Short Answer
The state pays your public insurance premiums only if you register as unemployed immediately.
While you are covered for one month after employment ends, the billing obligation does not disappear.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You took a few weeks to clear your head after being fired before visiting the employment office. You eventually found that the Agentur für Arbeit refused to back-pay the premiums for the weeks you were "missing" from their records. You ended up with a bill for €450 for the gap month because you didn't realize that insurance coverage and premium payments are two separate legal requirements.
What To Do
- Show your notice of termination to the "Agentur für Arbeit" the same day you receive it.
- Register as a "job seeker" (Arbeitssuchend) online the moment you know your contract is ending.
- "Wer übernimmt meine Krankenkassenbeiträge?" (Who is taking over my health insurance contributions?) Ask this during your first meeting with the unemployment office.
The Truth
Germany provides a safety net, but it is not retroactive. If you delay your registration, the financial responsibility for your health insurance falls entirely on you.