Health insurance during caregiving in Germany: what you need to know

The question of health insurance is most frequently addressed by caregivers before their first departure. As a self-employed person, you remain insured in Slovakia during your work stay in Germany or the Netherlands. Your insurance is not transferred elsewhere, and you continue to pay contributions to your Slovak insurance company as usual.

Therefore, before leaving, obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It is free, issued by your insurance company online, by phone, or at a branch, and you usually receive it within a few days. Abroad, it entitles you to necessary medical care under the same conditions as local insured persons.

If you need a doctor in Germany or the Netherlands, find the nearest general practitioner (Hausarzt) or, in urgent cases, a hospital, and present your EHIC directly during your visit. The doctor will then settle the costs with your Slovak insurance company. For routine treatments, you typically will not have any additional costs, or only a minimal local fee.

Final tip: check the validity of your card before each departure, not just for the first trip. If you take regular medication, bring enough supply for the entire stay. A few extra minutes before your journey will save you worries when you least need them.

Are you interested in caregiving abroad?

At DYMA, we will guide you through the entire process step by step. Check out current offers at dyma.sk.