Health Insurance in Germany
The German health care system is divided into 2 branches
- public healthcare
- private healthcare
Your first decision is to pick one of them.
How to find the right German health insurance for me?[edit]
In many cases, you don't have a choice: For instance when you are employed and make less than around 60,750 € EUR per year (gross), you must pick the public system.
Here's a list of "simple" cases. If your case if more complicated, read a guide listed below.
Simple cases[edit]
Employed in a regular job[edit]
If you are
- part- or full-time employed
- earn less than 60,750 € gross per year
you must take the public option.
Student under 30[edit]
If you are a student at an
- Universität (university) or
- Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences)
then the public option is almost always the cheapest choice (~100€/month).
Student who needs a visa[edit]
In this case, you probably also need a Blocked Account (Sperrkonto). There are interesting combined offers of both a Blocked Account and Health insurance, check a here a comparison of health insurance packages.
(Young) freelancer from outside EU & EEA[edit]
If you are:
- young (under 30)
- freelancer / self-employed
- from outside EU & EEA (European Economic Area)
- plan to stay only a few years in Germany
then likely the private option is cheaper.
Freelance artists and publicists[edit]
You might qualify for the Künstlersozialkasse. They pay half of your health insurance and public pension insurance. It costs nothing, so it's really worth it. It just takes a lot of paperwork.
Setup an insurance option[edit]
General[edit]
- Feather[1] is a Berlin-based, fully English-speaking option. They can advise you both about public and private health insurance and will find the best matching option for you. A consultation is free.
Public[edit]
There are several public health insurance options. They do not differ so much in their price/rates because they are regulated by law: You always pay around 16% of your income.
So you rather want to choose them by the features they offer. For expats, options with an English speaking service are a big bonus – so with English information.
Besides, there is also a very helpful and free signup service from Feather[1]: Instead of filling out a German form at the health insurance, you can simply reach out to Feather's signup services, get free advice and counselling in English and fill out an English form.
- TK (formerly: Techniker) – English signup service[1]
- AOK – English signup service[1]
- DAK – English signup service[1]
- Barmer – English signup service[1]
- Health insurance calculator that shows what you can have, and how much you must pay.
Private[edit]
Private options vary a lot by their coverage and their rates – often very much depending on your age and health status.
- Feather[1] offers a private insurance with English support. Consultation is free.
- Foyer Global Health[1] speaks English, too, and can give you instantly a quote on their website, so you know immediately what rates to expect.
- Ottonova[1] is a new, fully English-speaking option. You can get free consultation, without any signing up.
- English translated calculator by BerlinCheap.com: Enter your details + contact and get a quote from various insurance options.
- Private health insurance comparison tool allows you to compare what other expatriates are paying for their coverage.
More guides[edit]
- Comparison of German Health Insurance Options by BerlinCheap.com
- How to choose German health insurance by allaboutberlin.com
- Health insurance in Germany by settle-in-berlin.com
- Health Insurance Options in Germany - 2020 by howtogermany.com
- Pros and Cons of Private vs Public German Health Insurance by thegermanyeye.com
- What to expect from German healthcare by Germanyso
Notes[edit]