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Living in Europe, Working in EuropeEntry conditions/visas, Health insurance, Medical careGermany

Health Insurance

Health insurance ("Krankenversicherung") forms part of the statutory social security contributions. It is regulated in Book V of the German Social Code ("Sozialgesetzbuch"). Pursuant to § 1 SGB V, its purpose is to "maintain, restore and improve the health of the insured".

In Germany, statutory health insurance is compulsory for all employees with annual income lying below the insurance threshold (2024: 69,300 euro) and above this for many other groups (cf. § 5 SGB V). In general, researchers having a working contract as well as their accompanying family members are subject to compulsory health insurance.

In Germany, there are statutory as well as private health insurance companies. For statutory health insurances, the contribution rate of 14.6% has been applicable since 1 January 2019. Under certain circumstances, health insurance companies may charge additional contributions. The costs for the health insurance contributions (including possible additional contributions) are equally split between emloyers and employees.

There is quite a range of statutory health insurance providers and private insurance companies to choose from. In order to help you get a better overview, we have drawn up a list of statutory health insurance providers and private health insurance companies that can be found under "Further information".

  • The following information applies to citizens of EU States, as well as citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, who are spending time abroad:

    Those who are insured on a voluntary basis or who are covered by statutory insurance may make use of the health services in other EU States, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and have the costs reimbursed by their health insurance scheme. Thus, with regards to ambulant treatment, those insured can choose whether they wish to be treated in Germany or in another Member State. If they consult a doctor or use other medical services within the European Union, they initially have to pay the costs of the treatment on the spot and then submit the receipts to their insurance scheme in their own country. The costs will then be reimbursed at the same level as they would if they had been incurred for treatment in Germany; any excess costs usually must be covered by patients themselves.

    In the case of hospital treatment in another State, the health insurance scheme must agree to the treatment in advance. This may only be refused if the same or equally effective treatment at the same general standard of medical knowledge could be obtained for the patient in good time at a hospital in Germany.

    Extended health insurance cover comes into force if someone covered by statutory insurance and his or her family are only staying in another country on a temporary basis - for example on holiday or business. In case of illness, they are eligible for services that are necessary medically, including hospital treatment.

    If a contract for employment in Germany has been signed and you are actually working here, you are subject to compulsory health insurance here.


    The European Health Insurance Card

    To facilitate treatment during temporary visits abroad, every health insurance scheme is obliged to issue its members with a European Health Insurance Card. In case of illness in another EU country, or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, medical services are provided according to the laws of the host country and reimbursed according to the charges applying there: by presenting the card, patients are eligible both for services which are free of charge in the host country as well as for free medical treatment. Costs for services which usually incur charges in the host country will be covered by the health insurance scheme on presentation of the insurance card.

    However, the European Health Insurance Card only has a limited scope.

    It is valid:

    • for temporary stays abroad
    • for necessary medical services

    It is not valid:

    • for trips abroad specifically for the purpose of treatment
    • for the costs incurred in transporting an invalid home

       

    Extended Stays

    An extended stay abroad is one that goes beyond a holiday or business trip or a conference visit such as a guest professorship or research trip that lasts a semester or a year. For extended stays abroad within the European Union, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, instead of the European Health Insurance Card, the following applies:

    If you are entitled to statutory health insurance at home, then your domestic health insurance provider will issue you with an S1 Form (formerly E 106) on request. This S1 Form entitles you and your family members to register with a German health insurance scheme. The German health insurance scheme will then provide all the services that a German health insurance scheme member is entitled to. The German health insurance scheme will subsequently bill the domestic health insurance provider for their costs.

    If you are entitled to statutory health insurance in Germany and some members of your family have remained in your own country, then the German health insurance provider will issue an S1 Form (formerly E109) on request. This S1 Form allows those members of your family who have stayed at home to make use of the services of the statutory health insurance scheme without needing to pay contributions. The domestic health insurance provider will subsequently bill the German health insurance scheme for their costs.

  • For a research stay in Germany, medical treatment in the event of serious illness and accidents in Germany must be able to be covered . In case of preconditions, please obtain all necessary medication in your home country, as private health insurance in Germany generally will not cover preconditions, meaning you will have to bear any treatment costs yourself. In contrast to private insurances, statutory health insurance providers are required to cover the full costs for insured persons, even preconditions, from the very first day of coverage. It is a good idea to contact the health insurance provider you have selected before travelling to Germany to clarify any questions you may have in advance and to ensure insurance coverage is provided from the very first day. The responsible Immigration Office will require proof of health insurance in order to process residency permit applications.

    Check whether your insurance at home covers medical and hospital expenses incurred during your stay in Germany. The insurance company must then confirm in writing that the insurance coverage is also valid in Germany. If the insurance cover is inadequate for visa or residency permit application purposes, you will have to take out an additional insurance policy.

    Travel insurance is not sufficient: travel insuance only covers specific health risks when travelling, but does not provide sufficient healthcare coverage for your time in Germany.

    Since 1 January 2009, anyone residing in Germany is required to possess health insurance coverage from an insurance provider licensed in Germany if they are not covered by statutory health insurance or entitled to health allowances for members of the civil service. Therefore, in these cases it would make sense to obtain health insurance from a German provider. Insurance coverage abroad can then be switched to the For the duration of your stay in Germany, the foreign health insurance cover can be deferred for this time.

     

Further Information

Statutory Health Insurance

Information on the statutory health insurance in Germany National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds.

Private Health Insurance Companies

Information about private health insurance and private health insurance providers (in German) from the Verband der privaten Krankenversicherung e.V.

DAAD-Group Insurance Scheme

Health, Liability, and Accident Insurance available to foreign scientists sponsored, supported or represented by members of DAAD or DAAD Partner Organizations

Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is carefully monitored. However, we cannot assume any responsibility for the contents. All the contents are of a general nature and cannot deal conclusively wih every individual case. The contents of this page are not necessarily complete, comprehensive or completely up-to-date. The contents of this page neither constitute legal advice nor legally-binding information and they do not constitute a substitute for expert advice.