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INTER Private Health Insurance
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; most communication and documentation are provided in German
- Digital App / Claims Handling: App-based claims submission and digital contract management available, combined with traditional advisory services
- Best For: Employees, self-employed people, and doctors looking for traditional private health insurance with specialized physician tariffs and a strong occupational focus
INTER Private Health Insurance Overview
INTER Krankenversicherung is an independent German insurance group headquartered in Mannheim with a longstanding focus on German private health insurance and occupation-oriented coverage structures. Historically, the company developed strong connections with the healthcare sector and continues to place particular emphasis on doctors, dentists, and medical students in training, alongside traditional private health insurance for employees, self-employed people, and civil servants.
The insurer structures its private health insurance through the INTER QualiMed tariff series, which offers coverage levels ranging from Basic to Premium. In addition to comprehensive private health insurance, INTER also offers supplementary insurance for customers with public insurance, including dental, ambulatory, hospital, travel health, and sick pay insurance solutions.
- Basis, Exklusiv, and Premium follow a clear tariff progression.
- Dedicated physician tariffs are available for doctors, dentists, and medical students.
- Preventive care, dental treatment, and alternative medicine are emphasized across several tariff lines.
- Digital claims submission is available alongside traditional personal consultation.
- Most communication and documentation are primarily designed for the German market.
- Sick pay insurance and certain additional benefits require separate coverage.
- International coverage depends on the selected tariff.
- Dental and hospital reimbursement levels differ significantly between tariff levels.
A characteristic feature of INTER is the combination of traditional advisory structures with digital contract and claims management. Policyholders can submit invoices through the company’s app, while personal consultation and occupation-specific tariff models continue to play a central role within the overall insurance structure.
INTER combines personal consultation and occupation-specific tariff models with app-based invoice submission and digital contract management.
Key Health Insurance Tariffs
INTER uses the QualiMed tariff series as the foundation for its comprehensive private health insurance for employees and self-employed people. The tariffs are available in the 3 coverage levels Basis, Exklusiv, and Premium, which follow a clear progression from more basic coverage structures to broader medical reimbursement and premium hospital benefits.
INTER’s Basis, Exklusiv, and Premium tariffs follow a clear progression from core private health insurance coverage to broader reimbursement and premium hospital benefits.
Across all tariff levels, INTER covers outpatient treatment, hospital care, and preventive care within a comparatively consistent tariff structure. Depending on the selected tariff, reimbursement levels for dental treatment, hospital accommodation, psychotherapy, alternative medicine, visual aids, and physiotherapy can differ significantly. Additional health services such as rehabilitation management and preventive health programs are also part of the overall insurance concept.
Dental treatment, hospital accommodation, psychotherapy, alternative medicine, visual aids, and physiotherapy can differ significantly between Basis, Exklusiv, and Premium.
Deductibles can generally be selected individually and affect the monthly premium. INTER also offers contribution refunds for claim-free years, while preventive examinations, vaccinations, and professional dental cleaning are important across much of the tariff structure. Additional components, such as sick pay, can be added separately where required.
INTER offers contribution refunds for claim-free years, while deductibles can generally be selected individually and may affect the monthly premium.
Basis Tariff
Entry-level tariff with solid outpatient, inpatient, and dental coverage combined with lower reimbursement levels in selected treatment areas. Hospital accommodation is limited to standard care, while private medical treatment and upgraded accommodation are only covered in accident-related situations. Dental prosthetics are reimbursed at 70%, while alternative medicine is covered up to defined annual limits. Physiotherapy and similar therapeutic treatments are reimbursed at 90%.
Exklusiv Tariff
Mid-tier tariff with broader reimbursement structures for dental treatment, implants, alternative medicine, and hospital accommodation. The tariff includes 2-bed room accommodation and broader private hospital treatment coverage while maintaining the general QualiMed structure. Dental prosthetics are reimbursed at 80%, combined with stronger preventive and outpatient benefits. Therapeutic treatments are covered with 90%.
Premium Tariff
Highest-tier tariff with the broadest reimbursement levels across outpatient, inpatient, and dental treatment. The tariff includes 1- or 2-bed room accommodation, reimbursement above standard medical and dental fee schedules, broader coverage for visual aids, and stronger reimbursement for psychotherapy and alternative medicine. Dental prosthetics and implants are reimbursed at up to 90%, and therapeutic treatments at 100%.
Differences Between the Tariffs
The main differences between Basis, Exklusiv, and Premium concern reimbursement levels, hospital accommodation, dental treatment, and access to medical treatment above standard fee schedules. Higher tariff levels expand reimbursement for implants, alternative medicine, visual aids, and therapeutic treatment.
