German health insurance for foreigners
You've received a job offer from a German company? Congratulations! One document that we are frequently asked about is "German health insurance." In this article, we will address the most common questions.
Please note that this article is applicable to people who want to work in Germany. If you are merely visiting Germany as a tourist, this does not pertain to you.
Is the German health insurance mandatory even if I have a different type of insurance?
Most likely, you will require German health insurance, regardless of whether you have already purchased travel insurance or if you possess a valid health insurance policy in your home country.
Exceptions apply to:
seasonal workers
Expats who are temporarily sent to Germany by their parent company and if there is a bilateral agreement with their home country. You can find countries with bilateral agreements here.
My employer has informed me that health insurance is included in my salary, so why do I need to take care of it?
The payments for your health insurance will be automatically deducted from your paycheck. Nevertheless, you still need to enroll in a German health insurance plan. There are several providers, and you may choose the one that best suits your needs.
After applying for health insurance, the health insurance provider will contact your company and arrange for payments to be deducted from your account. This is usually a straightforward process for expats. In case of any doubts, we recommend reaching out to your HR representative.
Which German health insurance should I choose?
In Germany, there are two types of insurances: statutory and private.
If your basic salary is more than 64,350 EUR (in 2023), you can opt for private insurance. If your income is below this threshold, you must select statutory insurance.
Considerations for choosing private insurance:
We recommend private health insurance if you are young, healthy, and do not plan to stay in Germany indefinitely.
Private insurance can be beneficial if you want additional perks like quick doctor appointments, private hospital rooms, or access to alternative medicine.
Your monthly payments are based on your health situation, so the healthier and younger you are, the less you'll pay.
Switching from private insurance to statutory insurance can be difficult and is only possible if you are below 55 years of age and earn less than 66,000 Euro (in 2023).
Take into consideration that payments for your health insurance at retirement age might be extremely high.
Considerations for choosing statutory insurance:
Statutory insurance is recommended if you plan to stay in Germany long-term or need quick confirmation of health insurance for your visa appointment.
Monthly payments for statutory health insurance are based on your income, not your health risk. This means that higher income results in higher payments, although there is a maximum cap.
Statutory insurance can be easier to obtain for visa purposes, as all providers may insure you without prior health checks.
Statutory insurance typically provides all necessary treatments, and you do not need to pay for treatments upfront.
However for any health issues that do not require immediate attention, you might have to wait significantly longer for doctor appointments
Signing up for Statutory German health insurance:
The most common statutory insurance providers are Barmer, AOK, and TK. Benefits and healthcare coverage do not significantly differ between statutory providers, but Barmer is known for being expat-friendly, offering a digital sign-up process, and providing English-language support. Note that if you sign up for German statutory health insurance and your visa is not approved, no payments will occur.
Signing up for Private German health insurance:
For private insurance, choosing the right provider can be complex due to various options. We recommend contacting our trusted healthcare advisor for an individual fee and benefit comparison. Alternatively, you can consider Ottonova, which is known for being expat-friendly and English-speaking.
My family will join me in Germany, what about their insurance?
Your family members will be covered under your insurance unless your spouse also has a job. Please inform the insurance provider about your family when signing up.
For candidates outside EU
Do I also need travel insurance when I am immigrating to Germany on a D-visa?
In addition to German health insurance, you will require "travel insurance," officially known as "incoming health insurance” in case you are not a citizen of a EU country and need a D-visa to immigrate.
This is because statutory or private health insurance only becomes valid on your first day of work. Since you are likely to arrive in Germany a little earlier, you need coverage during that time. Additionally, there is a 6-month trial period in Germany during which your employer can terminate your employment contract without providing a reason. If you are terminated within this period, you will be without insurance. To prevent this scenario, the German government mandates that you have incoming health insurance.
Note: Different rules for travel insurance may apply depending on the country of application. In general, we recommend obtaining an "incoming" health insurance, as some travel insurances may not cover employment-related travel.
You will need to sign up for insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000.00 EUR, including the following details: the name of the insured person, the duration of coverage, the insurance sum, and repatriation coverage. The required coverage duration may vary, typically between 3-12 months, depending on the embassy's requirements. Some embassies only accept specific insurance providers. It's advisable to check the website of the German embassy as not all insurance providers are accepted. If there are no restrictions you could take a look into Allianz incoming insurance.
Do I need to sign up for German health and incoming insurance before my visa appointment?
Many embassies permit signing up for German health insurance and incoming health insurance after your visa has been approved. In such cases, you can simply present the confirmation of health insurance when collecting your visa. However, we recommend following the guidelines provided on the embassy's website, as their procedures may vary.