In Germany you need to make about 60000€ a year to get private health insurance (better service, lower price) OR you have to be self-employed, where it doesn't matter how much you make. (500€ private, 750€ public)
Yes, this doesn't matter for an engineer who makes about 100000€ a year. :)
But!
If you're an employee, you have to pay into a government-controlled retirement fund, if you're self-employed you don't.
If you make about 100k, you (and your employer) would have to pay more than 10k a year.
So, no, if you're self-employed and make good money, you don't necessarily have to pay "the maximum amount of social security" :)
For the retirement fund only the first 74,400€ (west) or 64,800€ (east) of your income is used (2016 numbers, different rules if you work in mining). For anything over you don't pay into the retirement fund.
There are some self-employed that need to pay into the retirement fund, including teachers (which is applied broadly, e.g. training supervisors and moderators), journalists, and artists.
Also don't forget about the unemployment fund into which employees must pay.
> lower price, 500€ private
Heavily depends on your health and age. Additionally family members are insured for free in public but not private insurance which might tip the scale. Also important to note is that it's close to impossible for most to switch back to public insurance once they decided to go private (e.g. if the premiums rise in the future).
Yes, this doesn't matter for an engineer who makes about 100000€ a year. :)
But!
If you're an employee, you have to pay into a government-controlled retirement fund, if you're self-employed you don't.
If you make about 100k, you (and your employer) would have to pay more than 10k a year.
So, no, if you're self-employed and make good money, you don't necessarily have to pay "the maximum amount of social security" :)