Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 2026

1. Controller

The controller responsible for data processing on this website is:

Smart Media GmbH
Königstraße 27
70173 Stuttgart
Germany

Representative: Marco Maurelli
Email: info@myhealthcarebroker.de
Phone: +49 711 96981720

2. Overview

This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you visit living-in-germany.org. We take data protection seriously and process your data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable German law.

Types of data processed: Usage data (IP addresses, browser type, pages visited, access times), contact data (name, email address when submitted via forms), and communication data (newsletter subscriptions).

Purpose: Providing our guides and content, improving the website, sending our newsletter (with consent), and fulfilling legal obligations.

3. Legal Bases

We process personal data on the following legal bases under GDPR:

  • Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR (Consent): e.g. newsletter subscription, cookies.
  • Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (Contract performance): processing necessary to provide the requested service.
  • Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR (Legal obligation): compliance with applicable law.
  • Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (Legitimate interests): e.g. server logs for security, fraud prevention.

4. Hosting & Server Logs

This website is hosted via Netlify (Netlify, Inc., 512 2nd Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA). When you visit our site, Netlify automatically collects and stores information in server log files that your browser transmits to us:

  • IP address (anonymised after 30 days)
  • Date and time of access
  • Page URL requested
  • HTTP status code
  • Browser type and version
  • Referring URL

This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in secure and functional website operation). Netlify's privacy policy: netlify.com/privacy. Data transfers to the USA are covered by the EU-US Data Privacy Framework adequacy decision.

5. Cookies

Our website uses technically necessary cookies to ensure the proper functioning of the site. These cookies do not require consent under § 25(2) TTDSG.

If we use optional cookies (e.g. for analytics), we will ask for your consent in advance. You can withdraw consent at any time by adjusting your browser settings or using our cookie preference centre.

6. Newsletter

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we process your email address to send you updates about new guides and relevant content. Subscription is based on your explicit consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).

You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in every newsletter email. After unsubscription, your email address will be deleted from our mailing list. We retain a record of your consent for up to 3 years for legal defence purposes.

7. Contact & Enquiries

If you contact us via email or a contact form, we process your name and email address (and any other data you provide) solely for the purpose of handling your enquiry. This is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (pre-contractual or contractual relationship) or Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest).

Your data will be deleted once your enquiry has been fully resolved, unless legal retention obligations require otherwise.

8. Web Analytics

We may use analytics tools to understand how visitors use our site (pages visited, session duration, referral sources). IP addresses are anonymised before storage. Analytics are only activated with your prior consent where required by law.

You can opt out of analytics tracking at any time by adjusting your cookie preferences.

9. External Links

Our guides contain links to third-party websites (e.g. government portals, insurance providers, banks). We have no control over these external sites and are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review the privacy policy of each site you visit.

10. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the stated purpose or as required by law. Statutory retention periods under German law are:

  • 10 years for accounting and fiscal records
  • 6 years for commercial and business documents
  • 3 years for consent records and general correspondence

11. International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers (including Netlify) are located in the USA. Data transfers to third countries are carried out only on the basis of an EU adequacy decision, standard contractual clauses (Art. 46 GDPR), or explicit consent.

12. Your Rights

Under GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right of access (Art. 15 GDPR): request a copy of your data
  • Right to rectification (Art. 16 GDPR): correct inaccurate data
  • Right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR): request deletion ("right to be forgotten")
  • Right to restriction (Art. 18 GDPR): limit how we process your data
  • Right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR): receive your data in a machine-readable format
  • Right to object (Art. 21 GDPR): object to processing based on legitimate interests
  • Right to withdraw consent: at any time, without affecting past processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: info@myhealthcarebroker.de

13. Right to Lodge a Complaint

You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. The competent authority for Smart Media GmbH is:

Landesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit Baden-Württemberg
Lautenschlagerstraße 20
70173 Stuttgart
www.baden-wuerttemberg.datenschutz.de

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. The date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.