Subsidies for civil servants

The classic option is the individual health insurance subsidy, supplemented with partial private health insurance. As part of this individual health insurance subsidy, the City of Hamburg will reimburse a portion of the necessary and reasonable actual expenses (resulting from illness, for instance). You must pay the health care provider (e.g., doctor, hospital, etc.) and will then be reimbursed. As a rule, you will need to submit the invoices to your private health insurance provider and the subsidy department at the ZPD. The amount reimbursed depends on your individual subsidy rate (at least 50 percent) and the provisions of the Hamburg ordinance on subsidies (Hamburgische Beihilfeverordnung). More information is available on the ZPD website.

Hamburg has begun introducing a new subsidy system for newly employed civil servants and those who already have voluntary statutory health insurance. It allows them to claim a monthly flat-rate health insurance subsidy instead of the individual subsidy (for partial reimbursement of their actual expenses). To qualify for the flat-rate subsidy, you must provide proof that you hold voluntary statutory or private health insurance. Furthermore, you must sign a waiver for the supplementary individual subsidy. In principle, calculation of the subsidy is based on half of your proven contributions to full health insurance, regardless of whether you have statutory or private coverage. Selection of the flat-rate option and waiving of the supplementary individual subsidy are irrevocable. Every civil servant must decide for themselves whether or not to opt for the flat-rate subsidy. For more information, see the FAQs (PDF, german only) published by Hamburg’s human resources department.