Decision helper · no premium guesses

Public vs private health insurance in Germany: the decision helper

By Covered Abroad Research Desk · Last verified July 2026

Three questions, one honest map. This tool does not invent GKV or PKV prices; public contributions are income-based and private premiums are underwritten, so those numbers belong to those systems. What it does show: which path your situation points to, and where incoming cover honestly fits.

The rule the visa stage runs on

The rule in writing

“For Germany’s national visa, health insurance must include the benefits statutory-insured persons are entitled to under §11(1–3) SGB V, and the contract must be open-ended — no expiry or cancellation clauses tied to age, employment, or residence status. Travel insurance is insufficient.”

Official source: German Federal Foreign Office — health insurance in the national visa procedure — Last verified: July 2026

Whatever path the helper shows, the same limits apply to incoming cover: Pre-existing conditions are excluded, including conditions you did not know about. We disclose this before you request a quote. Cover is worldwide but excludes treatment in the United States. It is not travel insurance, and it is not a permanent substitute for GKV or PKV.

Keep reading

Public vs private, explained Germany freelance visa insurance Student visa insurance Job-seeker visa insurance Cost of health insurance in Germany

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Tell us your destination, visa, and who’s moving. Our team reviews it against the current requirement and calls you with a quote — no obligation.

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Cover underwritten by Regency Assurance · every rule on this site cited and dated · a person calls back within one business day.

Before you request a quote: cover is worldwide but excludes treatment in the United States, and pre-existing conditions are not covered — including conditions you did not know about. We say this up front so a quote is worth your time.

Common questions

Why does this tool not show GKV or PKV prices?

Because neither is ours to quote. GKV contributions are income-based and set by the statutory system; PKV premiums are individually underwritten by German private insurers. Any figure we typed here would be a guess, so the tool maps your path instead and the numbers stay for the systems that own them.

Where does incoming expat cover honestly fit?

It serves the window around your visa application and arrival, before you are enrolled in GKV or settled in PKV. It is not a permanent substitute for either system; people staying in Germany long term usually end up in one of the two.

Does the visa itself care which system I choose?

The national-visa rule benchmarks cover against the statutory benefits of §11(1-3) SGB V on an open-ended contract. Whether your case fits our partner’s arrangement for that stage is confirmed on your quote call, not assumed in advance.