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German cities have close-knit networks of general practitioners, specialists, and dentists. Top medical experts treat patients in both university clinics and specialized clinics. This comprehensive care is made possible by a separate insurance system. Almost every resident in Germany is a member of a public or private healthcare scheme.
All employees can choose their own health insurance provider. A common fund exists for all other social security components.
Employees earning a gross wage of less than EUR 4,125.00 per month are compulsorily insured by one of the public health insurance providers (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV).
Employees whose earnings are above this income threshold can choose from both public and private insurance companies (Private Krankenversicherung, PKV). Employee and employer also share the premiums for private health insurance plans.
On January 1, 2011 a new healthcare law came into force. The average statutory health insurance contribution rate is now 15.2%. The maximum employer’s contribution has been fixed at 7.3%. Health insurance companies that cannot get by on the contributions may only charge the insured employees for an additional contribution – but not the employers.
Anyone who earns more than EUR 4,125.00 per month or is self-employed can choose private health insurance (Private Krankenversicherung, PKV). The premiums for private health insurance are based on the personal risk profile of the policy holder, and are therefore lower for younger people and increase as the policy holder gets older.
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