Civil Servant Health Insurance in Germany: Beihilfe Made Clear
Beihilfe-compliant means your German employer pays 50 to 80 percent of medical costs as Beihilfe, and your private health insurance (PKV) covers the rest. That structure makes premiums for civil servants noticeably lower than for everyone else. How low depends on your Bemessungssatz, your entry age, and the deductible you choose.
Key takeaways
- As a civil servant in Germany, your PKV only insures the share that Beihilfe does not cover. Standard is 50 %, rising to 70 % with two or more children.
- Beihilfe-compliant tariffs (Restkostentarife) are designed around that share. No double coverage, no gap.
- The three main levers for a lower premium are an early entry, a moderate annual deductible, and skipping add-ons you do not need.
- Pre-existing conditions are not a dead end. The Öffnungsaktion of the PKV-Verband commits participating insurers to accept civil servants on eased terms.
Available in three languages
This page is part of a trilingual guide. The German original lives at beihilfekonforme-pkv-guenstig. A Turkish version is available at memur saglik sigortasi. The substance is identical across all three.
What does "Beihilfe-compliant" actually mean?
Civil servants (Beamte) in Germany have a special status. Their employer (federal, state, or municipal) covers a defined share of medical costs. This contribution is called Beihilfe. It is not insurance; it is direct reimbursement of bills.
You insure the remainder yourself, almost always through a private health insurer. Tariffs that match the Beihilfe share exactly are called Beihilfe-compliant. The insurer only covers the part Beihilfe leaves open, typically 30 or 50 percent. That is why these premiums are noticeably lower than a full PKV plan.
Important distinction: Beihilfe-compliant tariffs are not the same as a full PKV plan. A full plan would insure 100 percent of costs, which is oversized for civil servants because the employer already covers a large part through Beihilfe.
How much Beihilfe do you receive?
The rates are defined in the federal Bundesbeihilfeverordnung (BBhV) and in each state ordinance. The table below shows the standard. Individual states deviate slightly.
| Group | Beihilfe (employer) | PKV share (you) |
|---|---|---|
| Civil servant (active, 0 or 1 child) | 50 % | 50 % |
| Civil servant with 2 or more eligible children | 70 % | 30 % |
| Eligible spouse (with income threshold) | 70 % | 30 % |
| Eligible children | 80 % | 20 % |
| Retired civil servant (pension) | 70 % | 30 % |
Source: federal Beihilfevorschriften (BBhV) and equivalent state ordinances, summarised by the Verband der Privaten Krankenversicherung (PKV-Verband). The step from 50 to 70 percent for parents or retirees is conditional. Your Beihilfestelle will confirm the exact figure for your case.
Compare Beihilfe-compliant PKV tariffs
Enter your age, Bemessungssatz, and preferred coverage. You get a view of current tariffs from multiple civil-servant PKV specialists. Free, no obligation, no contract pressure.
What determines your premium?
Unlike public insurance, PKV premiums are individual. Five factors drive the number. Four are within your control.
| Factor | Impact | Real-world example |
|---|---|---|
| Entry age | Very high | Starting at 25 as a trainee secures lower premiums for life than starting at 38. |
| Bemessungssatz (50 / 70 / 80 %) | High | At 70 % Beihilfe, your tariff only insures 30 % of remaining costs. The premium drops accordingly. |
| Annual deductible | Medium to high | A moderate deductible in the low triple digits noticeably reduces the monthly premium. |
| Tariff scope (single room, head physician, dental) | Medium | Premium add-ons cost extra. Some are worth it, some are skippable. |
| Health at application | Variable | Pre-existing conditions can trigger a risk surcharge. The Öffnungsaktion may help. |
Why we do not quote fixed monthly figures here
Why we do not quote fixed monthly figures here
Tariffs change month to month, and individual premiums vary widely. A blanket figure would often mislead you. The comparison above shows what is currently quoted for your profile. As a rough market signal (see for example the Handelsblatt 2026 review of civil-servant PKV based on the Franke und Bornberg rating): active civil-servant tariffs for a 30-year-old with 50 percent Beihilfe land in the lower three-digit euro range per month. Trainee tariffs sit below that. Only your personal quote is binding.
Six levers for a lower premium
These approaches come from advisory practice and align with the recommendations of independent consumer outlets such as Finanztip.
1. Start early
1. Start early
Every year you enter PKV earlier locks in lower lifelong premiums. Trainees pay less for comparable coverage than active civil servants in their thirties.
2. Choose your deductible deliberately
2. Choose your deductible deliberately
A deductible somewhere in the low-to-mid hundreds of euros per year is a sensible middle for many people. It cuts the monthly premium without exposing you in a real claim.
3. Use premium-refund options
3. Use premium-refund options
If you file no claims in a calendar year, many insurers refund part of your premium. Healthy people who rarely see a doctor recover a noticeable share of the contribution.
4. Match the tariff to your stage of life
4. Match the tariff to your stage of life
If you do not need a single hospital room or head-physician treatment, you can skip these add-ons. Beihilfe plus a solid Restkostentarif is robust on its own.
5. Insure the family cleanly
5. Insure the family cleanly
Children are covered at 80 percent Beihilfe, which makes their tariffs very affordable. Spouses have an income threshold. Work it through with your Beihilfestelle before you sign.
6. Compare before signing, not after
6. Compare before signing, not after
Switching tariffs within the same insurer later is possible, but a clean comparison up front is simpler and usually cheaper.
Special case: civil servant trainees
Trainees (Anwärter) have the biggest savings lever of any group. Three points matter most:
- Entry age. Starting at 22 or 25 locks in premiums that a 35-year-old new buyer simply will not get.
- Risk-surcharge waiver programmes. Several insurers waive or cap risk surcharges for trainees under specific terms. These programmes change. A current comparison shows who participates today.
- Plan for the family early. Even at the trainee stage, consider partners and possible children. Some tariffs include family-friendly options that are not available the same way later.
What happens in retirement?
In retirement, the Beihilfe rate typically rises to 70 percent. Your PKV adapts because only 30 percent of remaining costs need to be insured.
- The switch is not always automatic. Notify your insurer and switch your tariff actively.
- Premiums often drop because of accumulated ageing reserves (Alterungsrueckstellungen).
- Private long-term-care add-ons become more relevant later and are separate contracts.
Pre-existing conditions: the Öffnungsaktion
A pre-existing condition does not lock you out of PKV. The PKV-Verband coordinates an Öffnungsaktion: participating insurers commit to accept civil servants on eased terms, with capped risk surcharges.
Important to know
Important to know
The programme only applies when you take it up early after appointment or during your first application. There are deadlines. Not every insurer participates. The PKV-Verband publishes a current list of participating insurers. You retain the right to enter the legally defined Basistarif at any time.
Civil servant PKV in 6 answers
Häufig gestellte Fragen
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meinetarife24.de · Independent insurance comparison · All information without guarantee · Updated May 26, 2026 · meinetarife24 Editorial Team