Health insurance for artists

john g. Active member

Member since 15 January 2010

john g.Active member03 July 2012 15:44:47

Germany -and especially Berlin - is really becoming a mecca for expat artists of all kinds. The booming scene and what is seen as a city with a relatively low cost of living make it attractive!
These artists still have to get health insured, though! And many don´t have a lot of spare cash!!!
So, what can you do?
Well, since 1983 there has been the so-called "Künstlersozialkasse ", an organisation which helps ensure affordable public health insurance for certain professions but with strict criteria.
The KSK itself is not a health insurer (Krankenkasse ) but you submit your application directly to them. If successful ( but it can take many months and there is no guarantee of acceptance ), a freelance/self-employed artist is actually treated as an employee (!!) and so is guaranteed access to one of over 200 public Kassen - with the KSK paying around half of your statutory contribution!
This is also interesting for non-EU citizens who otherwise wouldn´t usually have access to public health insurance.
The price depends on your income as is always the case with public insurance.
However: one downside is being part of the public system also means having to pay nearly 10% of your gross earnings into the national pension plan..which may end up being more expensive than just taking out a private health insurance plan if you´re not intending to stay very long term!
Bear in mind, though, it can take many months (6-8 sometimes ) to get accepted so you have to have some kind of legal health insurance running before acceptance!

See also

The German healthcare system - Guide
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murb New member

Member since 15 August 2012

murbNew member15 August 2012 18:24:46

Hi!

I´ll write some facts about my situation, maybe someone can say, what can I do about the health insurance, right now I don´t have any.

I moved here 1 year ago with my boyfriend(german), I registrated myself (I´m from Estonia), took language courses and then just lived here, I was making art, but never worked here in Berlin. I had no insurance and now I want to clear this thing. Is it possible, that I´ll get problems that I didn´t have insurance all this year?

I continiue to live like that - making art, maybe sometimes selling something, but living without stable income. Is so-called "Künstlersozialkasse" something for me?

Where I can start?

I´m thankful about every tips.

Maarja

john g. Active member

Member since 15 January 2010

john g.Active member15 August 2012 18:31:11

Hello Maarja! it is difficult to get into the artists´insurance - proof of income, proof of your status etc. Even if they take you, it´ll take months - maybe 6-8. The problem is: you would then get into public insurance and they would say " whoops, you haven´t paid into the system all this time" and would expect backpayments. There is, however, no guarantee they would take you - and you could have an accident or a serious illness in the meantime ( not that I wish that). Your best bet is to sign first of all for a legally acceptable international health insurance to cover you for worst case scenarios and then reassess later.

murb New member

Member since 15 August 2012

murbNew member15 August 2012 18:41:32

Thank you for answer, John!
Do you think they´ll say it everywhere, this: "whoops, you haven´t paid into the system all this time and we would expect backpayments"
I don´t have any money, so I´ll go to prison, or what. As you see, I´m a bit afraid of German Money System...I´m out of NORMAL, so I have problems and I wonder how to come in there.

john g. Active member

Member since 15 January 2010

john g.Active member15 August 2012 18:48:28

yes, the law demands backpayments! No prison -don´t worry!But they CAN throw you of the country. The other issue now: if you come to Germany and don´t get publicly insured within 3 months, they will no longer accept applications anyway. So you need to be active and get a legal international insurance - you NEED health insurance anyway.

murb New member

Member since 15 August 2012

murbNew member15 August 2012 18:53:05

Ok, I put my attention on the legal international insurance now, maybe it helps me to go on without beeing thrown out of the country.

Many thanks,
M.