Expat health insurance provides temporary coverage in Germany for new arrivals and short-term residents who are not yet in public or private health insurance. Expat health insurance covers you for up to 5 years from your most recent arrival in Germany. After that, you switch to public or private health insurance, or to long-term expat health insurance if you are not eligible for either. Some groups are not eligible, such as people employed above a set income threshold, people aged 75 or older, and people who have lived in Germany for more than 5 years since their most recent arrival.
Who is eligible for expat health insurance in Germany?
Expat health insurance is for people who need temporary coverage in Germany before they join public or private health insurance. You are eligible if you:
have recently moved to Germany and need your first coverage before you qualify for public health insurance
previously lived in Germany, moved abroad, and have now returned. The same rules apply to you as to new arrivals, however long you lived in Germany before.
are staying in Germany short-term or part-time as a temporary resident
are visiting Germany for a few weeks or months
are a German citizen who has never lived in Germany before and is staying temporarily
Can I sign up for expat health insurance before I arrive in Germany?
Yes. You can apply before you arrive, and we recommend arranging coverage in advance because valid health insurance is a legal requirement for living in Germany. If you already know your arrival date, you can complete your application ahead of time and set your coverage to start on that date, as long as the date is in the future.
How long can I use expat health insurance in Germany?
Expat health insurance provides coverage for up to 5 years from your most recent arrival in Germany. Time you spent living in Germany before moving abroad does not count toward these 5 years. After 5 years, you must switch to public health insurance (GKV) or private health insurance (PKV) if you are eligible. If you are not eligible for either, you can enroll in long-term expat health insurance, which is a separate product for longer-term coverage.
Who is not eligible for expat health insurance in Germany?
Some groups cannot take out expat health insurance, including:
people already living in Germany who have started employment with a German company and earn more than €603 per month (this does not include freelancers or self-employed people)
people who have lived in Germany for more than 5 years since their most recent arrival. Time spent in Germany before moving abroad does not count.
people aged 75 or older
applicants for secondary visas, visa renewals, or visa and residence extensions
people who need permanent or high levels of care
professional athletes
professional dancers
Professional dancers may instead be eligible for long-term expat health insurance.
Can I get expat health insurance if I lived in Germany before?
Yes. You can get expat health insurance if you previously lived in Germany, moved abroad, and are now moving back to Germany. This is true even if your earlier time in Germany added up to more than 5 years. The 5-year limit for expat health insurance counts only the time since your most recent arrival in Germany, not the total time you have lived in Germany over your lifetime.
Does expat health insurance or long-term expat health insurance replace private health insurance (PKV) or public health insurance (GKV)?
No. Neither expat health insurance nor long-term expat health insurance replaces private health insurance (PKV) or public health insurance (GKV). If you are legally required to join the German public system, then in the majority of cases you cannot sign up for expat health insurance or long-term expat health insurance. Both expat health insurance and long-term expat health insurance are meant for people who are not eligible for public or private health insurance.