Expat health insurance policies can't be paused under any circumstances. If you need a break, you can either cancel and buy a new policy later — accepting that health conditions from the previous policy become pre-existing — or keep your policy active to preserve continuous coverage. The policy can't be paused for travel, but it covers you in the EU and Schengen area for up to 90 days per trip and in your home country for up to 6 weeks per year after 12 uninterrupted months. If a visa delay means your start date is too early, you can cancel and repurchase with a corrected start date.

It's not possible to pause an expat health insurance policy. If you need a break from your coverage, you have 2 options:

It's not possible to pause an expat health insurance policy while you're traveling abroad, but your existing coverage may still apply. If you travel within the EU or Schengen area, expat health covers you in those countries for up to 90 days per trip. After 12 uninterrupted months on the plan, you're also covered in your home country for up to 6 weeks per year. This home-country allowance resets on your policy anniversary date each year.

It's not possible to pause an expat health insurance policy if your visa is delayed or denied. If your policy has already started, the start date was likely set before your arrival in Germany, which is earlier than it needs to be. In that case, you can either keep your current policy or cancel it and sign up for a new one with a start date that matches your actual arrival date.

Creating a new policy is not a problem for your visa or residence permit application, as long as your policy is active on the day you arrive in Germany. If you have a new appointment, you can show your new policy documents.

If you're unsure how to choose the right start date, see our dedicated FAQ on when to start your expat health insurance.