The Ärzteversorgung Bremen (physicians’ pension scheme, Versorgungswerk) is often the first pension scheme that employed and self-employed doctors encounter at the start of their career. This guide explains how the contribution is built, when the exemption from statutory pension insurance applies and which benefits you should know about. It does not replace advice from the chamber, but it shows which questions to ask there.
Short answer: The Ärzteversorgung Bremen is the pension scheme for members of the Bremen medical chamber (Ärztekammer). Contributions follow your income from medical work and have an upper limit. According to the chamber, the maximum contribution from January 2024 was 1,404.30 euros per month (West). You apply for exemption from statutory pension insurance through the scheme itself. Last updated: October 2026. Ask the chamber for current amounts.
The most important points
- The Ärzteversorgung Bremen is the pension scheme for members of the Ärztekammer Bremen (Bremen medical chamber).
- The contribution follows your income from medical work and stops at a maximum amount.
- For January 2024 the chamber lists a maximum contribution of 1,404.30 euros per month (West) and 1,385.70 euros (East).
- Exemption from statutory pension insurance is governed by § 6 SGB VI and runs through the scheme.
- Voluntary additional payments can increase your later pension. The amount depends on your age when you pay in.
- Disability and survivors’ benefits are not described on the chamber page; check the statutes instead.
What do you pay to the Ärzteversorgung Bremen?
The chamber publishes a calculator on its contribution page that uses a reference figure from employee pension insurance. The values below come from that page and apply from January 2024 according to the page. They show how the maximum contribution is built. What you actually pay depends on your income and the statutes.
| Figure | West | East |
|---|---|---|
| Reference figure for the contribution rate | 18.6 percent | 18.6 percent |
| Assessment limit per month | 7,550 euros | 7,450 euros |
| Maximum contribution per month | 1,404.30 euros | 1,385.70 euros |
Last updated: January 2024 figures from the chamber contribution page. The page describes these values as reference figures, not as a guarantee for your personal calculation.
The maximum can be checked with simple arithmetic: 7,550 euros times 0.186 gives 1,404.30 euros. The value therefore matches the statutory pension insurance rate applied to the limit named there. Above that limit, your contribution does not rise further.
For practices, the page also mentions a reduction. If the full annual contribution exceeds 15 percent of your income, you can apply for a reduction. The reduction lowers your later pension, so it is a trade-off and not an automatic benefit.
When does the exemption from statutory pension insurance apply?
Doctors who are by law members of a pension scheme and of a chamber can apply to be exempt from statutory pension insurance. The legal basis is § 6 SGB VI. The law ties the exemption to three conditions, set out in sentence 1 number 1 letters a to c. The chamber adds that the exemption requires the scheme to pay at least the respective statutory pension insurance contribution. How this fits together with private health insurance and occupational disability cover is explained in our guide Doctors in postgraduate training.
| Subsection | Content | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| § 6 para. 1 | Exemption for employees and self-employed people who are by law members of a professional pension scheme and of a chamber, subject to three conditions | The membership in the scheme must be required by law |
| § 6 para. 2 | The application is filed electronically through the pension scheme, which forwards it to the pension insurance body | Deadlines run from receipt by the pension scheme |
| § 6 para. 5 | The exemption applies only to the specific job or activity | A change of job requires a new check |
You file the application through the Ärzteversorgung, not directly with the pension insurance body. Deadlines run from receipt at the pension scheme, so keep the confirmation of receipt.
Which benefits does the Ärzteversorgung Bremen offer?
The chamber page names the old-age pension, which can be built up through voluntary additional payments. The amount depends on your age when you pay in. The earlier you pay in, the longer the money has to grow. The page does not state a fixed pension level, and no general figure would apply to everyone.
Disability benefits, survivors’ benefits and benefits for reduced earning capacity are not on the chamber page. If they matter to you, read the statutes of the Ärzteversorgung and ask the office for the current status. A private disability policy can close a gap, but it does not answer the question of what the pension scheme pays itself.
Does the Ärzteversorgung Bremen suit your path?
For chamber members a pension scheme is not a choice but a legal obligation. The real question is therefore how to complement it. The overview below shows when the Bremen arrangement fits everyday life well and when you should look more closely.
- It fits well if you work permanently in the Bremen chamber area and can plan your membership reliably.
- It fits less well if you are likely to move to another German state soon. Then the statutes decide how entitlements carry over, and the rules differ.
- It needs supplementing if disability cover is important to you and the statutes give no clear answer on it.
A personal assessment of your situation is available through the advice at Academycon, details at How we work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to join the Ärzteversorgung Bremen?
The obligation follows from membership in the Ärztekammer Bremen and from state law. If you are required by law to be a chamber member, you normally belong to the pension scheme as well. The chamber decides exceptions case by case.
Can I be exempt from statutory pension insurance?
Yes, if the conditions of § 6 SGB VI are met. You file the application through the Ärzteversorgung. The exemption only covers the job or activity you are doing, so you need to check it again after a change of employer.
Is the chamber contribution the same as the pension contribution?
No. The chamber contribution funds the chamber, while the pension contribution funds the scheme. The notices often arrive separately. Put them side by side and check which item is charged for what.
How does a reduction affect my pension?
The chamber page says that a reduction lowers your later pension. If you run your own practice and find the maximum contribution a heavy burden, work through the numbers with a tax adviser. A reduction has to be applied for; it does not happen automatically.
What happens if I move to Hamburg?
Many pension schemes have reciprocal arrangements with one another. Whether they apply to your case and how entitlements pass over is for both bodies to confirm. Ask the Bremen and the Hamburg scheme before you move.
What to do now
- Check whether you are a compulsory member of the Ärztekammer Bremen and collect your existing notices.
- Read the statutes of the Ärzteversorgung Bremen on the chamber website, especially the maximum contribution, the exemption and disability cover.
- File the exemption application through the Ärzteversorgung as soon as your compulsory work begins, and keep the proof of receipt.
- Run the numbers against your salary, your contribution and your pension entitlement.
- Clarify open questions on disability cover in a personal consultation before you sign any contract.
Related guides
- Doctors in postgraduate training: combining PKV, pension scheme and disability cover
- Career start after university in Germany: your guide to the first job
- Pension insurance for students in Germany: rules
- Ärzteversorgung Bayern: contributions, exemption and benefits
Sources: § 6 SGB VI, exemption from compulsory insurance (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026, in German); Contribution calculator of the Ärztekammer Bremen, figures as of January 2024 (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
