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?
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
Employed in a regular job
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
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
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
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.
Setup an insurance option
Public
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 you 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 Popsure*: Instead of filling out a German form at the health insurance, you can simply reach out to Popsure's SignupTK or SignupAOK, get free advice and counselling in English and fill out an English form.
- TK (formerly: Techniker) is said to have the best English speaking service.
- SignupTK.de – free English sign-up service
- AOK
- DAK
- Barmer
Private
Private options vary a lot by their coverage and their rates – often very much depending on your age and health status.
- Ottonova 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.
More guides
- Comparison of German Health Insurance Options by BerlinCheap.com
- Public and private health insurance in Germany: how to choose? by allaboutberlin.com
- Health insurance in Germany by settle-in-berlin.com