Expat health insurance provides short-term coverage designed for new medical conditions arising after the policy begins, with basic outpatient and inpatient care covered under both plans. The premium plan offers extended benefits such as dental cleanings, cancer screenings, pregnancy delivery coverage after a six-month waiting period, and physical therapy without limit. Pre-existing conditions, routine check-ups (except specific dental and cancer screenings), psychoanalytical treatments, and allied health services are excluded. Coverage also includes limited travel health, ambulance transports that lead to hospitalization, and repatriation when medically necessary.
First, let's break down the coverage in a simplified comparison table so you can have an initial overview.
Coverage (per insurance year) | Basic Expat Plan | Premium Expat Plan (* indicates 6 month waiting period) |
Out-patient medical treatments | ✅ | ✅ |
Dental treatment for pain relief | €500 | €1000 |
Preventative dental treatment (eg dental cleanings) | X | ✅ * |
Medications and surgical dressings | ✅ | ✅ |
Radiation therapy, light therapy, and other physical treatments | ✅ | ✅ |
Massages, compresses and inhalations | €300 | ✅ |
Therapeutic aids prescribed following an accident | €500 | ✅ |
General medical aids (with prior approval) | X | €500 |
Repairs for existing medical aids | X | €250 |
Visual aids (following a 0.5 diopter or higher vision loss) | X | €200 |
Operations | ✅ | ✅ |
In-patient medical treatment under general care insurance (multiple-bed room without treatment by private doctor) | ✅ | ✅ |
Screening check-ups for early detection of cancers in accordance with the statutory programs introduced in Germany | X | €300 * |
One skin cancer check-up | X | ✅ * |
Up to 80% of the eligible cost for medically required dentures | X | €1,250 * |
Dental check-ups | X | €200 * |
Pregnancy treatment due to complaints | ✅ | ✅ |
Pregnancy examinations and deliveries | X | ✅ * |
Ambulance transport to in-patient treatment | ✅ | ✅ |
Ambulance transport to out-patient treatment | X | X |
Repatriation, if medically necessary | ✅ | ✅ |
Repatriation of mortal remains to the home country or funeral in the Federal Republic of Germany | €10,000 | €10,000 |
Tele-medical consultation | 1 free consult (no copay) | 2 free consults (no copay) |
Travel vaccinations | X | €250 |
Covid vaccinations | X | €100 |
Covid rapid tests | 3 (up to 15 euros) | 5 (up to 25 euros) |
Fitness applications | X | €5 per month |
Pre-existing conditions | X | X |
Gynaecological preventative care | X | X |
Regular vaccinations | X | X |
Psychotherapy | X | X |
* indicates 6 month waiting period
What medical treatments are covered under basic and premium expat health insurance plans?
Expat health insurance covers new medical conditions that begin after the insurance starts, subject to any applicable waiting periods. Both basic and premium plans provide coverage for outpatient appointments with registered medical doctors and inpatient hospital treatments. Coverage includes:
Outpatient and inpatient medical treatments for new conditions.
Pain-relieving dental treatments for new dental issues.
Medications, surgical dressings, radiation and light therapies.
Ambulance transport leading to inpatient admission.
Medically necessary repatriation and repatriation of mortal remains.
Telemedical consultations (1 free for basic, 2 free for premium plans).
How does dental and physical therapy coverage differ between the basic and premium plans?
The basic plan offers €500 per year for pain-relieving dental treatments such as fillings and denture repairs for new dental issues, and €300 per year for physical therapy with a doctor's referral. The premium plan provides €1000 per year for dental pain relief and after a six-month waiting period covers:
€200 per year for dental check-ups.
€100 per year for dental cleanings.
Up to €1,250 for medically necessary dentures at 80% reimbursement.
Unlimited physical therapy with a doctor's referral.
What preventive screenings and pregnancy-related treatments are covered in the premium plan?
After six months on the premium plan, coverage includes:
€300 per year for cancer screenings recommended in Germany.
One fully covered skin cancer check-up annually.
Pregnancy examinations and deliveries, if pregnancy begins after coverage starts.
Mandatory child check-ups (U1–U9 screenings) excluding vaccinations.
What travel and additional health benefits does the expat health insurance provide?
Coverage applies within the EU, Schengen Area, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. After one year on the plan, coverage includes up to six weeks of travel to the home country annually. The premium plan also covers:
Travel vaccinations up to €250.
COVID vaccinations up to €100.
COVID rapid antigen tests (3 covered under basic, 5 under premium).
Fitness and health applications allowance (€5 per month on premium).
What treatments and services are not covered by expat health insurance?
Expat health insurance excludes coverage for:
Pre-existing conditions known before coverage starts.
Routine check-ups except for specific dental, cancer and skin screenings on the premium plan.
Preventative and prophylactic treatments.
Psychoanalytical and psychotherapeutic treatments.
Treatment for addictive disorders.
Ambulance transport unless resulting in hospital admission.
Allied health services other than physiotherapy.
Self-inflicted injuries.
Gynaecological screenings.
Fertility and sterility treatments.
Holistic or alternative therapies.
How does the waiting period affect coverage under the premium expat plan?
Certain benefits, including preventive dental care, cancer and skin cancer screenings, pregnancy examinations, and dentures coverage, require a six-month waiting period after the policy starts before they become available.
What should expats consider after using expat health insurance?
Expat health insurance is intended for short-term use and does not provide the comprehensive coverage of statutory public or full private health insurances. Once eligible, expats are recommended to upgrade to public or private insurance for broader coverage, which can be assessed using our eligibility recommendation tool.
If you have any further questions, or would like to read the full policy terms, feel free to reach out to us.
If you would like to learn more about expat health insurance or would like to sign up, you can do so here.