Health insurance in Germany.
Everyone in Germany must be insured, and a residence permit needs cover equal to the public system. Here is how to choose, and what gets rejected.
The rules
What Germany asks of you.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Rules change, so the broker confirms them again before you apply.
- Compulsory for everyone
Everyone who lives in Germany must have health insurance, either in a public fund or, if you qualify, a private plan.
Source: bundesgesundheitsministerium.de - Going private: €77,400 in 2026
Employees earning more than €77,400 a year (€6,450 a month) can choose private cover. Below that, employees are in public insurance by law.
Source: deutsche-rentenversicherung.de - Long-stay visas: no travel insurance
For a national (D) visa you need cover at least equal to German public insurance. Travel insurance is not accepted.
Source: uk.diplo.de - Freelancers: German cover only
For a freelance residence permit you need public or comparable German private insurance. Foreign health insurance is not enough.
Source: service.berlin.de - Students: public fund after enrolment
Students usually join a public fund at a student rate once enrolled. You need private cover for the gap between arrival and enrolment.
Source: daad.de
About 90% of people in Germany are in public insurance, spread over 93 funds. A spouse and children with no income can often be covered for free through family insurance.
Source: bundesgesundheitsministerium.deLocal or international
We compare both. You keep the one that fits.
A residence permit needs German public insurance or a comparable German private plan. International plans usually only work for short stays or as a top-up.
- Local plans
Plans sold in Germany. Often cheaper, sometimes required for your visa. Filed by a broker licensed in Germany.
- International plans
Plans that cover you in Germany and beyond, and stay with you if you move again. Filed by our international broker partner.
What it costs
Published prices in Germany.
List prices from insurers and official schemes. Your quote depends on your age, health and the cover you pick.
- Public insurance: 14.6% plus 2.9%
In 2026 the general rate is 14.6% of gross pay, plus your fund’s extra rate, which averages 2.9%. You and your employer each pay half.
Source: vdek.com - Income cap: €5,812.50 a month
Contributions stop at €69,750 a year of income in 2026. At the average rate, the employee half tops out at about €509 a month.
Source: vdek.com - Long-term care: 3.6%
Long-term care insurance costs 3.6% of pay in 2026, split evenly. If you are 23 or older and have no children, you pay 0.6 points more.
Source: vdek.com - Students: €87.38 a month
The student rate for public health insurance, before the fund’s extra rate and long-term care are added.
Source: vdek.com
What to look for
Choosing a plan in Germany.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Equal to public insurance
For a residence permit, the plan must match German public cover. A private insurer must be able to issue a §257 SGB V certificate.
- A clear cover letter
Embassies want a letter stating the level of cover, limits and deductibles. They don’t read the fine print, so the letter must say it.
- Bridge cover
Public cover starts when you start work or enrol. You need a plan from your entry date until then.
- Price the whole family
Public insurance can cover a spouse and children for free. Private plans charge each person, so compare for the whole family.
Step by step
Getting covered in Germany.
- 01Buy cover that starts on your entry date. The embassy needs proof of cover equal to public insurance for a D visa. Public cover only starts when you begin work or enrol, so a German private plan bridges the gap.
- 02Do the Anmeldung within 14 days. Register your address at the citizens’ office within 14 days of moving in. Bring the move-in confirmation your landlord must sign (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung).
- 03Check if you may go private. Employees earning over €77,400 a year and freelancers can choose a private plan. Other employees join a public fund by law.
- 04Compare public funds by their extra rate. Every public fund charges 14.6%, but each sets its own extra rate on top. The 2026 average is 2.9%.
- 05Let your employer take its half. Give your fund’s details to your employer. It pays half the contribution and deducts your half from your salary.
- 06Add your spouse and children. A spouse and children with no income can often join your public fund for free through family insurance.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Showing a travel or international expat plan for a residence permit. It is usually rejected.
- 02Assuming you can choose public or private freely. Under €77,400 a year, employees are in public insurance by law.
- 03Arriving before public cover starts, with no bridge policy.
Real published prices, and the 6 things that move yours.
Just visiting?For a holiday or a short trip, travel insurance is enough. See what Germany asks of visitors, and what care costs.
Questions
People also ask.
Can I use international health insurance in Germany?+
For a short visit, often yes. For a long-stay visa or residence permit, the plan must equal German public insurance, and foreign plans are usually rejected.
What is the income limit to go private in Germany in 2026?+
€77,400 gross a year, or €6,450 a month. Above that, employees can choose private insurance.
Do freelancers in Germany need public or private insurance?+
Either, as long as it is German public insurance or comparable German private insurance with a §257 SGB V certificate.
Is health insurance required to study in Germany?+
Yes. Most students join a public fund at a student rate after enrolment.
Other countries
Going somewhere else?
Most UK visas don’t ask for private insurance. You pay a yearly surcharge instead, and it opens the NHS. Here is what the surcharge buys, and what you still pay for.
02AustraliaMost visitors can’t use Medicare, and many visas carry condition 8501. Here is what each visa asks for, who gets Medicare, and what to check.
