Health insurance is mandatory for everyone living in Germany, including pensioners. Most pensioners are covered through Public health insurance (GKV), either under the KVdR pensioners' membership, as a voluntary member, or as a dependent of a family member. Pensioners who don't qualify for Public health insurance may apply for Private health insurance (PKV), including the Basistarif as a safety-net option. Expat health insurance and Long-term expat health insurance are separate products with their own sign-up age limits: 75 for Expat health insurance and 70 for Long-term expat health insurance.
Is health insurance mandatory for pensioners in Germany?
Health insurance is mandatory for everyone who lives in Germany, including pensioners. If you move to Germany to retire, or you already live in Germany and start receiving a pension, you must hold valid health insurance coverage at all times. Which options are open to you depends on your work history, pension status, previous insurance history, age, income, and residence status.
How can pensioners join Public health insurance (GKV) in Germany?
Pensioners can be covered by Public health insurance (GKV) in three ways:
KVdR, the pensioners' membership within Public health insurance, is the most common and usually the cheapest route, and it requires a German statutory pension plus a qualifying insurance history.
Voluntary membership in Public health insurance is possible for pensioners who do not qualify for KVdR but are otherwise eligible, and it means paying the full contribution yourself based on your total worldwide income from pensions, rent, investments, and other sources.
Family coverage as a dependent is possible if your partner or child is enrolled in Public health insurance in Germany and your own pension does not exceed €565 per month.
After age 55, joining or returning to Public health insurance is generally not possible unless a specific legal exception applies. If you are retiring and moving to Germany from outside the EU and you do not receive a German pension, Public health insurance is generally not available to you.
How do you qualify for KVdR, and what does it cost?
KVdR is the pensioners' membership within Public health insurance (GKV), and qualifying depends on your pension and your insurance history:
You must receive a German statutory pension or have applied for one.
You must have been insured in Public health insurance for at least 90% of the second half of your working life, which is known as the 9/10 rule.
Periods of public health coverage in another EU country can be counted toward the 9/10 rule, but the German public health insurer makes the final decision.
Parents receive 3 additional years per child toward their public insurance period, which makes the 9/10 rule easier to meet.
If you qualify for KVdR, contributions are calculated mainly on your German statutory pension income, and the German pension insurance fund pays roughly half of your health insurance contribution. KVdR is most commonly available to people who worked in Germany for many years before retiring.
Can you use a pension from another EU country, the UK, or Switzerland to get health coverage in Germany?
If you receive a public pension from an EU or EEA country, the UK, or Switzerland, Form S1 gives you access to Germany's public health system. Germany provides the medical care, and the country paying your pension reimburses the costs. We cannot assist with Form S1 applications. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.
Can pensioners apply for Private health insurance (PKV) in Germany?
Pensioners who do not qualify for Public health insurance may apply for Private health insurance (PKV). There are three ways to be covered:
As a policyholder, eligibility depends on your health history and on whether you meet the income threshold for Private health insurance. Applicants over 55 usually undergo a medical assessment, and based on the result an insurer may increase your monthly premium, exclude pre-existing conditions, offer modified coverage, or decline the application.
As a dependent of a spouse or registered partner who is privately insured in Germany, provided your income does not exceed the minijob threshold of €603 in 2026. Private health insurance has no free family coverage, so every dependent is assessed individually and receives their own contract and premium. We support dependent applications for partners and children only, and we do not support applications for parents as dependents.
Through another provider in Germany, if you are not eligible for any of our Private health insurance plans. Availability and conditions vary between providers, and acceptance always depends on a health assessment and insurer approval.
What is the Basistarif, and who can apply for it?
The Basistarif is a legally regulated tariff within the German Private health insurance (PKV) system, and its benefits are comparable to Public health insurance. You may be eligible if you live in Germany, are required to hold health insurance, cannot access Public health insurance, and have been declined by standard Private health insurance plans. At the time of application, you must hold a German residence permit valid for at least one year, and contributions are capped but can still be relatively high, which makes the Basistarif a safety-net option.
The Basistarif is not one of our Private health insurance (PKV) plans, and applications for it cannot be submitted through Feather. You need to apply directly with a private insurer that offers the Basistarif. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.
Can pensioners get Expat health insurance or Long-term expat health insurance in Germany?
Both our expat plans have age limits that apply when you first sign up, and they are two separate products with different terms:
Expat health insurance accepts new sign-ups up to age 75, and the policy ends when you turn 75 or after 5 years, whichever comes first.
Long-term expat health insurance accepts new sign-ups up to age 70, and if you enroll before turning 70 you can keep the policy with no time limit.
Long-term expat health insurance requires a health screening if you are between 65 and 70 when you apply.
Expat health insurance and Long-term expat health insurance are options to consider if you are eligible for neither Public health insurance nor Private health insurance.