Beihilfe (the state health allowance that employers pay to civil servants) covers part of your medical costs in Hamburg before a private health insurance pays its share. The rate and the rules come from the Hamburg Beihilfe Regulation (HmbBeihVO). This guide explains the base rate, the out-of-pocket rules since 2025 and what you should clarify before you apply.
Short answer: Active civil servants in Hamburg receive a base rate of 50 percent of eligible costs, and family members raise the rate under the regulation. Since 1 January 2025 the former minimum of 200 euros for claimed expenses no longer applies. Eyeglasses are covered with a flat rate of 134 euros per lens. Last updated: October 2026, based on the HmbBeihVO.
The Key Points at a Glance
- Beihilfe supplements health insurance, it does not replace it. You need to cover the rest yourself.
- For active civil servants the base rate is 50 percent. Family allowances depend on the HmbBeihVO.
- Since 1 January 2025 there is no minimum of 200 euros for claimed expenses any more (section 4 para. 4 HmbBeihVO).
- Eyeglasses are covered with a flat rate of 134 euros per lens (section 12 para. 3 HmbBeihVO).
- For trainee teachers and legal trainees the regulation decides on eligibility and rate. The Personalamt Hamburg (Hamburg HR office) gives binding answers.
What Is the Rate in Hamburg?
The rate determines which share of your eligible costs is reimbursed. You pay the rest yourself or through a supplementary plan. The base rate for active civil servants is 50 percent. Family surcharges and special cases are set out in the HmbBeihVO, which you can read in the Hamburg state law database.
| Group | Rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Active civil servants | 50 percent as base rate | Family surcharges under HmbBeihVO |
| Trainee teachers and legal trainees | 50 percent as a rule (status October 2026) | Check eligibility and rate with the Personalamt before you sign a plan |
Which Out-of-Pocket Costs Apply in Hamburg?
The changes effective 1 January 2025 align Beihilfe with statutory health insurance. These rules matter most in practice:
| Benefit | Rule in Hamburg | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Claimed expenses | No minimum of 200 euros any more | section 4 para. 4 |
| Eyeglasses | Flat rate of 134 euros per lens | section 12 para. 3 |
| Preventive measures | Maximum 80 euros per measure, two per calendar year | section 24 para. 3 |
Values as of 1 January 2025 (letter from the Personalamt Hamburg dated 27 December 2024).
Assumption: you attend three preventive courses in the same calendar year. Beihilfe covers only two of them, so at most 2 x 80 = 160 euros. You pay for the third course yourself.
How Do You Work Out a Beihilfe Reimbursement?
The following steps show the logic. The figures are an assumption, your actual bill can look different.
- Find the eligible amount of your bill, for example 180 euros of a 200 euro invoice.
- Apply your rate. At 50 percent that is 180 x 0.5 = 90 euros of Beihilfe.
- Subtract the reimbursement from the bill: 200 minus 90 = 110 euros. You cover this remainder through your insurance or yourself.
Whether a supplement pays off depends on how often the remainder occurs and how much you can carry yourself. For a personal assessment, see the advisory process at Academycon, how we work. We do not recommend individual insurers here.
How you are insured during training depends on your status. The basics are in our guide Beihilfe im Referendariat (in German). For the Hamburg training itself, see Lehramtsreferendariat in Hamburg and Rechtsreferendariat in Hamburg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to file a claim every time?
Beihilfe is paid on application. The deadlines and documents are set in the HmbBeihVO and in the application form of the Personalamt. Since 2025 the 200 euro minimum no longer applies, but check the current application page before you collect receipts.
Does the 50 percent rate also apply to trainees?
As a rule, trainees without children are at 50 percent (status October 2026). Clarify the category for Hamburg with the Personalamt before you take out a supplement.
Can I combine Beihilfe with private insurance?
Many civil servants do. Beihilfe pays the share set by the rate, and the insurance covers the rest. Whether the combination fits depends on family, health and tariff. If you are privately insured and receive a contribution subsidy, your Beihilfe rate is reduced under the regulation, so run the numbers first.
What changes for eyeglasses?
The HmbBeihVO provides a flat rate of 134 euros per lens (section 12 para. 3, as of 1 January 2025). Higher costs are paid by you or by your insurance tariff.
Where can I read the law?
The HmbBeihVO is in the Hamburg state law database. Read the current text yourself, since summaries can lag behind. Binding answers come from the Personalamt Hamburg.
What You Should Do Next
- Ask your employer in writing whether you are entitled to Beihilfe as a trainee and at which rate.
- Read the current HmbBeihVO, especially section 4 para. 4, section 12 para. 3 and section 24 para. 3.
- Calculate your typical costs and check how large the remainder would be.
- Compare supplements on benefits and conditions, not only on price, and get personal advice before you sign.
Related Guides
- Teacher training in Hamburg 2026/27
- Legal clerkship in Hamburg
- Beihilfe during training: entitlement, rate and application (in German)
- Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe
- Clerkship pay by federal state (in German)
Sources: Personalamt Hamburg, letter on the amendment of the HmbBeihVO, 27 December 2024 (values as of 1 January 2025). Hamburg Beihilfe Regulation (HmbBeihVO) in the Hamburg state law database (check the current version).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