Preventive care is integrated across all tariff levels and includes services such as vaccinations, preventive examinations, and professional dental cleaning. At the same time, reimbursement for dental prosthetics increases progressively from 70% in Basis to 90% in Premium.
Sick Pay Insurance
INTER offers separate sick pay insurance solutions that can be added to the comprehensive private insurance tariffs. For employees, sick pay insurance generally starts after the end of continued salary payments by the employer, while self-employed people can choose significantly earlier benefit start dates.
Different tariff structures exist for employees, self-employed people, doctors, and psychotherapists. Depending on the selected tariff, daily benefits of up to €500 are possible, while transition arrangements to occupational disability insurance are also available.
International Coverage
INTER includes international coverage within its comprehensive private health insurance tariffs. For longer trips or separate travel policies, German international travel health insurance may still be relevant depending on the selected tariff and stay duration. Within Europe, tariff benefits remain available during temporary or longer stays abroad.
Worldwide coverage outside Europe depends on the selected tariff and usually applies for stays between 1 and 3 months per year. Permanent relocation abroad may require an individual contract review to ensure continued valid health insurance coverage.
Within Europe, INTER tariff benefits remain available during temporary or longer stays. Outside Europe, worldwide coverage usually applies for 1 to 3 months per year, depending on the selected tariff.
Health Insurance for Doctors
INTER places particular emphasis on doctors, dentists, and medical students through dedicated physician tariffs. For doctors and dentists, 3 different tariff levels are available, ranging from more basic protection to premium medical coverage with broader reimbursement across several treatment areas.
INTER has dedicated tariff structures for doctors, dentists, medical students, and doctors in training, including options that can remain available during specialist training up to age 39.
A key characteristic of the physician tariffs is the broader reimbursement for treatment above standard medical and dental fee schedules in higher-tier plans. Preventive examinations, vaccinations, and professional dental cleaning also play an important role within the tariff structure and may not affect deductibles or contribution refunds in selected tariffs.
For medical students and doctors in training, INTER provides separate private health insurance solutions that can remain available during specialist training up to the age of 39. Students comparing their options should also review German student health insurance before choosing between public insurance, private insurance, or occupation-specific private tariffs. A later switch into higher-tier physician tariffs is possible without a new health examination or waiting periods. Worldwide insurance coverage for up to 12 months per trip is also included.
Expat Reality Check
- Clear tariff structure: Basis, Exklusiv, and Premium tariffs follow a comparatively transparent progression across most coverage areas
- Strong medical focus: Dedicated physician tariffs and broad reimbursement structures for doctors and medical students
- Preventive care orientation: Preventive examinations, vaccinations, and professional dental cleaning play an important role across many tariff lines
- Established provider: Traditional private health insurer with broad recognition among doctors, clinics, and medical professionals
- Limited English support: Most communication, documentation, and advisory processes are primarily designed for the German market
- Traditional advisory structure: More consultation-based and less streamlined than digital-first insurers
- Separate additional components: Certain benefits, including sick pay insurance, require additional coverage
- International coverage limits: Worldwide coverage outside Europe is limited in duration, depending on the selected tariff
Dental and Vision Coverage
Dental and vision benefits are integrated into INTER’s comprehensive private health insurance tariffs, while additional Private German dentist insurance solutions are available for customers with statutory health insurance. Depending on the selected comprehensive tariff, reimbursement for dental prosthetics ranges from 70% up to 90%, while visual aids are reimbursed at different levels depending on the tariff structure and target group.
For customers with public health insurance, INTER offers several supplementary dental insurance tariffs designed to expand coverage beyond basic dental care within the public system. Basis Z70, Exklusiv Z80, and Premium Z90Plus progressively expand reimbursement levels for dental prosthetics, implants, inlays, preventive treatment, and professional dental cleaning. Depending on the tariff, reimbursement for dental prosthetics can increase up to 90%, while implants and preventive services are covered more extensively in higher-tier plans. In the event of an accident, the Premium plan covers 100% of the cost of dental prostheses and implants.
Orthodontic treatment is included within the supplementary dental tariffs if treatment begins before the age of 18. Depending on the tariff and orthodontic category, reimbursement structures and maximum benefit amounts differ significantly. Additional preventive and treatment components can also be expanded through the optional ZPro module.
Vision-related benefits for publicly insured customers are integrated into the QualiMed Z Ambulant supplementary insurance tariffs, available at the coverage levels Basis, Exklusiv, and Premium. Depending on the selected plan, reimbursement for glasses and contact lenses ranges from €150 up to €375 within 2 years, while the Premium tariff additionally includes reimbursement for laser eye surgery such as LASIK.
