Mandatory membership
Upon taking up professional activity(Approbation) in Saxony, doctors and veterinarians become compulsory members of the Sächsische Landesärzte- or the Landestierärztekammer, and thus, as a rule, also of the Sächsische Ärzteversorgung (SÄV). Their compulsory membership of the SÄV provides a reliable basic pension provision for all doctors and veterinarians in Saxony and their families.
The solidarity of the professional community creates a stable foundation that safeguards individual provision and the long-term viability of the entire system. Democratically elected representatives of the profession fulfil and shape the pension mandate independently and on their own responsibility – hand in hand with a professional, highly qualified team of full-time staff.
Change & Relocation
If you relocate your practice, your membership of the professional association and pension scheme will move with you. This is because compulsory membership generally applies at the place where you practise your profession. Furthermore, pension entitlements you have already accrued can, under certain conditions, be transferred to the new pension scheme. This means there are no (geographical) limits to your personal development. We’ll explain how to ensure a smooth transition, including the transfer of contributions.
Talk to us
We look forward to answering your questions, discussing your concerns directly and working with you to find the best solutions for you. Whether in person, over the phone, by email or via our contact form: we’re here to listen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Membership in General
Compulsory members of the Saxon State Veterinary and Medical Association are compulsory members of the Sächsische Ärzteversorgung. Even if you are not practising as a doctor or vet, you are therefore required to pay contributions (half the minimum contribution). Under certain conditions, it is possible to pay contributions to the Sächsische Ärzteversorgung from income derived from non-professional activities, or to apply for exemption from compulsory membership. (It should be noted that an exemption results in restrictions on insurance cover. Pension benefits will then only be granted on the basis of the contributions paid up to that point. In particular, no fictitious contributions will be added up to the age of 62 in the event of early occupational disability or for the calculation of survivors’ pension benefits. Furthermore, there is no entitlement to an early retirement pension.)
Exemption from compulsory membership of the SÄV is only possible under certain conditions. These are as follows:
- if you are a civil servant practising as a veterinary surgeon or doctor, or if you are a member of the German Armed Forces,
- if you are not practising your profession as a doctor or veterinary surgeon, or
- if you had already reached the age of 62 at the time of your admission to the Saxon Veterinary or Medical Association.
Important: If these grounds for exemption no longer apply and all conditions are met, the obligation to be a member and to pay contributions applies once again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Pension Plans
If, as a result of practising several professions simultaneously in different federal states, you are a member of several state medical associations or state veterinary associations, this constitutes dual membership. To avoid membership and therefore the payment of contributions to several pension schemes at the same time, all contributions can be settled through a single pension scheme. Which pension scheme is responsible for you and from which you can be exempted from compulsory membership depends on various factors. We would be happy to advise you on this.
- Voluntary continuation of your existing membership or a refund of contributions already paid is only possible under certain conditions and, in most cases, only to a limited extent.
- Periods of cover from a previous insurance scheme are generally recognised by the participating pension schemes or social security systems. This is particularly relevant for qualifying periods, which are a prerequisite for entitlement to benefits in many countries.
- If you have been a member of several pension schemes or systems during your working life, you will receive partial pensions from the respective institutions upon retirement – in accordance with the regulations applicable there and based on your contribution periods or periods of residence.
A pension transfer allows contributions to be consolidated so that future pension entitlements are, where possible, not spread across multiple pension schemes. From a financial perspective, it is not possible to provide general advice or recommendations, as different pension schemes use different methods to calculate accrued entitlements and pursue different investment strategies.