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HEALTH

In which parts of Germany do people live the longest?

Life expectancy in Germany is dropping, but is still above EU average. In which areas of Germany do people live longest and shortest lives in and what are the differences between east and west?

In which parts of Germany do people live the longest?
Where in Germany do people live the longest? Illustration photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP

When you are looking at where to live in Germany, you might want to consider where people live longer lives. Figures from the Federal Institute for Population Research show an average life expectancy of 82.9 years for women and 78.2 years for men.

This is slightly above the EU average but pales in comparison to countries like Switzerland or Spain. 

In fact, out of the 16 countries in Western Europe, Germany ranks 15th for men and 14th among women. 

Germany’s health minister Karl Lauterbach has called the negative trend in Germany “unacceptable.” He told the Welt broadsheet “we are only good at treatment, but not at all good at prevention – especially for cardiovascular diseases. They are among the most common causes of death in Germany.”

As it so often is, health is wealth.

New figures from Eurostat reveal the areas of Germany where people live longest tend to be in the prosperous south-western state of Badem-Württemburg, with women in the university town of Tübingen taking the top spot and living up to 84.7 years, and the men up to 80.2.

Image: Eurostat

Read more: Everything you need to know about making a doctor’s appointment in Germany 

The former inner-German border between East and West Germany still shows up on the life expectancy maps, particularly for men. East Germany was notably poorer than the West, and many struggled with long term unemployment after the Berlin Wall came down.

The region of Germany with the lowest life expectancy for both men and women is Sachsen-Anhalt, with men living to 75.4 years and women to 82.1.

Almost all of the former east Germany has a life expectancy of between 73 and 78.

Image: Eurostat

Despite the smoke-filled bars and hard partying lifestyle, Berlin is actually an exception to this trend, with men and women there living longer than in any other eastern region of Germany (men to 78.3 and women to 83.8).

Only three regions in the former west are in the same category as the east: just over the Bavarian border in Oberfranken, Arnsberg in North Rhine Westphalia, and Saarland, which has the lowest life expectancy in the former west.

The variations in life expectancy by region are relatively minor, with just 2.6 years difference between the longest and shortest living regions for women, though that rises to 6.8 years for men.

As a comparison, the average lifespan in the EU in the most recent figures is 80.1 years, having dropped from 81.3 over the previous two years.

Switzerland and Liechtenstein have the longest life expectancy in the EU.

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For members

HEALTH

Does my German health insurance cover me if I get sick abroad?

If you’ll spend some time abroad this year, it may be worth checking if your German health insurance will cover you while travelling. Many German health insurance policies offer some coverage abroad, but not everywhere.

Does my German health insurance cover me if I get sick abroad?

If you’re planning to travel this summer, you may want to review your German health insurance policy before you leave. It’s wise to know what your insurance will and will not cover in case you or a family member get sick abroad.

As a reminder, health insurance is mandatory for all residents in Germany. So all legal residents here undoubtedly have at least the basic required coverage, provided by one of Germany’s public health insurance providers or a private health insurance plan that meets the minimum coverage requirements.

German insurance does cover medical emergencies in Europe

Statutory health insurance holders in Germany automatically receive a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). In many cases your EHIC is the same as your regular health insurance card (Gesundheitskarte).

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED – Can you switch from private to public health insurance in Germany?

For those with an EHIC, necessary health care is covered in European countries. For example, if you get sick while travelling Europe, or have an accident or need urgent surgery, your German insurance will pay for the immediate emergency treatment you require.

Some health insurance plans may also extend their coverage to a few other countries beyond the EU, such as Switzerland, Iceland or French territories like French Guiana or Guadeloupe, just to name a few examples. 

But generally basic coverage does not extend to Africa, the Americas, Australia or Asia.

A full list of countries where you can use your EHIC is found here.

health insurance cards

Many health insurance cards in Germany double as a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), meaning that they can be used across Europe. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jens Kalaene

Note that this care does not necessarily extend to treatments that are not urgent. Once your condition is stabilised and it is safe for you to travel, you may be transferred back to Germany to finish any further treatments at home.

Generally doctors in other European countries should be able to bill EHIC providers directly, but if not, you’ll want to keep your bill and submit an invoice to your health insurance provider for a reimbursement. In this case, you should collect and keep all the documents you receive related to your care, like prescriptions and receipts.

Generally additional health insurance would be required for long-distance trips. If you are taking a business trip abroad, your employer is responsible for reimbursing health care costs.

Note that health costs can be considerably more expensive in other countries

A standard health insurance plan in Germany won’t cover medical expenses incurred in most countries outside of Europe, so you may want to purchase travel health insurance for trips beyond the continent.

Keep in mind that in some countries, like the United States, the cost of medical care tends to be significantly higher than it would be in Germany. So purchasing additional care insurance may be worth considering when travelling there.

Most major insurers in Germany, like Allianz and AXA, offer supplemental global health coverage that would pay for most of the costs which are un-refunded by your main insurance while travelling.

READ ALSO: Could it soon get harder to get private health insurance in Germany?

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