How to join a German public insurance?

Joining a German public insurance scheme without an employment contract may seem like an impossible mission at first. Many people find themselves in a vicious circle: companies ask you to be insured before they can take you on, but at the same time the Krankenkassen (insurance companies) usually require an employment contract before they can register you. So how do you deal with this situation? Don't worry: in this article we explain step by step how to join a public insurance in Germany even if you don't have an employment contract yet (and, of course, what to do if you already have one).

It is very easy to join a German public insurance. We will explain the procedureThe best way to sign up for Barmer is to take one of the best public insurances in Germany.
TIP: It is not necessary to have anmeldung or tax ID (you can generate the insurance to save time while you are doing the other formalities). 

If you haven't yet read THIS ARTICLE ("Guide: Compulsory Health Insurance in Germany") about the German public health insurance, we recommend you to read it before filling in these steps because it contains important information.

Once you have completed everything, you will receive an email from us with the insurance discharge together with its social security number so that they can present it to any company. 

In addition, at the end of the article, there are questions and answers that will surely arise for you.. 
Important: If you have already filled in the form and signed it, just wait until you receive the email from Barmer. DO NOT fill it in twice with the same data because this will cause the first one to be cancelled. 

This is the registration form that you will receive by email (in pdf format) after following all the steps explained below. 

This pdf is the one you should present to the company where you are going to work or where you want to apply. 

Remember that the social security number in Germany is a unique and non-transferable identifier that you can use to apply for any job. 

Step by Step:

  • First step is to enter THIS LINK <- (click)
    It will take you to a platform where Barmer's registration is done. The name of the platform is Feather. There you will have a form that you have to fill in with your data.

    Each step is explained with pictures so that you can join Barmer easily and online without having to go to the branch in person. 
CLICK HERE TO JOIN BARMER
  • Clicking on the link or button "Click to join Barmer" will give you the first step: click on "Get Covered".
  • Click "continue" to start filling in the form with your details. 
  • Here you fill in your email address (make sure you enter it correctly, otherwise you will not receive the registration with your social security number).
  • Here you can fill in with name/s and surname/s. (It is IMPORTANT that you complete exactly as you have in your passport.)
  • In this step you fill in your date of birth (Day / Month / Year).
  • In this step they put their gender. 
  • Do you have an address in Germany?
     They have to complete with "YES".
  • What is your address in Germany?
    In this step you enter your address in Germany. You have the option to enter it manually in case the search engine does not find it. 
    It is important that you put in the C/O option the name that is in your mailbox (either your name or the name of the person in the mailbox).
    THE ADDRESS DOES NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO BE THE SAME AS THE ADDRESS WHERE THEY REGISTERED (anmeldung)
  • What is your occupation in Germany?
    Here it is important to always select "Employed".
    • If you don't have a job yet or you are still searching, also select "employed" because otherwise the form will NOT let you continue.

    • Also, whatever information you put in now, that is then updated when you send in your employment contract once you have it.

    • It is important that you fill in exactly as below so that you can receive your registration and social security number.  