Beyond vision benefits, the ambulatory supplementary insurance also covers preventive examinations, vaccinations, alternative medicine, physiotherapy, and selected privately billed outpatient services. Higher-tier tariffs further expand reimbursement for alternative practitioners, osteopathy, and preventive healthcare services.
INTER Plans Compared
| Comparison Point | Basis Tariff | Exklusiv Tariff | Premium Tariff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative Medicine | Covered up to defined annual limits. | Broader alternative medicine reimbursement than Basis. | Strongest alternative medicine reimbursement across the QualiMed tariff levels. |
| Best For | Employees & self-employed people seeking solid private health insurance with lower reimbursement levels. | Employees & self-employed people seeking broader dental, outpatient, and hospital benefits. | Employees & self-employed people seeking premium reimbursement & hospital benefits. |
| Dental Coverage | Dental treatment included; dental prosthetics reimbursed at 70%. | Stronger dental treatment, implant, and prosthetics coverage; dental prosthetics reimbursed at 80%. | Highest dental reimbursement; dental prosthetics and implants reimbursed at up to 90%. |
| Inpatient Care | Standard hospital care & private medical treatment. | 2-bedroom accommodation, broader hospital coverage. | 1- or 2-bedroom accommodation with premium hospital benefits. |
| Outpatient Care | Core outpatient treatment with reimbursement limits in selected treatment areas. | Broader outpatient benefits, including stronger preventive and alternative medicine coverage. | Broadest outpatient reimbursement, including treatment above standard medical fee schedules. |
| Psychotherapy | Covered within the tariff structure, with lower reimbursement levels than higher tariffs. | Broader reimbursement than Basis, depending on the selected tariff structure. | Stronger psychotherapy reimbursement than Basis and Exklusiv. |
| Therapeutic Treatments | Physiotherapy and similar therapeutic treatments reimbursed at 90%. | Therapeutic treatments reimbursed at 90%. | Therapeutic treatments reimbursed at 100%. |
| Visual Aids | Included within the general tariff structure, with more limited reimbursement. | Broader reimbursement than Basis, depending on the selected tariff. | Broader visual aids coverage than the lower tariff levels. |
Alternatives to INTER Private Health Insurance
Traditional private health insurance companies differ not only in how their tariffs are structured but also in how strongly they focus on flexible coverage customization, occupational target groups, or digitally supported service models.
- Allianz: Large private health insurer with a broad tariff landscape, extensive configuration options, and a stronger international and corporate-oriented positioning
- AXA: Integrated tariff structure with predefined benefits and less emphasis on occupation-specific physician tariffs
- DKV: Broad coverage with a more traditional private health insurance setup
Digital private health insurance providers are generally centered around app-based interaction, simplified onboarding, and streamlined policy management.
- ottonova: Fully digital private health insurer combining comprehensive coverage models with integrated telemedicine and app-based administration
- Feather: Digital provider focusing on transparent policy structures, simplified application processes, and straightforward contract management
- Getsafe: Mobile-first platform that provides access to private health insurance solutions through partner insurers rather than offering proprietary tariff systems
INTER combines traditional private health insurance structures with a comparatively consultation-oriented service model, while alternative providers may place greater emphasis on modular customization, digital interaction, or internationally oriented positioning.
Conclusion
INTER combines traditional structures of a German private insurer with a clear tariff hierarchy for employees, self-employed people, doctors, and dentists. The insurer places particular emphasis on preventive care, contribution refunds, and specialized physician tariffs, while supplementary insurance and sick pay solutions further expand the overall insurance portfolio.
INTER may be relevant for internationally mobile customers, including people applying under German student visas or German job-hunter visas. However, INTER remains a comparatively traditional private health insurer in terms of communication and advisory structures. Expats and internationally mobile customers should therefore carefully choose private health insurance based on tariff details, international coverage limits, and the generally German-centered administrative processes when comparing INTER with more digital or internationally oriented providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. INTER offers dedicated physician tariffs for doctors, dentists, and medical students. These tariffs include broader reimbursement structures for medical and dental treatment, premium hospital accommodation, and expanded coverage for services above standard medical and dental fee schedules.
Yes, but sick pay insurance is not automatically included in the comprehensive private health insurance tariffs and must be arranged separately. INTER offers different sick pay solutions for employees, self-employed people, doctors, and dentists with flexible benefit start dates depending on the tariff. Customers with public health insurance can arrange supplementary sick pay insurance through INTER.
Yes. Dental and vision benefits are integrated into INTER’s comprehensive private health insurance tariffs, with reimbursement levels varying by selected tariff. INTER also offers supplementary dental and ambulatory insurance for customers with public health insurance.