Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a good health insurance company. I've been quoted about 400€ a month to cover me, my partner and our baby. It seems expensive... Any recommendations/advice?

Hi Jmima,
You may have figured this out already, but I just wanted to let you know that the rate you quote seems actually ok, esp for a whole family. If it is private insurance even better. If you have to take public insurance (ie if your salary is below about 48k) then the amount paid in total is around 12% of your salary. You pay 1/2, the employer pays 1/2. That is the same for a private insurance. However, employers only need to contribute about up to 350Euros, so if the coverage is more than around 700Euro total a month, you will be required to pay more. Some empoyers will cover a full 50%, others stick to the ruling.

Private companies offer a variety of packages, and you can usually choose between basic, intermediate and extensive or premium coverage. The basic is a bit better than major medical (ie you get hit by a bus and need to go to the hospital), and the premius covers everything and lets you go to any doctor, etc. I personally feel most intermediates are ok for the average healthy person who goes in for preventative care and the occasional illness. Also note that you will need to provide a health history, and some private insurers do reject clients. They will also make you pay extra for certain conditions, even glasses, as a risk premium. Their rates go up nearly every year, so you will want to check what the company's history of rate hikes is. DKV is good and caters to expats, but is one of the more expensive ones. I have gotten good quotes from Hanse Merkur, Signal Iduna, Deutscher Ring.

Let us know how you come out.