If you want to introduce health benefits as an employer or add to existing benefits, planning starts with your team. Company health insurance adds agreed benefits to existing health cover. Funding, eligibility and how to use the cover should be clear from the outset, so employees know what they can actually use in everyday life.
Relevant products at a glance
These types of product may suit your needs. The specific benefits, limitations and costs depend on the plan you choose and your circumstances.
DKV Arbeitgeberfinanzierte betriebliche Krankenversicherung
The employer funds agreed supplementary health benefits for eligible people.
Explore this product02DKV Arbeitnehmerfinanzierte betriebliche Krankenversicherung
Through a group agreement, the company gives employees access to supplementary health insurance that they fund themselves.
Explore this productDefine funding and who can take part
With employer-funded company health insurance, the business pays the premiums for the agreed group of people. Under an employee-funded model, employees gain access through a group agreement and pay for their own cover. DKV describes both approaches. Minimum group sizes, how groups are defined and eligibility for insurance are assessed for the specific model; not every offer suits every workforce.
A benefit budget or individual modules?
A budget model provides an agreed allowance for specified benefits; modules focus on selected areas. Depending on the plan, these may include dental, outpatient or hospital benefits. The services available, individual reimbursement limits and submission rules matter. A health benefit budget is not an additional salary payment that can be freely withdrawn.
Premiums, terms and breaks in cover
The chosen model, benefit level and makeup of the insured group affect pricing. Statements about medical underwriting, pre-existing conditions and waiting periods apply only under the relevant terms. Periods without pay and exceptions also need to be checked for the particular plan. Different premiums and rules may apply when continuing cover after leaving the company. Tax treatment is discussed with payroll or tax advisers.
Make the cover straightforward to use
Employees need a short explanation: what is insured, which supporting documents are needed and where should invoices go? Medical documents should go directly through the designated insurer channels. The business defines enrolment, cancellation, staff changes and internal contacts. This describes an insurance benefit; it does not promise a particular improvement in health, absence rates or employee retention.
How to prepare for an initial assessment
An anonymised workforce overview, existing benefits and a realistic premium budget are useful. Note which benefits matter most to the team and who handles staff changes. Whether and how existing private supplementary insurance should be taken into account is then assessed individually. Individual employees’ health information is not needed for general initial information.
What we'll work through together
- Start with an anonymised overview of the workforce and eligibility
- Set the employer budget and desired benefits
- Clarify reimbursement, limits and periods without pay
- Organise invoice submissions and staff changes
Does company health insurance continue when someone leaves the business?
That depends on the group agreement and plan. DKV describes options for continuing its cover as individual insurance. Employees may then need to pay their own premiums, and different terms may apply. Deadlines and requirements should be clarified before they leave. The existing benefit level should not be assumed to be guaranteed indefinitely.
Your contact for these topics: Joel Montoya Barea. The agreed terms and product documents determine what applies to a policy.
Sources and further information
External sources, mainly in German. The relevant policy terms and your individual circumstances determine what applies to you.