11–20 of 37 posts
She's not registered, she doesn't have a job and never had one. In other words she's a tourist and is treated as such. That's not a bug, that's a feature and the system working exactly as designed.
The issue of how to fund welfare services, particularly health care, is basically the most difficult challenge faced by every government. Health care budgets in most major countries seem to be growing faster than their ability to pay for them. Naturally, every citizen and every immigrant feels like they should be able access whatever health care they need whenever they need it, particularly in an emergency. And the n…
I would really like to know what the exact problem is: I have been "freiwillig versichert" for years as a freelancer, no need to have an official employment.
In all seriousness, the Indian medical system is a shining example of how to be functional. You show up, find out what needs to be done, ask the price, pay and it gets done. I've had LASIK and 2 spine surgeries done in India, +1 will return for all my future medical needs.
I would also like to move to another country where I've contributed nothing, and then have taxpayers in that country give me free stuff. Maybe next time I need medical work done I can stop in the Italy, have the Italian taxpayer pay for it, then fly off to a country where I'd actually like to live (e.g. a country which cares more about consumers than the taxi mafia). In all seriousness, the Indian medical system is a…
If the sickness of your friend is an emergency, your doctors should accept the European card EHIC (if she does not have one, she should be able to get it from her Italian insurance). But this of course is not a permanent solution, so yes, your friend needs a German insurance. If this is not an emergency but also not resolved quickly, then she should really think about returning to Italy for treatment, as the costs can escalate pretty quickly; not only doctors but especially pharmaceutical drugs can be very expensive in Germany.
If your friend wants to live in Germany, then yes: she needs to go to the "Einwohnermeldeamt" an register there. I know that this does feel weird for people who are not used to this, but it's usually a pretty easy process and done quickly. The only thing you need for this is a permanent residence in Germany, so some kind written of rental agreement ("Mietvertrag") is necessary. As for private/public insurance: avoid the private ones if possible. However, if she was privately insured in Italy, she definitely cannot enter the public one in Germany, so private is the only option then. If she has Italian public insurance: To enter German public insurance, you do not need to have a job, but you need to actively search for one. So she will have to go to the "Arbeitsagentur" and register there as searching for a job. She'll definitely need some German speaking fellow to help her with this, otherwise it will take far longer. I think it is also possible to remain in Italian public insurance and "enhance" the EHIC support so that it covers Germany, so you should investigate in that direction as well. Good luck and I hope your friend will get better soon.
Whenever I have relatives coming to Germany from abroad, I will have this insurance ready for them.
I looked a bit around and it seems that the OP didn't research all options (language barrier and bureaucracy is often a problem here).
@Mindflayer: I suggest you find an expert that can guide you through this jungle.
But what I found in my quick research is that there is a european health insurance card (apparently one can get it from one's EU health insurance in one's home country, it's called EHIC). It allows a German doctor to book services against your Italian health insurance. Unfortunately, it only covers emergencies.
For other medical services you are right, it's probably easiest if you have a job or are married. But it seems that there is another option: your girlfriend registers as unemployed/job seeking. Job seekers from EU countries are treated similarly as employees and hence are entitled to public health insurance.
Source: https://www.krankenkassen.de/meine-krankenkasse/krankenversi... (German)
OK, first off: you definitely need some German speaking friend to deal with German bureaucracy. So ask around who can help you with going to the "Behörden" to deal with the problems of your friend. If the sickness of your friend is an emergency, your doctors should accept the European card EHIC (if she does not have one, she should be able to get it from her Italian insurance). But this of course is not a permanent s…
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/social-security-fo...
However, I think it would be hugely beneficial when all (goverment sanctioned) EU health insurances would be valid in all EU countries. If you get a private insurance in Germany you usually have this already covered. But not with the state insurances, for whatever reason.