Beihilfe (the German civil servant health allowance) covers part of your medical costs once you hold a civil servant position, including a provisional one. In Thuringia, the rate depends on your status and on your family situation. This guide explains the rules for Thuringia, works through an example of out-of-pocket costs, and shows when the lump-sum option may be an alternative.
Short answer: Beihilfe in Thuringia is your employer’s share of medical costs. For civil servants on a provisional basis (Beamte auf Widerruf) without children, the standard rate is 50 percent. Private health insurance covers part of the rest, and you pay the remainder yourself. Since 2020, Thuringia also offers a lump-sum Beihilfe. Last updated: October 2026. The Thuringian Beihilfe regulation in its current version is decisive.
The most important points at a glance
- The standard rate for civil servants on a provisional basis without children is 50 percent of the eligible costs.
- Thuringia has offered the lump-sum Beihilfe since 1 January 2020. It pays a share of your health insurance contributions, not of individual invoices.
- According to the leaflet issued by the city of Erfurt, the choice for the lump-sum option is irrevocable.
- You calculate your out-of-pocket costs by adding up the remaining costs after Beihilfe and after your insurance has paid.
- The Erfurt leaflet does not mention trainees by name. Ask your employer before you apply.
Who receives Beihilfe in Thuringia?
Beihilfe is paid to civil servants of the state, to judges and to people receiving civil service pensions. During the traineeship, this usually means trainees who hold a provisional civil servant position (Beamtenverhältnis auf Widerruf). Your appointment letter shows which status applies to you. The traineeship can also be organised as a public law training relationship (öffentlich-rechtliches Ausbildungsverhältnis), for example in the legal clerkship. Different rules apply there, which are explained in our guide on the legal clerkship in Thuringia.
Eligible family members include spouses, registered partners and children. Whether a family member is included, and at which rate, depends on the regulation and on the details in your application.
For context on pay: according to the draft bill on the 2026 to 2028 pay adjustment in Thuringia (Annex 7), the trainee basic pay for pay grade A 13 is 1,803.92 euros, valid from 1 April 2026. The draft had not been promulgated at the time of writing, so this figure applies subject to its publication in the official gazette. Trainee teachers should also check the entry grade that applies to their school type.
What is the standard rate in Thuringia?
The standard rate determines which share of eligible costs your employer covers. For civil servants on a provisional basis without children, the rule is 50 percent. Different rates for family members are set out in the Thuringian Beihilfe regulation, which you should read in full.
| Group | Standard rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Civil servant on a provisional basis without children | 50 percent (standard rate) | Starting point for your calculation |
| Civil servant on a provisional basis with eligible family members | Different rate under the regulation | No figure is given in this guide, please check the regulation |
Example, assumed: An invoice of 400 euros is eligible and the rate is 50 percent. Beihilfe then covers 200 euros. The other 200 euros are the remaining costs. If your health insurance reimburses 80 percent of those, you keep 40 euros as your out-of-pocket cost.
What is the lump-sum Beihilfe in Thuringia?
Alongside the individual Beihilfe, Thuringia has offered a lump-sum Beihilfe since 1 January 2020. The legal basis is the Thuringian Act adapting provisions in the area of civil service law of 30 July 2019. Instead of submitting every invoice, you receive a monthly allowance towards your health insurance contributions, paid together with your salary.
According to the leaflet of the city of Erfurt (status June 2024), the allowance is generally 50 percent of the contributions you can prove, for you and for your eligible family members. If you are privately insured, it is at most 50 percent of the contribution for the basic tariff, and only for comparable benefits. Costs covered by long-term care insurance are not included. A spouse is only included if his or her income in the second calendar year before the application does not exceed 18,000 euros.
You apply in writing. The allowance starts at the earliest from the month in which the application is received, and retroactive applications are not possible. According to the leaflet, the decision is irrevocable, and you cannot switch back to the individual Beihilfe afterwards.
| Feature | Individual Beihilfe | Lump-sum Beihilfe |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Invoices for eligible costs | Proven health insurance contributions |
| Rate (standard) | 50 percent of the costs | 50 percent of the contributions; for private insurance at most 50 percent of the basic tariff |
| Payment | After you submit an invoice | Monthly, with your salary |
| Changing your choice | Not required | Irrevocable (according to the leaflet) |
Whether the lump sum pays off depends on how high your contributions are and which medical costs you realistically expect. Because the choice is irrevocable, calculate both options for your situation before you apply.
How do you calculate your out-of-pocket costs?
- Check whether the treatment is eligible. Not every item is covered, and optional services and some aids are often excluded.
- Calculate the Beihilfe share by multiplying the eligible costs by the rate. At the standard rate of 50 percent, that is half.
- Subtract the Beihilfe from the total. The result is the remaining costs.
- Check how much your health insurance pays towards the remaining costs and whether there are caps or annual limits.
- The sum of all remaining costs that nobody reimburses is your out-of-pocket cost. You can estimate it once a year and compare it with your budget.
Does private insurance on top of Beihilfe make sense?
Beihilfe only covers a part of your costs. A private health insurance policy that is compatible with Beihilfe covers part of what remains. This is most useful if you expect larger costs, for example for dental prosthetics, aids or treatment with a chief physician. It may be less suitable if you expect few remaining costs and only spend a short time in the traineeship.
How the comparison works in your case depends on your age, your health and the terms of each tariff. For a personal assessment, you can speak to Academycon (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Does the 50 percent rule apply to every civil servant on a provisional basis in Thuringia?
No. The 50 percent is the standard rate for civil servants on a provisional basis without children. Where eligible family members are included, different rates from the Thuringian Beihilfe regulation apply. Check your case against the regulation or ask the Beihilfe office responsible for you.
Can I still choose the lump-sum Beihilfe later?
According to the leaflet of the city of Erfurt, a choice applies only for the future and is irrevocable. The leaflet does not explicitly name trainees and clerks. Before you apply, ask your employer whether you can choose and from which point on.
Does Beihilfe also cover long-term care insurance?
No. According to the leaflet, costs for which long-term care insurance provides benefits are not included in the lump-sum Beihilfe. You therefore need to plan for long-term care insurance separately.
What applies during the legal clerkship?
The legal clerkship can be organised as a public law training relationship. In that case, Beihilfe and the maintenance allowance follow different rules. We do not give a figure for the maintenance allowance here, because it is not confirmed for Thuringia. The competent higher regional court (Oberlandesgericht) that supervises your training can provide information.
What to do next
- Check your appointment letter to see whether you hold a civil servant position on a provisional basis or a public law training relationship.
- Look up the standard rate for your group in the Thuringian Beihilfe regulation, or ask the Beihilfe office.
- Calculate your out-of-pocket costs for the current year using the steps in this guide.
- Compare the lump-sum and individual Beihilfe before you submit an irrevocable application.
- Clarify with your health insurance which remaining costs it covers before you decide.
Related articles
- Teacher training in Thuringia 2026/27
- Legal clerkship in Thuringia
- Beihilfe during the clerkship (in German)
- Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe
- Glossary: Beihilfe (in German)
Sources: Leaflet on the lump-sum Beihilfe, city of Erfurt (status June 2024); Draft bill on the 2026 to 2028 pay adjustment in Thuringia, Annex 7 (pay from 1 April 2026, not promulgated); Overview of lump-sum Beihilfe, Deutsche Beamtenversorgung (status October 2026, not an official source).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
