If you are a civil servant or a trainee civil servant (Beamter auf Widerruf) in Rhineland-Palatinate, your employer does not pay you a statutory health insurance benefit when you are ill. Instead you receive Beihilfe (state aid), which is a partial reimbursement of your costs. The share the employer covers is set by a rate, the Bemessungssatz. This guide explains how that rate works, what your remaining share means, and when private health insurance (PKV) fits alongside Beihilfe.
In short: In Rhineland-Palatinate, the state ordinance on Beihilfe (Beihilfenverordnung) determines which share of medical costs your employer covers. Sections 57 and 58 set the rates, which depend on family status and the number of children. The rest is usually insured privately. As a rule, civil servants on probation without children receive 50 percent (secondary source, status October 2026). The Landesamt für Finanzen (state finance office) processes claims. Last updated: October 2026, based on the version valid from 1 January 2025.
The essentials in brief
- Beihilfe in Rhineland-Palatinate follows the Beihilfenverordnung Rheinland-Palatinate. The rates are in sections 57 and 58 (version of the reading copy: 1 January 2025).
- The rate shows which share of eligible costs is covered. It depends on your family status and the number of children.
- The part that is not covered, your remaining share (Eigenanteil), is usually insured through a supplementary PKV tariff for Beihilfe.
- The Landesamt für Finanzen (state finance office) processes Beihilfe claims and provides the forms.
- Whether PKV fits depends on your health, age, family plans and career path. Statutory insurance can be the better choice in some situations.
How is the Beihilfe rate set in Rhineland-Palatinate?
The Beihilfenverordnung Rheinland-Palatinate distinguishes between groups of entitled persons. Active civil servants, civil servants on probation and family members each have their own rates, set out in sections 57 and 58. The rate does not apply to all costs. It applies only to eligible expenses, meaning the items the ordinance recognises as reimbursable.
You can find the current percentages directly in the ordinance. The 50 percent is a secondary source (covago.de). This guide otherwise avoids figures that are not backed by the official text, because ordinances change. Also check the date of any reading copy, since it can lag behind the official version.
How high is your share under Beihilfe in Rhineland-Palatinate?
Your share (Eigenanteil) is the part of the costs that neither Beihilfe nor an insurance policy covers. It results from three figures: the eligible costs, the rate and the benefits of your insurance tariff. The table shows how to trace the amount for a single bill.
| Step | What you check | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are the items on the bill eligible? The basis is the fee schedules GOÄ or GOZ. | Beihilfenverordnung Rheinland-Palatinate |
| 2 | Which rate applies to your family status and children? | Sections 57 and 58 |
| 3 | How much Beihilfe is paid, and what remains open? | Beihilfe notice from the Landesamt für Finanzen |
| 4 | Does your PKV or supplementary tariff cover the rest fully, partly or not at all? | Policy conditions of your tariff |
Worked example. Assumption: an eligible bill of 1,000 euros and a rate of 50 percent. The figure is only an illustration. In this case Beihilfe pays 500 euros, and the other 500 euros remain your share unless a tariff covers them. A higher rate for your family reduces the remainder accordingly.
When does PKV fit alongside Beihilfe, and when does it not?
PKV supplements Beihilfe; it does not replace it. It is particularly interesting if you want to cover your share through a tariff. Whether that pays off depends on your situation. Both sides matter:
- PKV tends to fit if you are healthy, join early and want a supplementary tariff that covers your share well.
- PKV can be a poor fit if pre-existing conditions lead to surcharges or exclusions, or if you cannot carry the contribution increases in older age.
- Statutory insurance can be the better choice in certain situations. The rules depend strongly on your status and should be clarified in advance.
A general overview does not replace an individual check. If you want your case calculated, get personal advice before you decide: how Academycon works with clients (in German).
What role does Beihilfe play for trainees during their training?
Civil servants on probation during their training usually qualify for Beihilfe. Their pay is considerably lower than that of a later civil servant on probation, so many ask whether a full PKV is affordable or whether a trainee tariff fits. The answer depends on the rate, which the ordinance may regulate separately for trainees. Read the section on trainees in the current text before deciding. More on Beihilfe during training is available in the German guide on Beihilfe in the clerkship (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Who processes Beihilfe claims in Rhineland-Palatinate?
In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Landesamt für Finanzen (state finance office) processes Beihilfe claims. The forms are available there too. Send the receipts with your claim so that processing runs smoothly. A query to the Beihilfe office often clears up open points faster than online research.
Do I receive Beihilfe automatically?
No. Beihilfe is granted on application, with receipts in the form the procedure requires. Missed deadlines or incomplete claims can cost money. Keep a simple filing system and submit bills promptly.
Can I combine Beihilfe with statutory health insurance?
Usually not to the same extent. If you stay in statutory insurance, you normally receive a contribution subsidy from your employer instead of Beihilfe. The exact rule depends on your career path and status. Get it confirmed in writing before you choose.
What happens if I move to another federal state?
Beihilfe follows your employer, not your place of residence. If you move to or from Rhineland-Palatinate, check which Beihilfe rules then apply. Rates differ between states, so do not transfer figures from one to another.
What to do next
- Read sections 57 and 58 of the current Beihilfenverordnung Rheinland-Palatinate and note your rate.
- Confirm in writing whether you are entitled to Beihilfe as a civil servant on probation and how your status is recorded.
- Compare your share using real bills from your own situation, not percentages alone.
- Have the PKV or statutory option explained to you personally before you sign any contract.
Related reading
- Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe
- Referendariat: Anwärterbezüge nach Bundesland (in German)
- Beihilfe im Referendariat: Anspruch, Satz und Antrag (in German)
- Glossar: Beihilfe (in German)
Sources: Beihilfenverordnung Rheinland-Palatinate, reading copy as amended by the 7th amending ordinance (last updated 1 January 2025), Ministry of Finance Rhineland-Palatinate; Landesamt für Finanzen Rheinland-Palatinate, Beihilfe (website, status as of October 2026); covago.de: Beihilfe for trainees by state (secondary source, status October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
