Restkostenversicherung for civil servants: what private health insurance covers alongside Beihilfe

Unlike employees, civil servants do not need comprehensive health insurance. The combination of state Beihilfe and a private Restkostenversicherung (i)Restkostenversicherung · RestkostentarifA private plan that covers the share of medical costs that Beihilfe does not pay. Together with Beihilfe it gives civil servants full cover. gives the same full cover at much lower premiums. Beihilfe (i)BeihilfeThe state healthcare allowance for civil servants. The Beihilfestelle pays a fixed share of medical costs, the Beihilfesatz, and private insurance covers the rest.More about Beihilfe → pays the first part of the treatment costs and the Restkostenversicherung pays the remaining part, so without a deductible in the plan your own share is zero. This way civil servants pay noticeably lower premiums than self-employed people with full private health insurance.

The Beihilfe (i) rates above are guide values for the federal government. They can differ from one federal state to another, so always ask your public employer for your rate in writing. The exact contract details also depend on the plan and the insurer.

The Beihilfe (i) rate of your public employer decides which share the Restkostenversicherung (i) has to cover. Civil servants in training often start with 50% Beihilfe. When your family grows or you retire, the rate changes, and the Restkostenversicherung must be adjusted to match. If you miss this, you are over or underinsured.

Typical triggers for checking an adjustment are the birth of a child, when the Beihilfe (i) rate can rise, retirement with a rate of 70% at federal level, and reaching the age limit for child Beihilfe when children leave the household. A good plan can be adjusted to the new Beihilfe rate without new health questions.

The Restkostenversicherung (i) is not comprehensive health insurance. It covers only the remaining share after Beihilfe (i). If you have no right to Beihilfe, for example after leaving civil service, you need full private health insurance.

We recommend that you have your public employer confirm your Beihilfe (i) rate in writing and adjust the Restkostenversicherung (i) to exactly that rate. A change in your Beihilfe rate because your family grows or you retire should always be a reason to review your plan.