In Germany, there are private and statutory health insurance funds. And like Germans, foreigners and EU citizens need health insurance as well. In many cases, foreigners choose to public (statutory) health insurance. In other cases, they only have the option to take out private health insurance.
Employment critical for access to statutory health insurance
If foreigners are permanently employed in Germany, statutory health insurances generally cannot reject their membership applications. Citizens of other EU Member States may under circumstances be with statutory health Insurance even without a job in Germany. However, in this case a former membership in a system of public health insurance is a prerequisite. Otherwise, EU foreigners need a private health insurance. Furthermore, registering at a private health insurance is usually the only option for people who are not from an EU member country and do not have a job in Germany.
Apply in any case
When starting to work in Germany, your company will ask you for your health insurance even before the start of your employment. You can sign up for health insurance as soon as you know who will be your employer. Foreigners without work in Germany can be a member of the statutory health insurance in many cases as well. EU citizens and other foreigners should therefore apply for a health insurance in any case. The necessary acknowledgments of the prior insurance may be filed later.
Selected insurances
Techniker Krankenkasse for example, a popular statutory health insurance fund in Germany, provides information and application forms in English. Further, the online-portal krankenkassen.de recommends some health insurance funds for foreigners and provides a free insurance change-service.
Employment critical for access to statutory health insurance
If foreigners are permanently employed in Germany, statutory health insurances generally cannot reject their membership applications. Citizens of other EU Member States may under circumstances be with statutory health Insurance even without a job in Germany. However, in this case a former membership in a system of public health insurance is a prerequisite. Otherwise, EU foreigners need a private health insurance. Furthermore, registering at a private health insurance is usually the only option for people who are not from an EU member country and do not have a job in Germany.
Apply in any case
When starting to work in Germany, your company will ask you for your health insurance even before the start of your employment. You can sign up for health insurance as soon as you know who will be your employer. Foreigners without work in Germany can be a member of the statutory health insurance in many cases as well. EU citizens and other foreigners should therefore apply for a health insurance in any case. The necessary acknowledgments of the prior insurance may be filed later.
Selected insurances
Techniker Krankenkasse for example, a popular statutory health insurance fund in Germany, provides information and application forms in English. Further, the online-portal krankenkassen.de recommends some health insurance funds for foreigners and provides a free insurance change-service.