It's not possible to pause an expat health insurance policy. You can either cancel your current policy and purchase a new one when you're ready, or keep your policy active while you're away. If you cancel and repurchase, any health conditions that developed under your previous policy will be considered pre-existing under the new one. Your policy also covers you in the EU and Schengen area for trips of up to 90 days each, and in your home country for up to 6 weeks a year after 12 uninterrupted months on the plan.
Can I pause my expat health insurance policy?
We're not able to pause policies. If you need a break from your coverage, you have 2 options:
Cancel your current policy and purchase a new one when you have a confirmed return date. Keep in mind that any health conditions that developed under your previous policy will be considered pre-existing under a new one.
Keep your policy active for the period you're away and maintain continuous coverage without the risk of pre-existing condition exclusions.
Can I pause my policy if I am going to travel abroad?
No, we're not able to pause policies if you are going to be traveling abroad. However, if you're traveling in the EU or Schengen area, your expat health insurance covers you in those countries too 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 resets on your policy anniversary date each year.
Can I pause my policy if my visa is delayed?
No, we're not able to pause policies even if your visa was denied. If your policy has already started, it's likely because the start date was set before your arrival in Germany, which is earlier than it should have been. 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.
This will generate a new policy, but this is not a problem for your visa application as long as your policy is active on the day when you arrive in Germany. If you have a new appointment for your visa or residence permit, just show your new policy documents.
Keep in mind that a minimum of 1 month's premium applies if your policy has already started. If you're unsure how to choose the right start date for your policy, see our dedicated FAQ on when to start your expat health insurance.