We help you manage your public health insurance in Germany

YES. In Germany, when you start working as an employee and earn more than €520 gross per month, you are required to enrol with an insurance company.

If your gross salary is between €538 and €5,775, you are required to have public insurance. However, if your salary is above €5,775 gross/month, you have the option to take out a private insurance instead. Private insurance offers high coverage at a much lower cost than public insurance.

Consult your health insurance options in Germany

Remember that as an employee, you have the right to choose the health insurance company that is right for you, take out health insurance in Germany and provide your new employer with your Versichertennummer (insurance number).

We'll divide this into two groups:

I have an EU passport
If you come from an EU member state and don't have a job, you will need to obtain the E104 document in your country of origin (or in the country where you have been living for the past 18 months). This document in Spain is managed by the social security system and certifies that during the last 18 months you have been covered by public insurance. WITHOUT THIS DOCUMENT, KRANKENKASSEN WILL NOT CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION. This only applies if you don't have a job. If you start working, you won't need this document.

I have a non-EU passport
To access any of the public insurers you will need an active visa valid for a minimum of twelve months. Without this, it will be very difficult to proceed. If you don't have a visa for that period, you can join an insurer if you have a job earning more than €520 gross/month. Another option is to take out a temporary private insurance (for up to five years) so the embassy grants you a visa, and once you have the visa we can enrol you in a public insurer and cancel the private one.

If you are married, you can add your spouse to your insurance. THE PRICE WILL NOT CHANGE. You will need to provide a document certifying your marriage and fill in the application to include your spouse. This also applies if you have children. You can add them to your policy by presenting the family record book. Please note that non-married couples are not covered by this option, as they do not meet the legal requirements of health insurance companies to include a partner in the contract.

Basic coverage such as GP visits, specialist appointments and hospitalisation are covered by all insurers. However, there are small variations in more specific treatments. For example, one insurer may offer better coverage for cancer prevention, while another may cover dental treatments or alternative medicine better. The price also varies between insurers, meaning you can save money each month.

YES. Once you are inside the public system, you can only leave if you leave Germany (by presenting the Abmeldung from the local authority when you deregister). When you stop working, the employer normally informs the insurer, which then sends you a letter asking about your future situation. Many people make the mistake of not responding to these letters and accumulate debt every month — even if you do nothing, the insurer will continue to charge you, and not knowing your employment situation, they will put you on the highest rate.

YES, it is possible. However, you must have been with your current insurer for a minimum of 12 months. You cannot switch before this period unless you are changing employer or your insurer has sent you a letter announcing a rate increase. See more information at: Changing Krankenkasse or send us your query via Contact.

You should know that even if your employer offers to manage your health insurance, you have the right to choose the one that suits you best. We recommend consulting your options before taking out a policy.

If you change jobs and there is no gap between the previous and new job, you don't need to do anything. The previous employer will deregister you and the new employer will register you. If there is a gap, you will need to cover the insurance costs yourself during the transition. However, if you are entitled to unemployment benefits, the employment agency usually covers health insurance contributions. Note that when changing employer, you also have the right to change your health insurance.

If you change employer, you also have the right to change your health insurance. You can look for a new health insurance company that is more affordable and/or offers better services without having to observe a notice period. See: Changing Krankenkasse or contact us: Contact.