Expat Insurance in Germany: Coverage for Expatriates

Expats living in Germany are required to have health insurance coverage by law. If you make less than €69,300 (about USD $74,232; as of 2024), you will use the statutory insurance scheme; if you make more than this limit, you may choose to get a private insurance plan.

Are you an expat moving to Germany, and you aren’t sure what your international health insurance options are? Are you unsure what the German healthcare system is like? Are you worried about insurance costs in Germany?

This Pacific Prime blog post is meant for you! We are going to discuss the German healthcare system and the types of health insurance available to expats: both public and private. We’ll also talk about health insurance costs in Germany, and share tips on saving money on insurance. 

Please reach out to our insurance experts with the questions you have, and explore insurance quotes online. Our free insurance quote generator is a tool that helps you compare several private insurance companies side by side and their various plans. 

Do Expats Need Health Insurance in Germany?

All residents of Germany are required to have health insurance, including expats. This is due to the Health Insurance Compulsory Law made in 2009 (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung – GKV). To apply for a residence permit, you will need to secure health insurance that meets the law.

Expats moving to Germany from the United States do not need a visa to enter Germany. However, if you plan to live there for more than 90 days, you are required to apply for a residence permit. If you want to work in Germany, you will need to apply for a work visa or residence permit as well.

The German Healthcare System: Explained for Expats

The German healthcare system divides treatments into inpatient and outpatient services. Inpatient care is typically defined as care given to a patient who spends a night in the hospital, while outpatient care is service given by a general practitioner in a clinic.

It can also include hospital care that doesn’t require an overnight stay. There are a few unique exceptions to the inpatient and outpatient definitions as well.

The German healthcare system highly values letting individuals choose who their providers are, both medical physicians and insurance providers. For that reason, there are many insurers under both the public and private health insurance categories.

Types of Health Insurance in Germany for Expatriates

The German healthcare system can be broken down into two types of health insurance providers: public insurance, also known as statutory insurance, and private insurance. Most individuals use statutory insurance, but if you make more than €69,300 (about USD $74,232), you may prefer private insurance.

Public Statutory Health Insurance in Germany

Statutory public health insurance in Germany is a mandatory scheme for all residents, including expats. 14.6% of your income funds, split by both you and your employer, are automatically contributed to your insurance coverage. This grants you access to healthcare in almost all hospitals and clinics.

About 92% of all German residents are protected by statutory health insurance. Those who do not use public insurance are insured through a private insurance company since everyone is required to have coverage.

Below is a chart that can give you an idea of some of the common health insurance benefits included in a statutory insurance plan in Germany for expats.

Private Health Insurance in Germany

Individuals in Germany who make more than €69,300 in a year (as of 2024) may want to opt out of statutory insurance and get a private insurance plan. This may help you save money since the percentage of your income that would be put into a statutory plan would exceed the premium of a private plan.

Here are the scenarios for individuals who may qualify to opt out of statutory insurance and get private insurance instead:

• A high-income earner who is making more than €69,300 in a year (about $74,232)
• A self-employed expat or freelancer
• A civil servant
• A student over the age of 30

Many private health insurance plans offer coverage worldwide. This would grant you coverage benefits even when traveling outside of your country of residence.

Below is a chart that can give you an idea of some of the common health insurance benefits included in a private insurance plan in Germany for expats.

To see actual plans and get quotes, use our easy insurance quote generator. It’s available to you anytime and can help you save your favorite plans for later comparison!

Can German Expats Choose Public or Private Insurance?

Expats in Germany are required to have statutory health insurance (public) unless they are high-income earners. If they make more than €69,300 in a year (in 2024), expats can choose between staying on the public plan, switching to a private health insurance plan, or having a combination of both.

Expats can choose between three German health insurance options:

1. Statutory health insurance 
2. Private health insurance
3. A combination of both

It is important to note, however, that after you opt out of the statutory plan, it can be very difficult to switch back.

How Much Expat Health Insurance Costs in Germany

Public health insurance in Germany will cost expats 14.6% of their income. A private international health insurance plan can cost as low as USD $33 a month if you get the Standard plan from Morgan Price International. Premiums can increase the more benefits you add depending on your insurer.

The following chart displays the public health insurance cost for expats in Germany.

The following chart compares several private health insurance plans and their costs for expats in Germany.

These estimates are for a 30-year-old living in Germany for over a year. These plans include coverage for inpatient care, emergency evacuation, and emergency repatriation.

You can see these plans and quotes yourself on our easy insurance quote generator! If you’d like additional benefits that are included in these estimates, you can plug your needs into the generator or talk to an insurance expert.

How to Get Health Insurance in Germany Through a Broker

Expats can use an insurance broker to get international health insurance in Germany. By doing this, they gain an intermediary who negotiates with the provider on their behalf, who knows the international insurance market, who compares plans with other top providers, and who works at no charge.

