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Generali Private Health Insurance
Written by
Janine El-Saghir
Janine El Saghir is an editor at How-to-Germany.com, where she specializes in the practical aspects of daily life and integration for expatriates. With years of...
Reviewed by
Erkan Boga
Erkan Boga is the founder and CEO of qmedia GmbH, the publishing house behind How-to-Germany.com. He established the platform with the clear vision of creating...
Edited by
Sadie Voss
Content Lead & Editor
Sadie Voss is the Lead Editor for How-to-Germany.com. As an expat who carved her own way into Berlin from the United States, Sadie is deeply...
- English Support: Limited; information and communication are primarily in German
- Digital App / Claims Handling: Digital tools available, including an app for submitting bills, alongside personal advisory support
- Best For: Expats who prefer clearly structured tariffs with defined benefit levels and are comfortable relying on individual advice during the application process
Generali Private Health Insurance Overview
Generali is one of the leading insurance providers in Germany and internationally. Its health insurance offering sits within a broad insurance portfolio that also includes supplementary cover, preventive services, and wider financial protection products.
Generali’s private health insurance German structure is relatively standardized. Compared with highly modular systems, the main differences are driven by plan level and fixed tariff variants, rather than extensive individual customization.
In addition to standard plans for employees and self-employed people, Generali offers tailored tariff variants for specific groups such as doctors, students, and trainees. These variants reflect different career stages and insurance needs, while following the same overall tariff logic.
- Simple 2-tier structure with entry-level and comfort tariffs
- Separate variants for employees, self-employed people, doctors, students, and trainees
- Fixed tariff variants make pricing easier to compare
- Digital claims submission and access to health support services
- Less flexible than highly modular private health insurance systems
- Sick pay is not included by default
- Entry-level tariffs have reduced benefits in selected areas
- International coverage duration is similar across key tariffs, but benefit details still depend on the selected tariff
A defining feature is the combination of personal advisory services and digital functionality. Advisory services are typically provided through Deutsche Vermögensberatung (DVAG), which supports customers in selecting suitable products based on their personal situation.
While tariff selection and many product decisions are handled through consultation, Generali also offers digital tools for everyday use. These include app-based claims submission, access to health programs, and medical support services.
Generali’s company quality has also been assessed by independent rating agencies. For example, Assekurata has regularly rated Generali Deutschland Krankenversicherung with a “very good” company quality score. You can verify current rating details directly through Assekurata and Generali’s own product documentation.
For additional context, readers can also review official private health insurance information from PKV-Verband and insurance supervision information from BaFin. Private health insurance is a high-stakes financial and medical decision, so expats should compare tariff documents carefully and, where possible, seek advice from a licensed insurance broker or qualified insurance adviser.
Generali’s private health insurance setup is usually advice-driven, especially through DVAG. After setup, digital tools support claims, health services, and day-to-day contract use.
Key Health Insurance Tariffs
Generali health insurance follows a 2-tier structure. It combines lower-cost entry-level plans with more comprehensive comfort tariffs.
The system is consistent across different target groups. The main differences appear in reimbursement levels, access to services, hospital benefits, dental coverage, and fixed tariff variants with different deductible levels.
Entry-level tariffs
Entry-level tariffs such as GesundSmart for employees and self-employed people, and GesundSmartA for students and trainees, are designed as lower-cost options.
These plans provide full core private health insurance coverage across outpatient care, inpatient care, and private German dentist insurance treatment. However, selected benefit areas are more limited than in the comfort tariffs.
Typical limitations can include:
- Lower reimbursement for dental prosthetics
- Limited coverage for visual aids
- More basic hospital accommodation
- Multi-bed rooms instead of higher-comfort hospital rooms
Generali’s entry-level tariffs are designed to reduce monthly premiums while still providing full core private health insurance. The trade-off is lower reimbursement or simpler benefits in selected areas. For example, a 30-year-old employee may pay a starting monthly premium of approximately €327.40 for the GesundSmart basic tariff, including the 10% statutory surcharge.
Comfort tariffs
Comfort tariffs such as GesundPro and GesundProP offer a higher level of coverage. Group-specific variants are also available, including GesundProMed for doctors and GesundProA as a private student health insurance German plan.
These tariffs provide broader benefits than the entry-level options, especially in areas where access, reimbursement levels, and hospital comfort matter.
Typical advantages can include:
- Broader access to specialists
- Higher reimbursement for dental treatments and dental prosthetics
- Improved inpatient treatment conditions
- Specialist treatment in hospital
- 2-bed hospital rooms
- Extended benefits for psychotherapy and visual aids
Generali’s comfort tariffs are aimed at people who want stronger reimbursement, better hospital benefits, and broader coverage for areas such as dental treatment, psychotherapy, and visual aids. For example, a 30-year-old employee may pay a starting monthly premium of approximately €477.31 for the GesundPro comfort tariff, including the 10% statutory surcharge.
