Social Security - Sickness Insurance

So that illness and reliance on care do not become a financial risk, all employees on gross pay of under EUR 3,937.50 a month (as at 2006) are required to take out statutory health and care insurance. The insurance cover also applies to the spouse and children of the insured person where they have no or only minimal income of their own. As a rule, between 12% and 15% of income has to be spent on health insurance.

Care insurance provides protection against the consequences of reliance on care. Insured persons who require permanently, that is to say probably for at least six months, a considerable amount of assistance to perform everyday tasks on account of physical, mental or psychological disability are regarded as reliant on care. A fix contribution rate of 1.7% applies in relation to care insurance.

The employer registers the employee with a health insurance fund when he is taken on. He is thus also automatically registered for care insurance.

In the event of incapacity for work on account of the same illness, employees have a statutory entitlement to continued payment by their employer for six weeks. If the illness lasts longer, sickness benefit amounting to around 70% of net remuneration is paid for a maximum of one and a half years.

Text last edited on: 11/2006

Source: European Union
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