Health insurance for expats in Germany, matched to your visa

Yes. Adequate health insurance is a standard requirement for a D visa and a residency permit, and it is checked again at renewal. What counts depends on the permit and the office, which is why we confirm your case before you buy.

Employees are normally in public insurance, or can choose private above the income threshold. Freelancers and the self-employed need full private or voluntary public cover. Job seekers can often use expat cover first.

Usually yes, for the long term. Once you work or register in Germany you must be in German-regulated public or private cover. Some offices accept an international policy for a first permit, so check before you rely on it.

You must show continuous cover with no gaps. Review your policy before the appointment, especially after a job change or a change of permit.

Short-term cover for people arriving in Germany, technically a form of travel health insurance. Some offices accept it for the first issuance of certain permits, but it is temporary and does not replace full cover. Read our guide.

It depends on your permit, income, age, health, family and how long you plan to stay. Private can offer better access and value for freelancers and high earners. Public is often better for families. We compare both for your case.

Yes. You can join public insurance voluntarily or take a private policy. The immigration office wants proof of full cover, and the premium should fit your financial plan.

The Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) is the artists' social insurance fund. If you work independently as an artist, musician, DJ, writer or designer and meet its income and activity rules, it pays the employer share of your public contributions. Use our eligibility check above.

Public contributions are a percentage of your income up to a ceiling, and freelancers pay the full amount themselves. As your income grows, so does your contribution. Private premiums depend on your age and benefits instead, so for higher earners private can be cheaper.

It can. Private insurers ask health questions, and a pre-existing condition can lead to a surcharge, an exclusion or a decline. Public insurance asks no health questions. We make an anonymous enquiry first, so you know your options before anything is recorded.

A standardised private tariff that insurers must offer to people entitled to private cover, with benefits similar to public insurance. It has no health check, but the premium can be as high as the maximum public contribution.

Co-payments and the income ceiling rise in 2027, the dental subsidy falls, and from 2028 a co-insured partner costs an extra 2.5% contribution, with exceptions. Private cover follows your tariff rather than the law, but has its own trade-offs. Read our guide.

Our health insurance advice, including KSK advice, is always free. If you want us to make the KSK application for you, that is a separate service fee, as a standalone KSK package or as part of our Life Admin package. Mention it in your consultation.

Yes. You pay nothing for our advice. For private policies the insurer pays our commission, and the premium is the same as buying direct. [Confirm remuneration model.]

An agent sells one insurer's products. Going direct means talking to that insurer's own sales team. A broker compares several insurers and acts for you.

Yes. We help you understand insurer letters and claims, and with finding doctors and booking appointments, including in Berlin.