Beihilfe (state health aid) in Lower Saxony covers a fixed share of eligible medical costs for civil servants, and the employer pays it. The rates depend on your group and are set in state law. This guide presents the rates from the information sheet of the NLBV, works through examples with assumptions, and explains which insurance fits alongside it.
Short answer: In Lower Saxony, Beihilfe covers 50 percent of eligible costs for active civil servants. Higher rates for families and children apply, but we could not confirm them with a current status. A private tariff usually covers the rest. Trainees face limits on dental benefits. Source status: August 2023 information sheet. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points
- Active civil servants receive 50 percent. Higher rates for families are not confirmed with a current status.
- Pensioners and eligible spouses: no current figure is named.
- Eligible children and orphans: no current figure is named.
- Trainees face limits on dentures, inlays, crowns and implant services.
- The rest is covered by a tariff. If you have no tariff, you pay your share yourself.
The assessment rates in Lower Saxony at a glance
The information sheet of the Lower Saxony pay and pension office (NLBV) refers to section 80 subsection 5 of the Lower Saxony civil servants act and to section 43 of the Lower Saxony Beihilfe regulation (NBhVO). These are the rates that result.
| Group | Rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Active civil servants | 50 percent | Basic rate |
| Civil servants with children | no current figure | With two or more eligible children counted in the family allowance, for one eligible person only |
| Pensioners and eligible spouses | no current figure | Also applies to registered partners |
| Eligible children and orphans | no current figure | Applies to children and orphans |
| Trainees during training | no separate rate named | Dental benefits are restricted |
These rates apply in Lower Saxony. Check the Beihilfe rules of other states separately. A comparison is in our guide to Beihilfe in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Worked examples with assumptions
Assumption 1: a bill of 400 euros at a rate of 50 percent. Beihilfe refunds 200 euros. The remaining 200 euros must be covered by your tariff or by you.
The examples show the logic, not your personal entitlement. For your case, what matters is which services are eligible and which rate applies to your group.
Which insurance fits Beihilfe?
Beihilfe does not replace health insurance, it complements it. Many beihilfe-eligible people choose a tariff that covers the remaining share. This fits especially well if you are in good health and can plan long-term premiums. It fits less well if you need admission without a health check or expect pre-existing conditions to matter. Then it is worth looking at other routes. Our guide to health insurance during the traineeship covers the details.
In practice the rate works like this: the higher it is, the less you carry yourself or have to cover through a tariff. What counts most, however, is which services the regulation treats as eligible. Not every medical service is refunded, so check the list before you plan larger treatment.
Dental care during the traineeship
For civil servants on probation in the training phase, Lower Saxony restricts dentures, crowns, inlays, functional analysis services and implant services. An exception applies if the treatment results from an accident during the training. Plan dental work with a reserve and ask for an estimate of your share in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs are eligible?
Not every service is refundable. The regulation decides whether a treatment or aid is refunded. Ask the Beihilfe office before larger treatments and keep the answer in writing.
Do I have to apply for Beihilfe?
Yes. Beihilfe is granted on application. Submit bills with the required receipts, otherwise the refund is delayed. Keep a list of your bills so nothing gets lost.
Who decides whether a child is eligible?
Whether a child is eligible is checked by the Beihilfe office in each case.
What is the rate for trainees?
The information sheet does not name a separate percentage for trainees. Ask the Beihilfe office which rule applies to you and have it confirmed in writing.
Where do I find the current regulation?
The basis is the Lower Saxony Beihilfe regulation in force. This guide uses the figures from the information sheet, which carries the status August 2023. Check before major decisions whether anything has changed since then.
What to do now
- Ask for your assessment rate for your group in writing.
- Submit bills completely and promptly.
- Compare tariffs by your share of costs and by benefits, not only by premium.
- Plan dental treatment with a reserve.
- For questions about the overall picture, personal advice is available from academycon: how we work.
Related reading
- Civil Servant Health Aid: Rates and How It Works
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe
- Teacher training in Lower Saxony
- Legal traineeship in Lower Saxony
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