03Dubai and the UAEIn Dubai, no insurance means no visa. Your employer covers you, but not always your family. Here are the rules, and what the basic plan leaves out.
04PhilippinesThe retiree visa asks for a medical certificate, not a policy. The new nomad visa does ask for cover. Here is what each visa needs, and how PhilHealth works for foreigners.
05NetherlandsIf you live or work in the Netherlands, Dutch basic insurance is the law. A few people are exempt. Here is who must sign up, by when, and what it costs in 2026.
06CanadaEach province runs its own health plan, and some make you wait. The super visa has strict insurance rules. Here is how Ontario and BC differ, and what the super visa needs.
07Saudi ArabiaIn Saudi Arabia, no insurance means no iqama. Your employer pays for you and your family, and visitors need a policy too. Here is who pays, and what each policy covers.
08JapanIf you live in Japan, joining public insurance is the law. A private plan can only sit on top. Digital nomads are the exception.
10SingaporeThe national plan is for citizens and PRs. Hospital bills for foreigners are high, and families are often left out. Here is what to check.
11ThailandRetirement visas have hard minimums, the DTV has none, and public care is not free for foreigners. Here are the rules, and what to check.
12SpainSpain has the strictest visa insurance rules in Europe: a Spanish-authorised insurer, no co-pays, no waiting periods. Here is what passes.
13MalaysiaPublic hospitals charge foreigners full price, and work schemes only cover injuries at work. Here is what each pass asks for, and what to check.
14QatarMost visitors need a QAR 50 a month policy before Qatar issues a visa. The law covers expats too, but that part is still rolling out. Here are the rules.
15FranceThe public system is open to residents, but not on day 1 if you don’t work, and it only pays part of each bill. Here is how to cover the gaps.
16PortugalThe visa asks for travel medical cover. The public system opens once you are a resident. In between, and after, here is what to check.
17MexicoNo visa asks for it, so many expats skip it. Then a private hospital asks for payment first. Here is how cover really works in Mexico.
18ItalyWorkers join the public system for free. Retirees and nomads need private cover for the visa, then pay at least €2,000 a year to join. Here are the rules.
19South KoreaStay more than 6 months and you must join the national plan. Before that, and for your share of each bill, you need your own cover.
20VietnamOnly long local contracts come with public cover, and most expats use private hospitals anyway. Here is what the rules say, and what to check.
21Bali and IndonesiaMost Indonesian visas don’t ask for insurance. But hospitals ask for payment first, and serious cases fly to Singapore. Here is what to check.
22GreeceThe consulate takes travel cover for the visa. The residence permit then asks for full health cover. If you don’t work for a Greek employer, that means a private plan.
23ColombiaNomads and retirees need a private policy with exact wording. Residents who work must join the public EPS system. Here are the rules.
24Costa RicaResidents must pay into the Caja, whatever private plan they have. Nomads need their own cover for the visa. Here is how it fits together.
25USAThe US has no public plan you can simply join. Some visas set minimum cover. Others leave it to you. Here is what a J-1 needs, who can use the Marketplace, and what plans cost.
26SwitzerlandBasic health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in Switzerland. You have 3 months to sign up. Here is how it works, and what to check.
27IrelandNon-EEA students must hold private medical insurance. Everyone else gets public care once they count as living in Ireland for 1 year. Here is what to check.
28Dominican RepublicThe residence visas for retirees and rentistas ask for a medical certificate, not an insurance policy. Public care is limited. Private care is good but costly.
29New ZealandStudent visas require insurance. A work visa of 2 years or more may open public health care. ACC covers accident injuries. Here is what to check.
30IsraelIn Israel, the public system is for residents. If your life is centred there, you join a health fund (kupat holim). If not, you need private cover.
31Hong KongPublic hospitals in Hong Kong are cheap for eligible persons. Many foreigners are not on that list. Here is who is, what the rest pay, and what to check in a plan.
32ChinaIf you work in China on an employment permit, your employer must enrol you in social insurance. That includes basic medical cover. Here is how it works, and what to check on top.
33ArgentinaEmergency care is open to everyone. For other care at national hospitals, foreigners without permanent residence must show insurance or pay first. The rules are new, so check them.
34IndiaWe found no official rule that ties health insurance to an Indian work visa. We also could not confirm a public scheme for foreign residents. So the plan is yours to choose. Here is what to check.
35TurkeyA residence permit application needs valid health insurance for the whole permit. Most new expats buy a private policy. The public SGK system opens later, after 1 year of residence.
36BrazilThe digital nomad visa needs health insurance valid in Brazil. The public system is open to migrants by law. Many expats add a private plan for speed.
37PanamaThe Pensionado visa asks for a health certificate, not an insurance policy. The public system is tied to the Caja. Private care is the main option for most expats.
38South AfricaStudy and exchange visas ask for proof of cover from a registered medical scheme. Public clinics offer free primary care. Here is what to check.
39KenyaKenya’s public fund is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA). A foreigner who lives in Kenya for more than 12 months pays into it. Shorter stays need travel health insurance instead.
40TaiwanTaiwan has one national health insurance. Foreigners with a residence certificate can join. If you have a job, you join through your employer. If not, there is a wait.