Deductibles and pricing
Generali does not structure Pro1, Pro2, and Pro3 as adjustable deductible levels inside one single tariff. Instead, they are separate tariff variants within the GesundPro series. GesundPro1 has a deductible of €750 for adults, GesundPro2 has a deductible of €1,500, and GesundPro3 has a deductible of €3,000. The entry-level GesundSmart tariff has a fixed, non-adjustable deductible of €1,000.
Higher deductibles usually reduce the monthly premium. Lower deductibles increase the level of immediate reimbursement, but generally come with a higher premium.
The exact monthly price depends on age, occupation, tariff level, deductible, health status, and the required medical risk assessment. As a basic orientation, a 30-year-old employee may pay from approximately €327.40 per month for GesundSmart and approximately €477.31 per month for GesundPro, both including the 10% statutory surcharge.
| Feature | GesundSmart | GesundPro |
|---|---|---|
| Claims communication | Primarily German-language app and documentation | Primarily German-language app and documentation |
| Dental prosthetics | 70% reimbursement | 90% reimbursement |
| Deductible | Fixed €1,000 deductible | GesundPro1: €750, GesundPro2: €1,500, GesundPro3: €3,000 |
| International coverage | Up to 12 months of worldwide coverage for temporary stays abroad | Up to 12 months of worldwide coverage for temporary stays abroad |
| Medical assessment | Required before acceptance | Required before acceptance |
| Sample monthly premium | From approximately €327.40 for a 30-year-old employee, including the 10% statutory surcharge | From approximately €477.31 for a 30-year-old employee, including the 10% statutory surcharge |
| Tariff role | Basic private health insurance tariff with lower monthly premiums | Comfort private health insurance tariff with broader reimbursement and stronger benefits |
| Visual aids | Up to €100 every 2 calendar years | Up to €300 every 2 calendar years |
The deductible mainly affects pricing and cost sharing. With Generali, these deductibles are tied to specific tariff variants rather than freely adjustable levels inside one plan. The selected plan level and tariff variant define both the scope of benefits and the cost-sharing model.
Overall, Generali’s structure remains consistent: the plan level defines the benefit scope, while the specific tariff variant influences monthly premium and out-of-pocket cost sharing.
Before acceptance, private health insurance applications in Germany normally require a medical health assessment, known as a Gesundheitsprüfung. Applicants must answer health questions, and pre-existing conditions can lead to risk surcharges, exclusions, or rejection. This is especially important for expats who are applying for private health insurance after previous treatment abroad.
Some private health insurance setups include an Optionsrecht, or option right, that can allow students, trainees, or young professionals to move into a stronger tariff later without going through a full new health assessment. This can be valuable if you expect your income, residence status, or coverage needs to change. Expats should ask explicitly whether an option right is included, when it can be used, and which tariff upgrades are available.
Sick pay and international coverage
Sick pay, or Krankentagegeld, is not included by default. Privately insured customers need to arrange it separately if they want income protection during longer periods of illness.
Generali also offers a separate supplementary insurance option for statutory health insurance members who want to cover income loss due to illness.
Generali’s outbound international coverage is defined by the selected German private health insurance tariff and its own insurance terms. It is not based on Schengen visa rules. Schengen visa insurance requirements apply to short-term visitors entering Germany with a C visa, while residents in Germany must comply with German domestic health insurance rules. PKV international coverage is relevant when insured residents travel outside Germany, including worldwide travel or temporary stays within the EWR.
Both GesundSmart and GesundPro can provide up to 12 months of worldwide coverage for temporary stays abroad under their general tariff conditions. The main differences between the entry-level and comfort tariffs are therefore not the permitted travel duration, but the outpatient, inpatient, dental, vision, accommodation, and specialist benefit levels.
- Up to 12 months of worldwide coverage can apply to both GesundSmart and GesundPro
- Medical repatriation can be included depending on the tariff conditions
- Useful for residents in Germany who travel regularly outside Germany
- Coverage abroad follows the PKV tariff conditions, not Schengen visa rules
- Longer stays abroad may require written confirmation from the insurer
- Separate international German travel health insurance may still be needed for trips that fall outside the PKV tariff conditions
Expat Reality Check
- Structured Tariff System with Clear Cost Control: Consistent plan logic combined with fixed tariff variants makes pricing and cost sharing predictable
- Advisory and Information Combined: Comprehensive information is complemented by individual consultation during tariff selection
- Strong International Coverage: Up to 12 months of worldwide coverage can apply to both GesundSmart and GesundPro, depending on the tariff conditions
- Attractive Refund Options: Contribution refunds of up to several monthly premiums in higher-tier tariffs
- Digital and Health Services: App-based claims handling combined with health programs and medical support services
- Limited English Support: Most communication, documentation, and claims handling are primarily available in German
- Less Modular Flexibility: Compared to modular systems, customization options are more limited
- Dental Limits in Entry Plans: Lower reimbursement levels and capped benefits in entry-level tariffs
- Medical Health Assessment: Acceptance is not automatic, and pre-existing conditions can affect the final offer
Generali offers digital claims tools, but expats should expect the app interface, reimbursement letters, tariff documents, and follow-up communication to be primarily in German. This matters most when invoices are rejected, documents are missing, or medical wording needs to be clarified. If you are not comfortable handling German insurance correspondence, ask before signing whether your adviser can support you during claims.
