Health insurance is mandatory for all residents in Germany, including pensioners. The available insurance options depend on whether you receive a German statutory pension, your previous insurance history, your age, your income, and your residence status. Pensioners may qualify for public health insurance under the KVdR status, apply for private health insurance, access the Basistarif, or consider expat or long-term health insurance depending on their individual situation.
Is health insurance mandatory for pensioners in Germany?
Health insurance is mandatory for all residents in Germany, including pensioners. If you move to Germany to retire or you already live in Germany and begin receiving a pension, you must maintain valid health insurance coverage at all times.
The type of insurance available depends on your work history, pension status, previous insurance history, age, income, and residence status.
Can you join public health insurance in Germany as a pensioner?
If you retire in Germany, you can be insured in public health insurance (GKV) in two main ways:
1. KVdR — pensioners’ health insurance (most common and cheaper)
To qualify for KVdR:
You must receive or have applied for a German statutory pension.
You must have been insured in the public health system for at least 90% of the second half of your working life. This requirement is known as the 9/10 rule.
Periods of public health insurance in another EU country may be considered when checking whether you meet the 9/10 requirement. However, the final decision is made by the German public health insurer.
If you qualify for KVdR:
Contributions are mainly calculated based on your German statutory pension income.
The German pension insurance fund pays approximately half of your health insurance contribution.
KVdR is most commonly available to people who worked in Germany for many years before retiring. Parents get 3 extra years per child added to their public insurance period, making it easier to qualify.
2. Voluntary public health insurance
If you don’t qualify for KVdR, you may still join public health insurance as a voluntary member, if you're eligible.
It's important to consider that:
After age 55, joining or returning to public health insurance is generally not possible unless specific legal exceptions apply.
You pay the full contribution yourself.
Contributions are based on your total worldwide income (pension, rent, investments, etc.).
Special case: Retiring from another EU country
If you receive a public pension from an EU/EEA country, the UK, or Switzerland, you can use Form S1 to access Germany’s public system. Germany provides care, and your home country reimburses the costs.
Can you apply for private health insurance in Germany as a pensioner?
Pensioners who do not qualify for public health insurance may apply for private health insurance.
There are several ways to get in private health insurer as a pensioner:
As a policyholder
As a policyholder
Eligibility depends on your health history and whether you meet the income threshold for private insurance.
If you are over 55 years old, insurers usually require a medical assessment. Based on the results, insurers may:
Increase your monthly premium.
Exclude certain pre-existing conditions from coverage.
Offer modified coverage.
Decline your application.
As a dependent of a partner or child
As a dependent of a partner or child
If your spouse or registered partner is privately insured in Germany, you may apply for coverage under a dependent arrangement if your income does not exceed the minijob income threshold – 603€ for 2026.
However, eligibility still depends on your health status. Private health insurance does not offer free family coverage. Each dependent is individually assessed and receives their own contract and premium.
At Feather, we currently support dependent applications for partners and children only. We do not support applications for parents as dependents.
Basic plan (Basistarif)
Basic plan (Basistarif)
If you cannot access public health insurance and are declined from standard private plans, the Basistarif may be available.
The Basistarif is a legally regulated tariff within the private health insurance system in Germany. Coverage under the Basistarif is comparable to public health insurance in terms of benefits.
You might be eligible if:
You reside in Germany.
You are required to have health insurance.
You cannot access public health insurance.
You have been declined from standard private health insurance plans.
At the time of application, you must hold a German residence permit valid for at least one year. Contributions in the Basistarif are capped but can still be relatively high. The Basistarif is generally considered a safety-net option.
You cannot apply for the Basic plan through Feather.
If you believe you qualify, you can contact your chosen private health insurer directly to request the Basic plan (Basistarif). Insurers must provide access if eligibility is met.
Private plans from other providers
Private plans from other providers
If you're not eligible for any of our Feather's private health plans, you can check with other german private health insurance providers. Availability and conditions vary significantly between providers. Acceptance is always subject to health assessment and insurer approval.
Expat or long-term health insurance
If you are not eligible for public health insurance or private health insurance, you may consider expat health insurance or long-term private health insurance. However, both options have age limits when you first sign up.
You can sign up until age 75
The policy ends when you turn 75 or after 5 years — whichever comes first
You can sign up until age 70
If you enroll before turning 70, you can keep your policy without a time limit
If you’re between 65 and 70 when applying, a health screening is required