The eligibility rate (Bemessungssatz) sets the share of your eligible medical costs that your employer covers through the state health allowance (Beihilfe). During your trainee period (Referendariat) or your preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst), this term applies to you directly, because the remaining share has to be covered by private health insurance or paid out of your own pocket.
Short answer: The eligibility rate is the percentage of your eligible costs that the Beihilfe covers. The standard rate for civil servants without children is 50 percent, but the applicable state law is what counts. In Hesse, the rate for trainees is 70 percent for outpatient care and 85 percent for inpatient care, according to the information sheet from the Regierungspräsidium Kassel (Stand: May 2026).
Key points at a glance
- The eligibility rate is the share of your eligible costs that the Beihilfe covers.
- The standard rule is 50 percent for civil servants without children. The states deviate from this, though.
- You have to cover the rest through private health insurance or pay it yourself.
- In Hesse, trainees receive 70 percent for outpatient care and 85 percent for inpatient care.
- The rules that apply to you are always set out in your employer’s Beihilfe regulation and in the decision issued by the Beihilfe office.
What exactly does the eligibility rate mean?
The Beihilfe is not an insurance. Your employer only pays part of the costs, and only for services that count as eligible costs (beihilfefähige Kosten). The eligibility rate states the percentage of those costs that is reimbursed. You can find the whole process explained in our guide Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims.
Which rate applies to you?
The Beihilfe regulation of your state determines whether the standard rate or a different rate applies to you as a trainee or as a probationary civil servant (Beamter auf Widerruf). At federal level, the eligibility rate is set in the Federal Beihilfe Regulation (Bundesbeihilfeverordnung, BBhV), in particular in §§ 46 and 47 BBhV. The table shows what each rate means for a bill of 1,000 euros.
Assumption: bill of 1,000 euros, fully eligible.
| Eligibility rate | Beihilfe pays | Remainder for you or your insurance |
|---|---|---|
| 50 percent (standard rate without children) | 500 euros | 500 euros |
| 70 percent (Hesse, outpatient) | 700 euros | 300 euros |
| 85 percent (Hesse, inpatient) | 850 euros | 150 euros |
How do you calculate your share?
The calculation is simple: the eligible amount multiplied by the eligibility rate gives you the Beihilfe payment. The rest stays with you or your insurance. What matters is the eligible amount, not the total on your bill. Not every item is fully recognized, and maximum amounts or exclusions reduce the amount further.
Assumption: outpatient bill of 400 euros in Hesse, fully eligible, rate of 70 percent. The Beihilfe then pays 280 euros, and 120 euros remain open.
Why do the rates differ between the states?
Beihilfe is a matter for the federal government and for the states. Each has its own Beihilfe regulation, which sets the eligibility rates, family supplements and exceptions. That is why you should not simply take a figure from a guide. We explain state-specific rules on separate pages, for example for Beihilfe in Hesse and Beihilfe in North Rhine-Westphalia.
What changes with children or a change of status?
Your family situation and the number of children can change the rate. In some constellations it is higher, in others the standard rate still applies. When you move from trainee to civil servant on probation (Beamter auf Probe), or when your family situation changes, the rate should be checked again. Report any changes to the Beihilfe office so that your reimbursements are correct. The applicable figure is set out in the state regulation, not in this glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Does the eligibility rate apply to all costs automatically?
No. The Beihilfe only settles eligible costs. Services outside the catalogue or above maximum amounts are not reimbursed, or only partly. Your Beihilfe notice shows which amounts were recognized. For questions about individual items, the Beihilfe office is the right contact.
Can I choose my eligibility rate?
No. The rate follows from state or federal law and from your status. A choice only exists where state law itself offers an alternative, such as the lump-sum allowance (pauschale Beihilfe). Whether this applies to you is for your state’s office to clarify.
Do I have to insure the remaining share privately?
Many probationary civil servants cover the share that the Beihilfe does not pay through private health insurance. Whether this is mandatory, and to what extent, is set by state law. How this works in everyday life is explained in Health Insurance for Referendare in Germany. Academycon also offers personal advice, see how we work (in German).
Where do I find the rate for my state?
In your state’s Beihilfe regulation, on your employer’s website, or at the responsible Beihilfe office. A figure from a guide does not replace this check, because regulations get amended.
How to proceed now
- Clarify your status: trainee, probationary civil servant or civil servant on probation.
- Look up the eligibility rate for your status and family situation in your state’s Beihilfe regulation.
- Calculate a typical bill and work out the remaining amount you need to insure.
- Compare coverage for the remaining amount only with figures you have checked yourself, and get advice if you need it.
Related reading
- Glossary: Beihilfe, with the basic terms (in German)
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Beihilfe in Hesse: eligibility rates, remaining share and suitable PKV for civil servants
- Health Insurance for Referendare in Germany
- Trainee Teacher Salary in Germany by State
Sources: Information sheet on the Hessian Beihilfe Regulation, Regierungspräsidium Kassel (Stand: May 2026) · Federal Beihilfe Regulation (BBhV), gesetze-im-internet.de (accessed October 2026)
Stand: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
