Medical Insurance
#1
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Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Germany
Posts: 95
Medical Insurance
I'm still having trouble with my German Medical Insurance. They are now taking over 200euros a month from me because of my Military Pension. They class it as a private pension. Has anyone else out there had the same problem?
#2
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Joined: Sep 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 262
Re: Medical Insurance
Had the same problem in Holland. Your forces pension is classed as income and taxed in the UK at source; you shouldn't be paying German income tax on the pension as there is a double-taxation agreement in place between UK/D. However, there is a difference between Income Tax and Health Insurance (which are regarded as social taxes) and fall outside the scope of the double-taxation agreements, so the system requires you to contribute to the Health Insurance fund on top of paying income tax. We looked at moving across the border to Gronau if that got us around it - it didn't.
The good(ish) news is that assuming you have paid enough UK National Insurance to qualify; when you receive the UK state pension, you can apply for an S1 form from the UK pension office and assuming that German pensioners no longer pay for Healthcare when they retire, nor will you.
The good(ish) news is that assuming you have paid enough UK National Insurance to qualify; when you receive the UK state pension, you can apply for an S1 form from the UK pension office and assuming that German pensioners no longer pay for Healthcare when they retire, nor will you.
#3
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Re: Medical Insurance
Thanks for that Cynic. My situation is that I get a military pension (27 years) a small German pension (18 years) and of course my Old Age pension. I don't mind contributing but I object to being taken for a ride. Over the last couple of years they have increased from 100 to 200euros a month.
#4
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Location: North Yorkshire
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Re: Medical Insurance
Have you tried applying for the S1 form from the UK?
#5
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Re: Medical Insurance
Not yet but I have written to some EU Agency who are supposed to look into it.
#6
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Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 262
Re: Medical Insurance
Here's a link to the UK Government website that tells you about it (it includes a phone number you can contact); here's another link to the application form(s).
You don't need to pay any agency for this stuff.
You don't need to pay any agency for this stuff.
#7
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Re: Medical Insurance
If you simply require information about yourInternal Market rights in general, we would invite you to consult the YourEurope website which contains a wealth of detailed information about yourrights and how to exercise them in each EU country. More general information onthe EU are available online on the Europe Direct website or via the free phoneservice at 00800 6 7 8 9 10 11.
#8
Re: Medical Insurance
The good(ish) news is that assuming you have paid enough UK National Insurance to qualify; when you receive the UK state pension, you can apply for an S1 form from the UK pension office and assuming that German pensioners no longer pay for Healthcare when they retire, nor will you.
#9
Re: Medical Insurance
Rules around NHS coverage abroad after retirement are complex.
You won't pay income tax in both countries..but you may have to contribute to German health Insurance based on your total income.
Last edited by calman014; Jun 2nd 2016 at 1:53 pm.
#10
Re: Medical Insurance
See my old posting:
Hales:
A UK (ex) Military pension is not the same as a UK (state) Pension.
Based on your residency your rights and entitlements will be adjusted accordingly under EU rules.
To receive a German Pension of any kind you would have had to be on the German system for a minimum of 5 years. I therefore assume you have lived/worked in Germany for a while in that case.
Your military pension would not be taxed by UK if you live outside UK or are classed as non-resident in UK by HMRC.
If you have a dual entitlement to a UK State pension, the Military pension is reduced by a percentage to take account of that. (how nice of them).
Once again you would have to check if you are paying UK Tax on that or not. Being resident in Germany, that should not be the case.
If you do pay UK taxes for some reason, there are dual taxation agreements between UK and Germany so you'll only pay taxes in one place or the other.
The German tax office will look at your total income from UK and tax you accordingly. You would pay the regular Krankenkasse charges like now.
If you are stumped by all this, go visit a tax advisor (Steuerberater).
For 50 - 60 Euro's they can normally clear up these questions.
A UK (ex) Military pension is not the same as a UK (state) Pension.
Based on your residency your rights and entitlements will be adjusted accordingly under EU rules.
To receive a German Pension of any kind you would have had to be on the German system for a minimum of 5 years. I therefore assume you have lived/worked in Germany for a while in that case.
Your military pension would not be taxed by UK if you live outside UK or are classed as non-resident in UK by HMRC.
If you have a dual entitlement to a UK State pension, the Military pension is reduced by a percentage to take account of that. (how nice of them).
Once again you would have to check if you are paying UK Tax on that or not. Being resident in Germany, that should not be the case.
If you do pay UK taxes for some reason, there are dual taxation agreements between UK and Germany so you'll only pay taxes in one place or the other.
The German tax office will look at your total income from UK and tax you accordingly. You would pay the regular Krankenkasse charges like now.
If you are stumped by all this, go visit a tax advisor (Steuerberater).
For 50 - 60 Euro's they can normally clear up these questions.
#11
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Joined: Sep 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 262
Re: Medical Insurance
All UK forces reckonable service pensions are liable to UK income tax; they are taxed at source. If you live in a country that has a double-tax agreement with the UK, then you won't get hammered twice. If you live in the UK, you can offset your pension against tax-free income allowance.
If you're in receipt of a Forces Pension and don't pay UK tax, then please let me know how as there are are many ex-squaddies who would love to know how?
If you're in receipt of a Forces Pension and don't pay UK tax, then please let me know how as there are are many ex-squaddies who would love to know how?
Last edited by Cynic; Jun 2nd 2016 at 6:58 pm.
#12
Re: Medical Insurance
Everyones circumstances are different. As long as you only pay tax in one place I suppose that's sufficient. The pensions office are quite helpful with questions of that nature. It's important to check with them/HMRC in UK and a tax advisor in your country of residence and get copies of relevant docs.
#13
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Joined: Dec 2013
Location: Consolacion,Cebu
Posts: 1,931
Re: Medical Insurance
Right, here's the link to the DTT with Germany, I'll let you plod through it!
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...y-tax-treaties
In principle, all government (teachers, military, police etc) and state pensions are taxable in the UK unless SPECIFICALLY stated in the relevant DTT as being exempt.The US is one exception I know of.Here's the definitions INTM343040 - DT claims and applications - Types of income: Pensions and Annuities Your state and military pensions are added together, your tax free allowance deducted and any tax due is taken from your military pension as by law, HMRC cannot take tax from your State pension. With regards to your German pension , I have no idea how this is treated for tax and/or health purposes. As a British citizen you can apply for the S1 as others have indicated which may help.
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...y-tax-treaties
In principle, all government (teachers, military, police etc) and state pensions are taxable in the UK unless SPECIFICALLY stated in the relevant DTT as being exempt.The US is one exception I know of.Here's the definitions INTM343040 - DT claims and applications - Types of income: Pensions and Annuities Your state and military pensions are added together, your tax free allowance deducted and any tax due is taken from your military pension as by law, HMRC cannot take tax from your State pension. With regards to your German pension , I have no idea how this is treated for tax and/or health purposes. As a British citizen you can apply for the S1 as others have indicated which may help.
#14
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Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Germany
Posts: 95
Re: Medical Insurance
Hi! As far as I can make out the S1 does not cover many countries.
#15
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Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Germany
Posts: 95
Re: Medical Insurance
For Cynic, do the Squaddies know that they can claim some of their wives tax allowance if she has not used all her entitlement?