Letters from your Krankenkasse — your statutory health insurer — tend to arrive at the worst possible moments and use the most opaque possible language. Most of them are routine. Some need action. Here's how to tell which one you have.
Sample only — yours will show your contribution amount, billing period, and payment due date.
🏥 What is a Krankenkasse Beitragsbescheid?
It's your health insurance contribution notice — a letter telling you what you owe your insurer each month and when it's due. If you're employed, your contributions are usually split between you and your employer and deducted automatically from your salary. This letter typically arrives when something has changed — your income, your employment status, or the contribution rate itself. It's not a bill in the traditional sense. It's a notification of what will be deducted.
💶 Do I actually owe this money?
Check your employment status first. If you're employed, your employer handles the deduction and you shouldn't need to pay anything directly — the letter is informational. If you're self-employed, freelance, or between jobs, you may need to pay the contribution yourself by the date shown. Look for Fälligkeit or fällig am — that is the due date. Missing it can result in late payment surcharges.
🌍 Were you living outside Germany during part of the billing period?
This matters more than most people realise. If you were abroad for an extended period during the billing period shown on the letter, you may be entitled to a contribution reduction or exemption. This is a legitimate claim that many expats miss simply because nobody tells them about it. Contact your Krankenkasse directly, mention the dates you were outside Germany, and ask whether a reduction applies. Get the conversation in writing.
⏰ Do I need to do anything — and by when?
If you're employed and contributions are deducted automatically — read it, file it, move on. If you're self-employed or the letter is requesting payment — pay by the due date shown. If the amount looks wrong compared to your income — contact your Krankenkasse and ask for a recalculation. They can adjust contributions if your income has changed significantly. You'll need to provide proof of your current income.
📬 Got a Krankenkasse letter and not sure what it's asking?
That's exactly what expat.fyi is for. Upload the letter, get a plain English explanation — including what the contribution amount means, whether you need to pay, and exactly what to do next. If you were abroad during the billing period, we'll flag that too. No German required. No walls of text. Just the answer.
📋 What type of Krankenkasse letter did you actually get?
Not all Krankenkasse letters mean the same thing. Here are the most common ones expats receive:
- Beitragsbescheid
- a contribution notice. This tells you your monthly premium, how it was calculated, and when it's due. For employed people it's informational. For the self-employed or those between jobs it requires active payment.
- Beitragsnachweis
- a contribution record. A summary of contributions paid, usually sent at the end of the year. Useful for tax purposes — the Finanzamt may ask for this.
- Aufforderung zur Vorlage von Einkommensnachweisen
- a request for proof of income. The Krankenkasse wants to see your current earnings to recalculate your contribution. This one has a deadline and requires action.
- Mahnung / Zahlungsaufforderung
- a payment reminder or demand. A contribution hasn't been received. If you're self-employed and missed a payment, this is what arrives. There will be a deadline and potentially a late surcharge.
- Mitgliedsbescheinigung
- a membership confirmation. Proof that you are insured. Often needed for visa applications, employer onboarding, or university enrolment. No action required — it's a document for you to use elsewhere.
- Kündigungsbestätigung
- a cancellation confirmation. Your membership has ended. This usually arrives after switching insurers or ending employment. Check the effective date carefully.
If you're not sure which type yours is, that's exactly what expat.fyi handles.
🔢 How is your Krankenkasse contribution actually calculated?
The contribution amount isn't arbitrary — it's a percentage of your gross income, subject to a ceiling.
For employees, the standard contribution rate is currently 14.6% of gross salary, split equally between you and your employer — so you each pay 7.3%. Most Krankenkassen also charge an additional Zusatzbeitrag (supplementary premium) which varies by insurer and is paid entirely by the employee. The total effective rate is typically between 15.5% and 17% of gross salary depending on your insurer.
The contribution is capped at the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze — the contribution assessment ceiling. In 2025 this is €5,512.50 per month. Even if you earn more, contributions are only calculated on income up to this ceiling.
For self-employed and freelancers, the calculation is different. You pay the full contribution yourself with no employer split, and the rate applies to your actual income. The Krankenkasse will ask for income proof periodically and adjust accordingly. If your income drops significantly, you can request a reduction — but you need to initiate this yourself.
For people between jobs or with no income, the minimum contribution applies — currently around €200 per month. This is often a shock for people who have just left employment and don't yet have a new job. It does not reduce to zero just because you have no income.
🔄 Switching your Krankenkasse — what the letter might be about
Germany allows you to switch statutory health insurers once you have been with your current one for at least 12 months. The process generates letters at both ends — from the one you're leaving and the one you're joining.
- From your new insurer: a Mitgliedsbescheinigung confirming your new membership start date. Keep this — your employer needs it.
- From your old insurer: a Kündigungsbestätigung confirming your membership has ended. Check the effective date matches what you expected.
The switch only takes effect from the first of the month following your notice period. Gaps in coverage are not permitted under German law — your new insurer's coverage must begin exactly where the old one ends.
Common mistake: people assume switching happens automatically once they sign up with a new insurer. It doesn't — you need to give formal notice to your current insurer, or confirm that the new insurer is handling the transfer. Check with both parties.
If you received a letter about a switch and something looks wrong — dates don't align, amounts are unexpected, or coverage appears to have lapsed — contact both insurers immediately in writing.
⚠️ What expats get wrong about Krankenkasse letters
- Ignoring contribution notices when self-employed. Employed people can file most Krankenkasse letters without action. Self-employed people cannot. A Beitragsbescheid for a freelancer is a payment request with a due date. Missing it generates surcharges and eventually a Mahnung.
- Not reporting income changes. If your income drops significantly — through job loss, reduced freelance work, or a career break — your Krankenkasse can reduce your contribution. But they won't do it automatically. You must contact them, provide proof, and request the adjustment. Many expats overpay for months because they didn't know to ask.
- Assuming employer coverage continues after leaving a job. Statutory health insurance through an employer ends when employment ends. You have a short window — typically three months — to arrange continuation coverage or switch to voluntary statutory insurance. Missing this window forces you into the minimum contribution bracket retroactively.
- Not getting a Mitgliedsbescheinigung when needed. If you're applying for a visa, starting a new job, or enrolling at university, you'll need this document. It doesn't arrive automatically — you need to request it from your Krankenkasse. Allow a few days processing time.
- Switching without confirming the gap is covered. Always confirm the exact start and end dates with both insurers before assuming coverage is continuous.
📤 Upload your Krankenkasse letter to expat.fyi
Krankenkasse letters range from routine contribution notices to urgent payment demands — and the difference in tone is often subtle. The German is administrative and dense, and the action required varies entirely depending on your employment status and what the letter type is.
Upload yours to expat.fyi and get a plain English explanation of what type of letter it is, whether you need to pay anything, what the deadline is if applicable, and what your next step should be.
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