| Expat scenario | What it means with Generali |
|---|---|
| 30-year-old employee moving from public insurance | Generali can be attractive if the person wants predictable tariff levels and accepts German-language claims handling. The long-term affordability of PKV should still be checked carefully before switching. |
| Freelancer with irregular income | The fixed tariff structure can make benefits easier to understand, but the person should compare deductibles, sick pay, and long-term premium risk before choosing PKV. |
| Student planning to stay in Germany after graduation | Option rights can be important because the student may later need stronger employee or self-employed coverage without a full new health assessment. |
Dental and Vision Coverage
Dental benefits follow a tiered structure across Generali’s private health insurance tariffs. Core treatments and preventive care are fully covered across all plan levels. Differences mainly apply to prosthetics such as crowns, inlays, and implants. In the entry-level GesundSmart tariff, dental prosthetics are covered at exactly 70%. In the comfort GesundPro tariff, dental prosthetics are covered at exactly 90%. As is standard, reimbursement for more extensive procedures is subject to initial benefit limits in the first years.
Vision benefits are explicitly defined and vary by tariff. In the entry-level GesundSmart tariff, visual aids are reimbursed up to exactly €100 every 2 calendar years. In the comfort GesundPro tariff, visual aids are reimbursed up to exactly €300 every 2 calendar years. Coverage typically includes visual aids such as glasses and contact lenses and may also extend to procedures such as LASIK surgery.
In its supplementary insurance products for those with public insurance, Generali combines dental and vision coverage within its “Plan” tariffs. These packages bundle multiple benefits, such as prosthetics, visual aids, and travel coverage, into a single policy.
Alternatives to Generali Private Health Insurance
Traditional private health insurers are mainly differentiated by the complexity of their tariff systems and the flexibility they offer within predefined coverage levels.
- Allianz: Highly modular tariff system with extensive configuration options and a wide range of add-ons
- AXA: Broad and differentiated tariff structure with multiple performance levels and detailed customization
- Debeka: Strong focus on long-term premium stability with internally developed tariff systems and consistent benefit design
Digital providers focus on simplified access, English-language support, and fully digital handling of applications, contracts, and claims.
- ottonova: Digital insurer offering full private health insurance plans with app-based management across the entire customer lifecycle
- Feather: Provider with English-language support and a focus on accessible private health insurance solutions for expats
- Getsafe: Digital-first model combining a streamlined user interface with private health insurance products provided through partners such as Allianz and Hallesche
Generali combines structured tariff levels with a strong advisory component, supported by digital tools but with a lower degree of modular customization than some competing systems. Expats comparing providers should also review wider guides on private health insurance in Germany, private student health insurance, and international travel health insurance to understand how German domestic insurance and travel coverage interact.
Before deciding, readers should also be aware that Generali, like several German private health insurers, has faced legal disputes around historical premium adjustments. This does not automatically determine whether a current tariff is suitable, but it is a reason to review premium stability, contribution adjustment history, and cancellation or switching options carefully.
Conclusion
Generali private health insurance follows a consistent tariff model in which plan level and fixed tariff variant primarily determine both benefits and pricing. Differences between entry-level and comfort tariffs are easy to identify without requiring extensive configuration.
Rather than offering a wide range of selectable modules, the structure remains fixed, with adjustments made through predefined plan variants and cost-sharing levels. At the same time, both tariff levels provide solid benefit levels, with higher-tier plans expanding on this foundation rather than introducing a fundamentally different coverage concept.
Private health insurance affects medical access, long-term costs, visa compliance, and switching options. Before signing a PKV contract, expats should ideally have the tariff checked by a licensed insurance broker or adviser, especially if they have pre-existing conditions, family plans, or uncertain long-term residence plans.
For expats, Generali is suitable for those who prefer a predictable framework with transparent differences between plans. Sample premiums can start from approximately €327.40 per month for a 30-year-old employee in GesundSmart and approximately €477.31 per month in GesundPro, although the final price depends on age, deductible, occupation, tariff variant, and the result of the medical health assessment. Personal consultation plays a central role in tariff selection, complemented by digital tools for claims handling and ongoing administration, although most communication remains in German.
The most important expat-specific checks are the German-language claims process, the exact deductible tariff, the health assessment, sick pay, option rights for younger insured people, and long-term premium development. Generali can work well for residents who want structured benefits and adviser support, but it should be compared against both traditional and digital PKV providers before signing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Generali provides tailored tariff variants for different groups, including employees, self-employed individuals, doctors, students, and trainees. These plans follow a consistent structure, with differences mainly in positioning and pricing rather than entirely separate benefit systems.
Generali uses predefined deductible tiers (Pro1 to Pro3) within each tariff, rather than allowing fully flexible selection. These levels are directly linked to the premium and define how much of the annual healthcare costs must be covered before the insurer begins reimbursement.
International coverage depends on the selected tariff. Entry-level plans typically cover shorter stays abroad, while higher-tier tariffs extend coverage for longer periods and include benefits such as medical repatriation.
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