Health Insurance for Expats in Germany: Providers and Plans Compared
Germany has compulsory health insurance. For anyone arriving from abroad, proof of insurance is therefore not only a health matter but the entry ticket for your visa, residence permit and city registration. Without it, nothing moves at the authorities.
Which route is right for you comes down to three factors: length of stay, status (employed, self-employed, posted, studying, visiting) and income. This page sets out the options and leads to the providers we regularly broker for each situation.
Short-term visa and incoming insurance
Still abroad and need proof of health insurance for your appointment at the embassy or consulate? For visits, short stays and fixed-term stays we check three routes. Each is designed for a different purpose – what matters is the purpose of your stay, its length and your visa type.
- Visit & travel
TravelSecure Incoming
Provider: Würzburger Versicherungs-AG
- Designed for
- Travel health insurance for guests from abroad who come to Germany temporarily – for example for visits, business trips or short stays on a Schengen visa.
- Not designed for
- Longer stays with residence or work in Germany. It does not replace comprehensive health insurance.
- Fixed-term stay
BDAE Expat Germany
Provider: BDAE
- Designed for
- International health insurance for fixed-term stays in Germany of up to five years – for example postings, fixed-term employment contracts or research stays.
- Not designed for
- Short visits of a few weeks and open-ended stays – there are better-suited solutions for those.
- Visit & short stay
Care Economy
Provider: Care Concept
- Designed for
- Visitor health insurance for family visits and short to medium-term stays. It covers the cost risk of sudden illness or an accident.
- Not designed for
- Treatment of conditions that already exist, and longer stays with work in Germany.
Important: Whether a plan is suitable for your application and accepted is decided case by case – by the insurer, who reviews the purpose of your stay and your details, and by the embassy or immigration office, which sets its own requirements, for example on minimum cover, territorial scope and duration. We check this against your embassy’s information sheet before you sign up.
The three routes into cover
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1. Statutory health insurance (GKV)
Anyone employed in Germany subject to social insurance and earning below the compulsory insurance threshold is generally covered by statutory insurance, as are students at German universities within the age limits. The contribution is income-based, and family members can be co-insured free of charge under certain conditions.
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2. Private comprehensive health insurance (PKV)
For self-employed people, freelancers and employees above the income threshold. The premium depends on age, health and scope of cover rather than income. For fixed-term residence permits there are purpose-built plans such as Hi.Germany by Hallesche, which are employer-subsidised and cancellable monthly.
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3. International health insurance
For people whose centre of life is only temporarily in Germany: posted workers, guests, students before enrolment, digital nomads based in Berlin. These plans often apply worldwide and move with you. Whether they satisfy compulsory insurance in an individual case depends on your status – we check that in advance.
Which provider suits which situation?
- APRIL International – digital handling with app-based reimbursement and 24/7 telemedicine. My Health International for open-ended stays, MyTempoCover for up to twelve months.
- Hallesche Hi.Germany – German private comprehensive insurance for fixed-term residence permits up to five years, fully employer-subsidised, cancellable monthly.
- Care Concept – affordable specialist plans for studies, language courses, au pair stays and visits.
- TravelSecure Incoming – travel health insurance by Würzburger for guests who come to Germany temporarily, for example for visits or short stays on a Schengen visa.
- Foyer Global Health – three tiers from Essential to Exclusive, English-speaking service, worldwide validity.
- Cigna Healthcare – premium level with a very large worldwide network and modular design.
- PassportCard – cashless payment at the doctor instead of paying up front and waiting for reimbursement.
- BDAE – more than 25 years specialising in expats: Expat Germany up to five years, Expat Infinity without a time limit.
What to consider when choosing
Recognition by the immigration office
Requirements for proof differ by visa type and federal state. Clarify this before your appointment – not in the waiting room.
Routine outpatient care
Cheap plans concentrate on emergencies and inpatient treatment. If you see specialists regularly or take long-term medication, that will not serve you.
Pre-existing conditions
Answer health questions in full. Incorrect or incomplete statements are the most common reason for benefits being reduced later.
The way back
Moving from private back into statutory insurance depends on statutory conditions and is not open in every constellation. If you want to keep that option, it must be discussed before you apply.
What else you need
Health insurance is the obligation, not the whole picture. Also relevant for daily life in Germany: private liability insurance (the most important voluntary cover there is), accident insurance, travel insurance and retirement planning. For a quick overview, use the insurance check.
Not sure which route applies to you? Write to us on WhatsApp (+49 151 28937141) or via the contact form – we advise in German and English.
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in Germany
Do I really need health insurance as a foreigner in Germany?
Yes. Germany has compulsory health insurance, and proof is additionally required for your visa, residence permit and often for city registration. Without valid cover you will in practice get neither through the authorities nor into regular medical care.
Statutory or private – which applies to me?
Anyone employed subject to social insurance below the income threshold falls under statutory insurance. Self-employed people, freelancers and employees above that threshold can insure privately. Students at German universities are covered by student statutory insurance within the age limits.
Is international health insurance enough for my residence permit?
Often yes, but not in every constellation and not identically at every authority. What matters are your visa type, length of stay and employment status. We check this before you apply so there are no surprises at your appointment.
What does advice from Spreefinanz cost?
The advice is free for you. We are remunerated by the insurance companies as part of the brokerage. As an independent broker we are not tied to any single provider.
Can I later switch from private to statutory health insurance?
Moving back into statutory insurance depends on statutory conditions, for example employment subject to social insurance below the income threshold. If you want to keep that option open, raise it before taking out private comprehensive cover.
Will I be advised in English?
Yes. Advice, documents and support in a claim are available in German and English. Many of the providers we broker also make their contract documents and customer service available in several languages.
Want to know which route applies to your status in Germany? Book a free initial consultation or start the insurance check.
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April International
PRO: Modular, flexible construction kit, very good app control.
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Global Health Foyer Group
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Passport Card
PRO: No prepayment required, payment directly by card.
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BDAE
PRO: Specialist, over 25 years of experience with expat solutions.
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Care-Concept
PRO: Excellent value for money, ideal for students, language learners & visitors.
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Cigna Healthcare
PRO: Premium, huge worldwide network & high coverage.
Why SpreeFinanz?
We have advised people living between countries since 1996. On health insurance for foreigners in Germany you get a clear recommendation – independent, in German and English.
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We are quickly
reachableVisa and authority deadlines do not wait. We answer via WhatsApp, video call or phone – even while you are still abroad.
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We work
transparentlyYou see the differences between statutory, private and international cover in writing – including what the way back costs.
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We think
situation-basedEmployed, self-employed, posted or studying: your status decides the route, not the lowest premium.
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We stay with you
after signingWhen your residence permit is extended, you change jobs or family joins you, we adjust the cover together.
