Health Insurance
In the case of a serious illness, high treatment costs can very quickly be incurred. Therefore, in Germany, you must register for a health insurance as an employee. A distinction is made between statutory and private health insurance. Please see all relevant information below.
Statutory health insurance (for PhDs/Postdocs)
The basic insurance coverage of the statutory health insurance funds extends to the following services:
Outpatient medical treatment, e.g. in a doctor's office, medicines, remedies and aids, inpatient medical treatment, e.g. in a hospital, medically necessary rehabilitation measures, benefits in the event of pregnancy and childbirth.
We are not allowed to recommend a health insurance company to you. However, there is a good overview of all health insurance companies on the following website:
Please make sure that you select "Hessen" as the federal state.
We are happy to help you with the paperwork once you have decided on a health insurance plan. Just get in touch as soon as you have decided on an insurance plan.
Private health insurance (for scholarship holders)
In contrast to statutory health insurance, the amount of the premium in private health insurance depends on the scope of the insured benefits and the individual insured risk (so-called equivalence principle). Another difference is the reimbursement principle: Privately insured persons pay the bills of doctors and other service providers directly themselves and submit the bills to their private health insurer for reimbursement.
The Max Planck Society has an agreement with HALLESCHE, which offer insurance coverage at a reasonable price.
Here you can find all information & application form of HALLESCHE: https://www.mawista.com/en/gv/
For non-EU citizens you have to choose the BD.2 PVN rate which is discounted once again.
Health card
The electronic health card (eGK) is a chip card in cheque card format with a photograph and is also your proof of insurance. You use the card to identify yourself as a customer of your chosen health insurance company when you go to a doctor's or dentist's practice or hospital. It makes it easier for you to use medical services at home and abroad. On the reverse side is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which you can use in most European countries when you need medical help.
Your insurance data such as first and last name, date of birth, address and insurance number are stored on the card. Health insurance customers are obliged to be able to present their electronic health card at every visit to the doctor. There are practices that refuse treatment without a health insurance card because of bad experiences. However, if you are really an emergency, i.e. it would be irresponsible to send you away, then he must also treat you without a card.
Doctor's visits
It is often advisable to first visit a general practitioner - the so-called family doctor consultation - through which you can be referred to a specialist medical facility if necessary. You should make an appointment with all doctors in advance by telephone. In case of acute illnesses or accidents, you will get an appointment immediately or on the same day. In all other cases, you may have to wait a few days or even weeks for your appointment, especially with dentists or other medical specialists. You must bring your insurance card with you to all office visits. You can find all general practitioners and specialists, including those near your home, in the local telephone book, yellow pages or http://arztsuchehessen.de.
Sick note
As of January 1, 2023, an "electronic call-off" procedure has rolled out for people with statutory health insurance, replacing the traditional sickness notification from the doctor. The employer is only allowed to start the electronic call-off if there is an information about an issued sickness notification from the doctor. Therefore, please be sure to inform us and your department management by e-mail (hr@mpi-bn.mpg.de) and provide the following data:
- Expected duration of sick leave
- Has a sickness notification been issued? If yes, on which day was the doctor's visit (the call is only possible 24h after the doctor's visit).
We would like to point out once again that you are legally obliged to inform us of your sickness immediately/before you normally start work. If your absence lasts longer than three calendar days, you will have to submit a sickness notification from the doctor on the following working day at the latest.
The following groups of people/institutions are not currently participating in digital call-off and will continue to receive a sickness notification:
- Employees with private health insurance
- Private medical practices
- Medical practices abroad
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Physiotherapy and psychotherapy practices