Are you considering going directly to the insurance provider? Here’s why a broker might better serve your needs:

• Brokers are not loyal to any particular insurer: Going directly to an insurer means they’ll recommend only their products and services, which may not necessarily be the best plan out there to meet your needs and budget.

On the contrary, brokers work with a range of different insurers and can give you a tailored plan comparison of all your options on the market.

• Brokers provide many value-added services: In addition to helping you find a suitable plan, brokers also tend to help you fill out insurance forms, liaise with insurers, and negotiate the best terms, as well as file claims for reimbursement and renew a plan. 

This level of support and assistance is particularly important if you’re new to the world of insurance in Germany and don’t understand insurance jargon.

• Brokers don’t charge extra: The cost to you is the same as going directly to the insurer! Many insurers rely on brokers to help them sell their insurance products so they don’t tend to offer any extra discounts or lower premiums if you go directly to them.

As such, it makes sense to go to a broker as you’ll pay the same amount AND benefit from the aforementioned impartial advice and value-added services!

Pacific Prime is a leading global insurance broker that has helped over 1.5 million global travelers and expats secure health insurance. We have a robust global presence and solid partnerships with dynamic insurance providers.

We know insurance, and we know expats.

Learn more about how Pacific Prime can benefit you and help you secure the best insurance for your needs and budget. To get an insurance plan through us, you can fill out our contact form, and we’ll be in touch!

Expat Tips to Save Money on Health Insurance in Germany

A few tips for expats to save money on health insurance in Germany include getting a higher deductible, supplementing your insurance plan, seeking a broker’s opinion, getting insurance while you’re young, and staying up to date on well-checks.

1. Get Higher Deductibles: If your insurance plan has a higher deductible, then your premium will often be lower. However, this does mean that you are committing to pay a higher amount in deductibles if you develop health needs, so make sure you can afford it.
2. Supplement Your Insurance Plan: You can choose to get a basic health insurance plan instead of an expensive comprehensive one and supplement it with additional benefits, like dental, vision, maternity, and mental health care.
3. Seek a Broker’s Opinion: It can be wise to consult an insurance broker prior to purchasing any plan so you can make sure you are getting the best deal in the current market. Speaking with a professional who knows Germany and international insurance can save you money!
4. Get Insurance While You’re Young: When we are younger, we typically have better health. This means fewer chronic conditions that cost more money. This is important because if you have an established provider before you age and develop health conditions, you will still be covered.

However, if you seek insurance later on, providers may not cover certain conditions if they consider them “pre-existing.”

1. Stay Up to Date on Well-Checks: It is so important to get all of your preventative treatments done. This includes well-checks, vaccinations, lab work, and cancer testing. When you utilize all your covered preventive care benefits, it can prevent illnesses or conditions that will cost you lots more money!

If you’d like more tips on how to save money on your German health insurance, read our article with 7 tips to reduce health insurance premiums.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do expats get health insurance in Germany?

Expats who earn less than €69,300 a year (as of 2024) will set up public health insurance through the German statutory scheme. This will be coordinated with your employer. Expats whose income exceeds this limit can get insurance through a private provider. Consult a broker’s opinion as you choose.

What if you live in Germany but don’t have health insurance?

German residents who don’t have health insurance are breaking the law; this includes foreign expats. If this is the case for you, your residence permit may be denied, you’ll have difficulty getting healthcare, and you risk being charged a fine of up to 14 months of health insurance contributions.

Is private health insurance a good option for expats in Germany?

Expatriates in Germany who earn more than €69,300 a year (as of 2024) may prefer private insurance because it will save them money on premiums and it can increase their healthcare service. Your insurance plans may be more comprehensive, and you can seek treatment in higher-quality facilities.

Conclusion: The Best German Private Insurance Providers

We’ve now talked all about the German healthcare system and the public and private types of health insurance available there. If you’re an expat, you’ll want to first determine what your income is and if you are required to have statutory insurance or not.

If you earn more money than the limit, you may consider looking into private health insurance providers instead. If you are interested in private insurance, consider these top worldwide providers:

• Cigna
• Bupa 
• Allianz Care
• NOW Health International
• AXA 
• April International

If you found value in this article, you’ll also want to read our blog posts Extreme Sports Insurance: Staying Safe While Adventuring and Medivac Insurance: Ensuring Emergency Evacuation Coverage.

You’ll also want to explore the best places to live in Germany before your move! Safe travels!

• Author
• Recent Posts

Serena Fung

Senior Content Creator at Pacific Prime

Serena Fung is a Senior Content Creator at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 2+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.

Latest posts by Serena Fung (see all)

• Emergency Preparedness Guide: Handling Medical Crises as an Expat in China - May 18, 2024
• Understanding China Visa Fees: A Guide for U.S. Citizens - May 16, 2024
• China’s Student Visas: Step-by-Step Guide - May 16, 2024