Germany Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in Germany

All residents of Germany are required by law to have health insurance, whether a public one or a private one. For temporary visitors, proof of travel or private health insurance may also be required for your visa application.

To help you find the best coverage, Pacific Prime has created this short guide on the healthcare and health insurance system in Germany for you. Read on, or click here to get a free quote now.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Germany

Overview of Healthcare in Germany

The German healthcare system is made up of the public and private sectors that encourage primary outpatient care with general practitioners before specialized care with specialists. For inpatient care, treatments are usually provided by hospitals only.

In this section, find out more about how to access healthcare in Germany, from your day-to-day health concerns to inpatient care in Germany.

Outpatient Care in Germany

Like other countries, the majority of outpatient care in Germany is provided by self-employed doctors who run their own practices, or who are members of a joint venture between other practitioners.

Germany's healthcare system is set up in a way that encourages people to visit their family doctor when they get sick. While this is not legally mandated, the system has been in place for so long that it is the norm.

In fact, general practitioners, internists, and pediatricians working at outpatient clinics are usually considered to be family doctors (Hausarzt) and have the ability to refer people to specialists. However, there is no legal mandate for GP referrals - you can go to specialists directly.  

These practices, while private, are usually accredited by statutory health insurance providers, which allow them to accept payment from and treat anyone with statutory health coverage. 

Hospitals in the country are also able to offer outpatient care, which is usually defined as care received that does not require you to stay the night, though to a lesser extent compared to physicians in private practice.

Inpatient Care in Germany

Inpatient care in Germany is offered almost exclusively at the various hospitals throughout the country. These hospitals are either:

• Publicly funded
• Funded by a private charity
• Fully private

The vast majority of hospitals in the country will treat people regardless of whether they have public or private health insurance, however, some private hospitals will only treat you if you have private health insurance.

Treatments such as rehabilitation and related therapy are also considered to be inpatient care, such as physical and rehabilitative care after a major surgery.

Germany Health Insurance Options for Expats

Expats can choose from a public or a private health insurance option depending on their employment status and annual income. Both are highly comprehensive, though certain benefits are available only for private insurance holders. Health insurance is mandatory for all German residents.

Find out more about each option in the sections below.

Public Health Insurance in Germany

Public health insurance, also referred to as ‘statutory health insurance,’ is available to all employees of German employers. Compulsory contributions are made from wages, with employers sharing the cost. Statutory health insurance coverage is highly comprehensive.

Rather than a single insurance package, residents can choose insurance packages that suit their needs from a list of statutory health insurance providers.

Most will provide coverage for all basic healthcare needs, including:

• Outpatient care
• Inpatient care
• Maternity and newborn care
• Medically necessary rehabilitation
• Dental care
• Medications

Some health insurance providers may have additional services included in their packages. You can learn more about your coverage by talking with your insurance providers.

Premiums are calculated based on income and the package chosen. There is no health check needed, and pre-existing conditions are covered. Dependents of holders (married partners and children under the age of 23) can also be added to the plans.

Around 90% of German residents are covered under statutory health insurance.

Expats who are working for German employers are automatically eligible for statutory health insurance, while expats who are self-employed or are working as freelancers can make voluntary contributions.

Apart from the statutory health insurance, expats who earn more than EUR 69,300 can opt to be covered by private health insurance of their choice. Some may opt to have supplementary private health insurance on top of their statutory plan for extra coverage.

We will discuss more about private health insurance plans in the next section.

Private Health Insurance in Germany

Residents who earn more than EUR 69,300 can opt out of statutory health insurance and be insured under a private health insurance plan. For high-income expats, this can be less costly compared to statutory plans.

Unlike statutory health insurance, private health insurance’s premium is not calculated based on wages but on personal characteristics such as age, gender, health condition, and other risk factors.

For high-income expats, this means you might be able to save costs with private health insurance plans compared to the statutory plans.

