Expat health insurance
Personalised protection for your stay abroad
The key points in brief
- In Germany, we have a dual health insurance system. It consists of statutory health insurance (SHI) and private health insurance (PHI). It is usually possible to decide between both alternatives if certain preconditions are met.
- Special requirements of expats regarding health insurance: Expats often have specific needs, such as international cover and language support, which should be taken into account when choosing health insurance.
- Worthwhile benefits with regard to choosing health insurance: Worthwhile benefits in the case of health insurance for expats include comprehensive medical healthcare, emergency services, dental treatments and additional services such as psychotherapy.
"Private or statutory?" This is normally the first question you are asked over the telephone if you ring a doctor in Germany. We shall explain to you the differences and jointly find out what health insurance is suitable for you.
Health insurance in Germany
The German health system is renowned worldwide for its high quality and efficiency. A prominent feature of this system is that insurance is essentially compulsory for all residents. Once you are resident in Germany, you are legally obliged to take out health insurance. You can do so either by way of statutory health insurance (SHI) or, subject to certain preconditions, by way of private health insurance (PHI).
Basic healthcare: statutory and private health insurance
The statutory health insurance system (SHI) provides essential health services to around 90 % of the German population. If you are employed, and your income is below a certain upper limit (in the year 2024: 69,300 euros), you are obliged to join the SHI system. Only around 10 % of the population can use private health insurance (PHI).
Self-employed persons and civil servants as well as employees with an income above the annual pay threshold can insure themselves privately. These categories of persons are not subject to compulsory insurance in the SHI system and have the option of switching to PHI.
Source: Health Insurance in Germany - The German Healthcare System - Germany Visa (germany-visa.org)
Private health insurance (PHI) in Germany is an alternative to statutory health insurance (SHI) and is aimed primarily at self-employed persons, civil servants and persons with an income above the annual pay threshold. It offers tariffs tailored to the individual, often with comprehensive services and shorter waiting times. The contributions are based on the insured person's individual risk, age and state of health. Where the insurance also covers family members, e.g. children, a contribution is charged for each person insured. PHI-insured persons may enjoy better benefits, but need to be healthy at the time of entering into the contract as pre-existing illnesses may lead to higher contributions or rejection.
Persons insured in the statutory health insurance system have, however, the option of enhancing their portfolio of benefits by taking out private supplementary insurance for certain areas alongside statutory health insurance.
Expat health insurance: special requirements of expats regarding health insurance
When choosing health insurance, expats have, to some extent, different requirements and needs compared to the local population. These should be taken into account accordingly when choosing health insurance.
The following points in particular are important for expats:
- Global cover: cover for treatment costs within the country and abroad (out-patient/in-patient treatments, dental treatments, medication, aids).
- Treatment costs abroad: reimbursement of out-patient and in-patient treatments abroad, repatriation to the home country (terms and conditions for repatriation).
- Dental insurance: cover for dental treatments, dentures and orthodontics.
- Repatriation: medical repatriation to the home country if medically necessary (terms and conditions, accompaniment by a doctor).
- Check-ups: regular check-ups also abroad (cancer screening, skin cancer screening, vaccinations).
- Flexibility: adaptation of the insurance cover to the stay abroad (change of residence, professional activity).
- Customer service: good customer service in German and English (contact details, advice on questions and problems).
Tip:
Obtain personalised advice before you choose health insurance.
Expat health insurance: What benefits are especially important when choosing health insurance?
Generally important benefits:
- out-patient treatments (e.g. visits to the doctor, dental treatments)
- in-patient treatments (e.g. hospital stays, operations)
- medication
- remedies and aids (e.g. glasses, contact lenses)
- daily hospital benefit (payment during a stay in hospital)
- policy excess (personalised selection)
- additional benefits (e.g. accident insurance)
Make an appointment now and start your personal healthcare.
Frequent questions
The costs for private health insurance (PHI) for expats depend on age, state of health and the chosen tariff. These costs are risk-adjusted.
It is usually the case that you pay for your private health insurance yourself in retirement. Persons entitled to a statutory pension receive a contribution from the pension insurance provider regardless of the type of health insurance. This contribution applies only to health insurance, not to nursing care insurance.
The costs for private supplementary insurance vary depending on the scope of insurance and the age of the person insured. They can range from a few euros to around 80 euros per month.
Private health insurance enhances the range of benefits in the statutory health insurance system and enables access to benefits that are often only available to privately insured persons.
Source: Versicherungspflichtgrenze PKV 2024 im Überblick | Allianz