It is not easy to be part of the private health insurance system. Private health insurance covers around 10% of the population in Germany, particularly employees earning over 64,350€ a year (legal threshold) and freelancers with a steady income.

The costs of private health insurance depend on your age, your occupation and your health condition, not on your income.

Advantages of private health insurance:

• It is cheaper than public health insurance if you earn more money as premiums are not based on your income.
• It is cheaper than public health insurance if you are young, healthy and don’t have dependent children: your children and/or non-working spouse need to get insured separately.
• You can customize your coverage, including special treatments, dental coverage, travel insurance, and so on.
• Physicians make more money from private health insurance companies, so they will treat private-insured patients first and better. You will be prioritized over public-insured patients!
• If you rarely need to go to the doctor, you can take a higher deductible, so you will pay less insurance each month!

Disadvantages of private health insurance:

• It is more expensive than public health insurance if you are old, have dependent children or have a non-working spouse.
• It is more expensive than public health insurance if you have some pre-existing conditions (i.e. heart problems, diabetes, etc).

Who can take out private health insurance?

• Employees in Germany earning over 64,350€ a year (before taxes). This is the law! Private health insurance companies are not forced to accept you.
  The costs of private health insurance depend on your age, occupation and health condition. Your employer will pay half of your monthly contributions.

If your yearly gross income goes over €64,350€ (before taxes), you can choose between public health insurance and private health insurance. Request a free quote from an independent insurance broker now! Our trusted partner will help you find the option (public or private) that best fits your budget and meets your needs.

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• Freelancers (Newly Arrived): If you are a freelancer and you just moved from a non-EU country, then Expat Health Insurance might be your only solution. Sign up now with Feather! It only costs 72€ a month. You can easily switch to private or public health insurance once you have a steady income.

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• Freelancers (with a Steady Income): If you are working as a freelancer in Germany and already have a steady income, then Private Health Insurance might be the only solution available for you (there are some exceptions).

Freelancers can sometimes choose between private and public health insurance. Request a free quote from an independent insurance broker now! Our trusted partner will help you find the option (public or private) that best fits your budget and meets your needs.

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• University students who are over the age of 30:
  • Private & public health insurers offer special rates. However, you should probably consider getting Expat Health Insurance as it is the cheapest solution available until your studies are over.
  • Once you find a job after your studies, you can easily take out private or public health insurance.

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• Language students, doctoral candidates, trainees, researchers & au-pairs:
  • You can take out private health insurance if you get accepted. However, you should probably consider getting Expat Health Insurance as it is the cheapest solution available for short-term stays or until your studies are over.
  • If you decide to stay longer (i.e. you find a job after your studies), you can then easily switch to private or public health insurance with no back payments.

Expat health insurance is a type of health insurance that was specially designed for non-EU citizens staying temporarily in Germany. Expat health insurance covers you in Germany for up to 5 years. You can easily switch to proper private or public health insurance with no back payments if you decide to settle in Germany.

Expat health insurance (sometimes referred to as “incoming insurance”) is a great solution for your first years in Germany. It’s good, affordable coverage that fulfils the legal requirements for obtaining a visa or residence permit. Signup is simple and payments are made month-to-month. Cancel anytime with just one click.

Advantages of expat health insurance:

• It is cheaper than public or private health insurance.
• It fulfils all German legal requirements for obtaining a visa or residence permit (not for renewals).
• It is easier & quicker to get than public or private health insurance. It usually takes a few minutes.
• It is flexible. You can cancel anytime with one click.
• This health insurance covers any unexpected medical treatments and procedures, as well as associated follow-up costs.
• If a sudden illness requires treatment or hospitalization, this health insurance covers all costs.
• If an injury or health problem requires you to be transported by ambulance to a medical facility, costs will be covered.
• In particularly serious cases, you may need to return to your home country for treatment. This expat plan will cover the travel costs.
• You can customize your coverage (dental checkups, visual aids like glasses or contacts, etc).
• You can easily switch to proper private or public health insurance with no back payments if you decide to settle in Germany and can afford something better.

Disadvantages of expat health insurance:

• This expat insurance is a temporary health insurance (valid for up to 5 years).
• This expat insurance is not accepted for residence permit renewals.
• This expat insurance is not accepted if you need to change to a different residence permit.
• Long-term treatments are 100% covered, but you sometimes have to pay a small deductible for basic treatments (i.e. simple checkups).

Who can take out expat health insurance?

• Non-EU citizens moving to Germany and wanting a temporary health insurance (for up to 5 years).
• Non-EU citizens moving to Germany and wanting a coverage that fulfils the legal requirements for obtaining a visa or residence permit.
• Non-EU citizens moving to Germany and wanting affordable health insurance with no paperwork and in English.
• Working holidaymakers.
• Language school students coming from non-EU countries.
• Job seekers coming from non-EU countries.
• Minijobbers (a 450€ job) coming from non-EU countries.

Reminder: Employees who earn under 64,350€ per year are only entitled to public health insurance! Also, university students under the age of 30 are usually covered with public health insurance.

What are the best Expat Health Insurances in Germany?

We, at myGermanExpert, have been dealing with expats moving to Germany on a daily basis for almost 10 years, and we can recommend the below option to you:

Feather offers an expat health insurance starting at €72 a month. Get it online today!

Founded in 2008 in Berlin, this young start-up is here to last. This insurance is flexible. You can cancel anytime with one click.

Public health insurance, also called statutory health insurance, is the most popular option in Germany. In fact, 90% of Germany's population has public health insurance.

Advantages of public health insurance:

• It is cheaper if you earn less money.
• It is cheaper when you are old.
• It is cheaper for university students under the age of 30.
• Your children and/or unemployed spouse are covered for free.
• It is cheaper if you have pre-existing conditions. There are no extra costs for them!

Disadvantages of public health insurance:

• It is more expensive than private health insurance if you are young, healthy and earn a high salary.
• It is more expensive than private health insurance if you are young, healthy and have no spouse or children.
• Physicians make more money from private health insurance companies, so they tend to treat private-insured patients first and better.
• You cannot customize your coverage: no special treatments are included, everyone gets the same.
• If you are a freelancer, a language student or a doctoral student (with a scholarship) and you just moved from a non-EU country, then it's almost impossible to get public health insurance.

Germany's largest and most popular health insurance provider is TK (source: Focus Money business magazine).

Public health insurance is mandatory if:

• you are employed in Germany and earn under 64,350€ a year (before taxes). This is the only option available to you. Statutory health insurance funds are forced to accept you!
  The costs of public health insurance depend on your salary. You contribute 14.6% to 15.6% of your income every month. Half of it will be paid by your employer!

• you are a university student under the age of 30 (until you reach your 30th birthday or until your 14th term of study).
  • You will pay around 104€ a month.
  • If you are an EU citizen, you can use your EHIC card. You will have to use your EHIC to register with a statutory health insurance fund in Germany. The insurer will then provide a confirmation for enrollment at the university.

If you only qualify for Public Health Insurance, you can take out public health insurance yourself and become a member of TK now! It's free and in English! TK is the most popular health insurance provider in Germany.

If your yearly gross income goes over €64,350€ (before taxes), you can choose between public health insurance and private health insurance. Request a free quote from an independent insurance broker now! Our trusted partner will help you find the option (public or private) that best fits your budget and meets your needs.

Public health insurance is optional if:

• you are a freelancer.
• you are a university student over the age of 30.
• you are an employee and earn more than 64,350€ a year (before taxes).
• you have a "minijob".

In those cases above, you can choose public or private health insurance. However, public health insurance funds are not forced to accept you! Check out the "Private Health Insurance" section above for more details.