Private health insurance plans could also provide additional benefits on top of basic health coverage that are available to private health insurance holders only, such as:

• Private medical services: Some medical services are covered under private insurance only. Holders of statutory health insurance must shoulder the cost of these services themselves.
• Semi-private and private rooms: Some private health insurance plans provide extra coverage for semi-private and private rooms during hospitalization 
• Short waiting time: Private health insurance can give you access to private facilities with shorter waiting times, especially for elective procedures.

Some expats, as well as some German residents, might choose to have private health insurance plans on top of their statutory plan for these extra benefits.

When purchasing a private health insurance plan, there are certain things expats should take in mind, including:

• Premiums: Private insurance premiums are calculated based on your personal risks, such as your health conditions and age, meaning your premiums might increase as you age or if any medical risks arise.
• Medical Billing: Privately insured patients might have to pay their medical bills first before reimbursing their payment with their health insurance company later.
• Addition of Dependents: Private health insurance plans might impose additional charges for dependents (married partners and children) added to the plan.

Expats should also bear in mind that, once opting out from a statutory health insurance plan, it can be hard to switch back to statutory health insurance again. Therefore, expats should make sure no stones are left unturned when securing their private health insurance.

Insurance brokers, like Pacific Prime, can assist you in every step of your insurance experience, from finding the right plan to filing a claim or renewing your policy.

Contact us now for a free tailored quote and plan comparison or see some of the recommended plans from our top insurance partners below.

Best Private Insurance Providers for Expats in Germany

Several leading insurers like Allianz, AXA, and Cigna provide insurance coverage in Germany. Pacific Prime can help you secure the best insurance plan for your budget from global top insurers. Click below for a free quote or read on for recommendations from some of our partners.

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Allianz

Allianz offers comprehensive insurance plans for all expats’ needs. Riders are available to be purchased and attached to any basic policy that Allianz approves. These riders can offer coverage for accidents and other risks.

Some of the basic coverage for their plans includes:

AXA

AXA Global Health Insurance offers both short-term and long-term plans for expats and travelers, with comprehensive coverage for any medical needs.

Some examples of shared coverage by all AXA insurance plans include:

Cigna Global

Cigna Global provides flexible insurance plans to expats. They offer their members 24/7 access to a customer care team and access to any private hospitals and private clinics. Their plans are both customizable and comprehensive.

Cigna has a Silver, Gold, and Platinum plan with different levels of coverage. All three of these plans share several common key coverage benefits:

GeoBlue

Geoblue offers an Xplorer health insurance plan that comes in essential or premier. These plans were created for expats traveling from the United States for business, leisure, or study trips. Expats can choose plans that include the United States in their coverage or not.

Both plans have several deductible options. The annual medical maximums are $1,000,000 for Xplorer Essential and unlimited for Xplorer Premier.

Some shared features across all levels of plans are:

NOW Health

NOW Health International offers expats abroad comprehensive health insurance solutions, as well as providing plans for international students. They offer online claim processes through a mobile app and provide other prompt online support.

They have several different tiers of plans, but these are the shared features across all of them:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is healthcare free in Germany?

Citizens and residents of Germany are entitled to medically necessary healthcare free of charge, given that they are insured under statutory health insurance or private insurance of their choice.

How much do you pay for health insurance in Germany?

Statutory health insurance premiums are calculated based on employees’ income with a cap of 14.6% of gross salary. Employees contribute 7.3% and employers contribute matching amounts. Private health insurance premiums are calculated based on individual characteristics.

Do I Need Health Insurance to Live in Germany?

Health insurance is mandatory for all residents in Germany. Residents must be insured either by a public statutory health insurance or private health insurance.

Conclusion

All residents of Germany are required to be covered by health insurance. The statutory health insurance package of Germany is highly comprehensive. However, for expats with high incomes, private health insurance can be less costly and with extra perks.

The key is to make sure you have the right insurance plans that truly work best for your needs and within your range of budgets.

Contact our health insurance experts now to get started on your health insurance journey and let us help you find the right insurance plans for you, all free of charge.