Applying for the pensioners' health insurance subsidy (form R0820)
Pensioners who are voluntarily insured in German statutory health insurance, or with a private health insurer under German supervision, receive with their pension a subsidy towards their health insurance costs (§ 106(1) sentence 1 SGB VI) — applied for with form R0820 at the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. It equals half of the amount obtained by applying the general statutory contribution rate plus an additional contribution rate to the amount of pension paid (Zahlbetrag): the fund's own additional rate for the voluntarily insured (subsection 2), the AVERAGE additional rate for the privately insured (subsection 3). Privately insured pensioners receive at most half of what they actually pay. The subsidy is a CASH BENEFIT for those NOT compulsorily insured in the pensioners' health insurance (KVdR): anyone who is at the same time compulsorily insured does not get it (subsection 1 sentence 2).
Up to date for 2026 — verified on September 23, 2026Official formGuide: about 20 min
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Deadlines
- Application: best filed with the pension application
- According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung the contribution subsidy can be applied for when applying for the pension and is then paid together with the pension
- Start: as for the pension
- § 108(1) SGB VI — the rules on start, change and end of pensions apply correspondingly to ongoing supplementary benefits; for a pension from one's own insurance, § 99(1) SGB VI sets the start at the month at whose beginning the conditions are met if the application is made by the end of the third calendar month thereafter — otherwise only from the month of application
- Change in the additional contribution rate: from the second following month
- § 106(2) sentence 2 SGB VI with § 247 sentence 3 SGB V — for the voluntarily statutorily insured, a change in the fund's additional rate takes effect from the first day of the second calendar month after the change
Documents to prepare
- Pension insurance number (for a survivor's pension, that of the deceased)
- Personal details and address; if represented, power of attorney or court order
- Any other statutory pension: pension insurer, insurance number, since when received or when applied for
- Type of health insurance: voluntary statutory, private with a German or foreign insurer
- If privately insured: your insurer's details of your premiums
- For co-insured family members: name, date of birth, relationship and total monthly income
- Any compulsory insurance in a statutory health insurance scheme: fund and reason
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Who this applies to
- Pensioners voluntarily insured in statutory health insurance (§ 106(1) sentence 1 SGB VI) — typically those who do not meet the qualifying period for the pensioners' health insurance (KVdR)
- Pensioners insured with a health insurer subject to German supervision (§ 106(1) sentence 1 SGB VI); according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, supervision by a state applying European law also suffices, and a single tariff for outpatient, inpatient or dental treatment, or for medicines and aids, is enough
- Anyone voluntarily insured in the statutory scheme AND privately insured receives only the subsidy for the statutory insurance (§ 106(4) SGB VI)
- NOT anyone at the same time compulsorily insured in German or foreign statutory health insurance (§ 106(1) sentence 2 SGB VI) — so not those compulsorily insured in the KVdR: there the pension insurer bears half of the contributions directly (§ 249a sentence 1 SGB V)
- NOT for long-term care insurance: according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung it pays no subsidy towards care contributions
Worked example
Klaus Berger, a retired self-employed architect with private cover
Klaus was privately insured for 30 years and does not meet the qualifying period for the KVdR. In May 2027 he applies for his old-age pension and encloses R0820 straight away. His pension pays out 1,300 euros a month, and his private health insurance costs him 640 euros a month. His insurer is under German supervision, so he is entitled (§ 106(1) sentence 1 SGB VI). The subsidy is worked out under subsection 3: half of the amount obtained by applying the general contribution rate plus the average additional rate to the 1,300 euros — the general rate is given in the health insurance contribution calculator, and the Federal Ministry of Health publishes the average additional rate every year by 1 November (§ 242a(2) SGB V). The cap is half of his actual costs, here 320 euros (subsection 3 sentence 2). He pays his long-term care insurance alone. A year later he takes up employment and becomes compulsorily insured in the statutory scheme: for that period the subsidy lapses (subsection 1 sentence 2). The amounts are illustrative.
How to fill it in, step by step
- Establish how you are health-insured as a pensioner: compulsorily in the KVdR (then no subsidy), voluntarily in the statutory scheme, or privately (§ 106(1) SGB VI).
- Complete form R0820 — according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung also online via eAntrag, where only your pension insurance number is needed to start.
