage is not jeopardized.