Apply for a subsidy for private or voluntary health insurance

You apply for a subsidy for your health insurance expenses at the same time as you apply for your pension. If you are a voluntary member of a statutory health insurance fund, the pension insurance fund will require details of the address of the statutory health insurance fund. If the statutory health insurance fund confirms that you are still a voluntary member while drawing a pension and that contributions are payable, the health insurance subsidy will be approved with the pension notification.

If you have private health insurance with a health insurance company and pay contributions yourself, you will receive a form with your pension application which you should send to your private health insurance company. Once you have submitted all the documents to Deutsche Rentenversicherung, they will decide on your application for a health insurance subsidy. This is done with the pension notification.

If you already receive a pension and are a voluntary member of a statutory health insurance fund or have private health insurance and do not yet receive a subsidy for your health insurance contributions, you can also apply for this separately.

You can submit your application online, in person or by post.

Online application:

• On the German Pension Insurance (DRV) website under "Online services" you will find detailed information on the process.
• If you follow the "Submit application" link, you will be guided through the next steps and can select the desired application.
• Alternatively, you can use the online services with registration. For example, you can immediately see which insurance periods have already been recorded. You also save time and do not have to re-enter data you already know.
• Complete the application in full and upload the required documents.
• Submit your application online.
• You will receive a confirmation of submission.
• The responsible pension insurance provider will check your application.
• You will receive notification of your application.

Personal application:

• Make an appointment with the DRV by telephone.
• During your personal meeting, your application will be recorded electronically and forwarded online to the relevant pension insurance provider.
• The responsible pension insurance provider will check your application.
• You will receive a decision.

Written application:

• Go to the DRV website.
• Download the required application form.
• Complete the application form, sign it and enclose the required documents.
• Send all documents by post to your pension insurance provider.
• The responsible pension insurance provider will check your application.
• You will receive a decision.

A person you trust can also submit your application on your behalf. Please submit a power of attorney to the pension insurance fund for this purpose. As long as the power of attorney is valid, the pension insurance company will only contact the person you have authorized.

If you give your consent to electronic communication, all correspondence can take place online. You can either use the electronic mailbox under the online services with registration or De-Mail.

• You have applied for a pension or are already drawing a pension.
• You are a voluntary member of a statutory health insurance fund or
• You have private health insurance with an insurance company that is subject to German supervision or the supervision of another country in which the European regulations on the coordination of social security systems apply.
  • You have a legal entitlement to private health insurance benefits and independent insurance cover.
• You are not subject to compulsory health insurance in a statutory health insurance fund or a foreign statutory compulsory health insurance fund.
• You pay your own health insurance contributions.

• Application for a health insurance subsidy in conjunction with a pension application or as a separate application
• for private health insurance: certificate from the health insurance company

There are no costs.

3 weeks to 6 months

The processing time depends on whether you submit the application separately or together with the pension application. In addition, the processing time depends on the examination or issue of the certificate from your health insurance fund or private health insurance company.

• § Section 106 of the Sixth Book of the German Social Code (SGB VI)

• Objection. Detailed information can be found in the decision on your pension application.
• Appeal to the social court. Detailed information can be found in the notice of objection.

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible: No
Personal appearance necessary: No

Online services available: Yes

06.04.2023