You can cancel your expat health insurance on a monthly basis, with coverage running to the end of the month you cancel in. If you cancel within the 14-day right of withdrawal (or before the start date), you receive a full refund; after the policy starts, a one-month minimum applies. Valid reasons include having another plan in Germany, leaving the country, being added as a dependent, a visa rejection or never arriving, or the policyholder's death. Because German law requires continuous coverage, only cancel once you have another plan in place or are leaving Germany.
What is the cancellation and billing policy for expat health insurance?
You can cancel your expat health insurance on a monthly basis, with no long-term contract. Premiums are charged on the 1st of each month, so if you cancel before the end of the current month, you won't be billed for the following month. Your coverage stays active until the end of the month in which you cancel. Because you're legally required to maintain continuous health coverage while living in Germany, only cancel your expat health policy once you have another plan in place or are leaving Germany.
Can I get a refund, and is there a minimum charge, depending on when I cancel?
Whether you receive a refund depends on how soon you cancel after purchasing:
If your expat health policy starts within 14 days of purchase, you have 14 days from the purchase date to cancel and receive a full refund, as long as no claims were made. For example, if you purchase on May 1 and the policy starts on May 7, you can cancel any time before May 15.
If your expat health policy starts more than 14 days after purchase, you can cancel any time before the start date and receive a full refund. For example, if you purchase on May 1 and the policy starts on August 1, you can cancel any time up to and including July 31.
Once your policy has started and the right of withdrawal period has passed, a one-month (30-day) minimum applies, so a payment equal to one month's premium is charged. To avoid any charge, cancel before your policy's start date.
What are valid reasons for canceling my expat health insurance?
You can cancel your expat health insurance for several reasons:
You have another health insurance plan in Germany — public health insurance (GKV), private health insurance (PKV), long-term expat health insurance, or another expat health policy.
You have left Germany — if you've relocated or are leaving permanently, you can cancel. If you're leaving temporarily and plan to return, you can cancel now and purchase a new policy when you come back.
You were added as a dependent on a family member's health insurance plan.
You never arrived in Germany, or your visa was rejected — you must notify us before your policy begins and provide proof, otherwise a one-month minimum charge applies.
The policyholder has died.
Pausing an expat health policy is not available, so canceling is the only way to end coverage.
Which cancellation reason should I select for my situation?
The reason you select when submitting your cancellation depends on your circumstances:
You obtained another health insurance plan in Germany, or you were added as a dependent on a family member's plan — select "I have another health insurance."
You no longer need expat health insurance — German law requires you to hold health coverage while in Germany, so secure alternative coverage first, then select "I have another health insurance."
You are leaving Germany or have already left — select "I left Germany."
If none of these fit your situation, you can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.
How do I cancel if I haven't entered Germany or my visa was rejected?
If you haven't entered Germany — including cases where your visa was rejected — you can cancel before the policy starts by providing proof that you're not in Germany, such as a geolocation screenshot or proof of the visa rejection. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources. If the policy has already started, a one-month minimum charge applies.
What happens if I'm switching to public or private health insurance?
If you signed up for public health insurance (GKV) or private health insurance (PKV) with us, we handle the cancellation of your expat health policy for you, and you may be eligible for a partial refund on your expat health charges for that month. In most cases, this is processed automatically. If you switched externally and need an official expat health cancellation document for your new public or private insurer, you can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources, since that document is created on request.