  • What is your annual salary before taxes?
    • If you are already working or have a job offer, put what you would earn in a year. It does not matter if you are only going to work for 3 or 6 months.) It should be the total over 12 months. This does not mean that you will pay more (it is for reference only).
    • If you do not yet have a job offer then fill in with 99,999 (this is a fictitious number that will change when you submit a job contract).
  • What is the start date on your employment contract:
    • If you have an employment contract, put the date on the contract.
    • If you have a job offer, give an approximate date when you will start work.
    • If you are still searching, put an approximate date in the future.
  • Is this your first time working in Germany? 
    Complete with "yes".
  • Do you currently have public insurance in Germany?
    Complete with "NO".
  • Who is your employer?
    • If they have an employment contract or a job offer, they put the name of the company.
    • If you are still searching, complete with "No employer Yet" (it is important that you complete it this way so Barmer knows that you do not have a contract yet but that you are still searching).
  • What is your job title?
    • Complete with your job title and if you don't know it, complete with "NO".
  • What is the address of the company?
    • If you already have a contract or a job offer, please enter the corresponding address. 
    • If you still don't have a job or don't know the address, please enter a fictitious address:
      • Select "enter address manually".
        • Street: No street
        • House Number: 1234
        • Additional information: NO
        • Post Code: 1234
        • City: NO
    • . When they send the contract, this is then updated.
  • What was your surname when you were born?
    Enter your surname
  • What is your city and country of birth?
    Here you can fill in your birth data.
  • In which country/countries do you have citizenship?
    Please fill in your citizenship here. (you can fill in more than 1 citizenship)
  • Do you currently receive any money from a pension fund (state or non-state pension)?
    Select "NO".
  • Do you want your dependants to be covered by the insurance policy?
    Select "NO".
  • Do you have dependent children?
    If you do not have dependent children, select "NO".
  • Last step:
    • Sign
    • Select terms and conditions (selected with red)
    • Select "Submit".
  • Next steps:
    • You will get an email from Feather that says "Paperwork for your employer for public health insurance" and at the bottom it says "Send documents to HR". If you don't have a job yet or don't have this information, there is no need to reply to this email. It will have no effect on your insurance discharge. 
    • You will receive the Barmer registration form and your social security number by email (the pdf that you receive is the one that you have to present to your company).
    • They get an email asking them to put their photo on the card (we recommend that you upload a selfie photo)
    • Once you have sent your employment contract and photo, you will receive your insurance card at your home address. 
    • Click on "Complete application".

Questions and Answers:

How long will it take for me to receive my social security number?

The national insurance number with the insurance registration is sent to you. between 2 to 7 working days to your email address (usually takes no more than 3 days but can take up to 7).

Do I need an employment contract to join a German public insurance scheme?

No, an employment contract is not necessary to initiate insurance registration.
By following the above steps, they can easily join without a contract. 

Do I have to pay public insurance if I don't have a job yet?

No, they will not pay anything until they have an employment contract.
The payment is debited directly from your first salary.
THEY DON'T PAY ANYTHING UNTIL THEY SEND A CONTRACT.

Where can I find a doctor who treats with Barmer?

Normally with ALL doctors who cover public insurance (statuary), they will be able to use Barmer. 

You can find them:

How to use the German public insurance?

In order to use the German public insurance you must first send the employment contract. 

Once they have sent the employment contract, it means that Barmer has already activated the insurance and they can use it without any problems. 

After the contract has been sent, the insurance card should arrive at your home address within 10 working days. 
With that card, they go directly to any doctor/hospital that provides public insurance (the vast majority of them do) and they are treated. 
If you need to go to the doctor but have not yet received your card, then you should follow these steps: 

  • They look for a doctor where they want to be seen and ask for the FAX number. 
  • Then call 08003330060 (Barmer's customer service number) and give them your details along with the doctor's fax number. They will send an authorisation to the doctor on the spot so that you can be seen.

What do I do with public insurance if I change jobs?

If you change jobs, you MUST NOTIFY INSURANCE. Therefore contact Barmer (by sending an email to service@barmer.de) with your details and the new employment contract. 

What should I do with my public insurance if I stop working?

If you stop working, you have 1 month to send a new contract and Barmer covers you without the need to pay extra.
If you are going to be out of work for more than 1 month, then you should write to Barmer (service@barmer.de) or call 08003330060 to report your situation. 

Please note that if you have a work&holiday visa, then you can "pause" your insurance until you get a new job without having to pay for it yourself, but you must send your visa together with your travel insurance to the same email address. 

How do I cancel my German public insurance?

To cancel the German public insurance you must send to Barmer (service@barmer.de):

  • Your full details
  • Departure ticket from Germany (plane or train)
  • Abmeldung (deregistration of residence in Germany)
Do you have any questions? --> Write to us!

Thank you very much for reading us!

I hope you found them useful and that they will make your stay in Germany easier.

Other articles that may be of interest to you: 

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