- State whether you receive or have applied for another statutory pension: with several pensions a capped subsidy is paid pro rata or as one sum with one pension (§ 106(3) sentences 3 and 4 SGB VI).
- State your health insurance. If privately insured, have your insurer's details of your premiums ready — the cap depends on your actual costs (subsection 3 sentence 2).
- State whether, for the period you are claiming for, you are or were compulsorily insured in German or foreign statutory health insurance — this rules the subsidy out (subsection 1 sentence 2).
- File the application with your pension application if you can; date and sign it by hand.
Good to know
- The KVdR and the subsidy are mutually exclusive: the KVdR is compulsory insurance in which the pension insurer bears half of the contributions (§ 249a sentence 1 SGB V); the subsidy compensates those who stay voluntarily or privately insured.
- For the voluntarily statutorily insured, according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung the subsidy does not follow the contribution actually paid but the pension; a cap based on actual costs exists only in subsection 3, for the privately insured.
- What counts is the amount of pension PAID (§ 106(2) and (3) SGB VI); with several statutory pensions, according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung the subsidy is worked out from their total.
- For the subsidy towards voluntary statutory insurance: if the fund establishes compulsory membership retroactively, the award is cancelled from the start of that membership (§ 108(2) sentence 1 SGB VI) — objection and court action against this have no suspensive effect (sentence 4).
- The general statutory contribution rate is given in the health insurance contribution calculator; the average additional rate is published every year by the Federal Ministry of Health (§ 242a(2) SGB V).
- The pension insurer states that it pays no subsidy towards long-term care insurance.
Common mistakes
- Not applying because you assume the subsidy is automatic. According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung it must be applied for; only the sharing of contributions for the compulsorily insured is automatic.
- Waiting to apply. The start follows the rules on the start of pensions correspondingly (§ 108(1) SGB VI) — for a pension from one's own insurance, an application made after the third calendar month takes effect only from the month of application (§ 99(1) sentence 2).
- Not disclosing compulsory insurance, for example from new employment. It rules the subsidy out (§ 106(1) sentence 2 SGB VI); for the subsidy towards voluntary statutory insurance, the award is cancelled from the start of any retroactively established compulsory membership (§ 108(2) sentence 1).
- Claiming a subsidy for private insurance while also voluntarily insured in the statutory scheme. Only the subsection 2 subsidy is then paid (§ 106(4) SGB VI).
- Expecting a subsidy towards care contributions. According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung there is none.
Frequently asked questions
Who is entitled to the subsidy?
Pensioners voluntarily insured in statutory health insurance or with a health insurer under German supervision — not anyone at the same time compulsorily insured in German or foreign statutory health insurance (§ 106(1) SGB VI).
How much is it?
Half of the amount obtained by applying the general contribution rate plus the additional rate to the amount of pension paid — the fund's own additional rate for the voluntarily statutorily insured (§ 106(2)), the average rate for the privately insured (subsection 3). Privately insured pensioners receive at most half of their actual costs.
How does it differ from the KVdR?
The pensioners' health insurance (KVdR) is compulsory insurance decided by the health insurance fund (notification R0810); the pension insurer bears half of the contributions there (§ 249a SGB V). The subsidy is a cash benefit for those who are NOT compulsorily insured.
From when is it paid?
The rules on the start of pensions apply correspondingly (§ 108(1) SGB VI). According to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung it is best applied for with the pension application; it is paid out with the pension.
Is there a subsidy for long-term care insurance?
No — according to the Deutsche Rentenversicherung it pays no subsidy towards care contributions.
Go further
Compute the related amounts
Official sources
- § 106 SGB VI — Subsidy towards health insurance (Gesetze im Internet) — September 23, 2026
- § 108 SGB VI — Start, change and end of supplementary benefits — September 23, 2026
- § 99 SGB VI — Start of the pension — September 23, 2026
- § 247 SGB V — Contribution rate on pensions — September 23, 2026
- § 242a SGB V — Average additional contribution rate — September 23, 2026
- § 249a SGB V — Sharing contributions of compulsorily insured pensioners — September 23, 2026
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Health and long-term care insurance of pensioners — September 23, 2026
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung — Form R0820, application for the health insurance subsidy under § 106 SGB VI — September 23, 2026
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