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Travel Health Insurance in Germany
- German statutory health insurance (GKV) offers limited travel coverage within the EU via the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
- Private health insurance (PKV) typically provides worldwide coverage, although benefits vary depending on the chosen tariff.
- For visa applications, proof of Schengen travel health insurance is mandatory before entering Germany.
- Digital providers like ottonova, Feather, and Getsafe offer easy-to-book, English-language travel insurance that meets official requirements.
- The expat insurance policies offered by ottonova and Feather are also suitable as incoming travel health policies for international travelers planning a longer stay in Germany. They offer worldwide coverage and are accepted by German embassies for visa issuance.
Who needs travel health insurance?
Travel health insurance provides coverage for unexpected medical treatment during trips outside your home country or country of residence, where you also have health insurance. This includes emergency care, hospitalization, medication, and medical repatriation.
The type of travel health insurance you require depends on whether you are visiting Germany or live here and are covered by German health insurance.
Travel health insurance is relevant for:
- Tourists and other international visitors to Germany are required to have travel insurance that covers medical emergencies during their stay, and often need to present proof when applying for a Schengen visa.
- German residents, including expats, who travel abroad (especially outside the EU) should hold a valid travel health insurance policy for emergencies.
- Students and freelancers entering Germany for long-term stays are required to provide proof of Schengen travel health insurance (also known as incoming insurance) as part of their visa application process.
- Digital nomads and business travelers also benefit from flexible annual plans that protect them worldwide.
Depending on your residence and insurance status in Germany, your destination, and the length of your trip, you will need specific types of travel health insurance.
Travel Coverage under Statutory Health Insurance
If you are insured through Germany’s statutory health insurance (GKV), your travel coverage is limited.
Within the EU and EEA countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein), as well as Switzerland, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you emergency access and medically necessary public healthcare — but only under the conditions of the local system. Private doctors or clinics are usually not included, and you may need to pay upfront.
Outside the EU, GKV policies typically offer no coverage, unless your insurer has a specific agreement with the destination country, which is rare. For long stays abroad (even within the EU) or for medical repatriation services, a private travel health insurance policy is strongly recommended.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is useful for short trips within the EU, but it doesn’t cover private healthcare, extended stays, or return transport to Germany. Private travel insurance closes these gaps and is essential for global travel. If you are privately insured in Germany, you are typically not covered by the EHIC, but rather by the international coverage of your comprehensive health insurance.
Travel Coverage under Private Health Insurance
Private health insurance (PKV) in Germany typically includes worldwide coverage, especially in comprehensive plans. This makes it ideal for people who travel frequently or live abroad temporarily. However, the extent of coverage can vary significantly, so it’s important to check your individual policy.
Some tariffs limit the duration of international health insurance coverage (e.g., up to 6 months), exclude certain countries, or don’t include repatriation. In these cases, adding a separate travel insurance policy — particularly for longer or high-risk trips — may still be wise.
Travel Health Insurance for Entry and Visa Applications
In Germany, health insurance is mandatory for everyone. This applies to foreign guests during short visits up to 90 days, as well as for longer stays.
If you’re entering Germany on a Schengen visa or any other visa that requires proof of health insurance, travel health insurance isn’t just recommended — it’s legally required. The German embassies demand a valid Schengen travel health insurance policy before issuing a visa. These plans are often labeled “incoming insurance” and are specifically tailored to meet visa requirements.
To be accepted, your travel health insurance must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical treatment costs
- Validity throughout the entire Schengen area, for short-term stays, also for the whole duration of the stay
- Coverage of repatriation in case of serious illness or death
- No deductibles or co-payments
- Contract with a German or EU-based insurance company
For long-stay visa applicants, a Schengen travel health policy may be necessary for the entry phase. Still, you’ll need to switch to a statutory or private health insurance plan after registering in Germany. Some insurers offer combination policies that transition from temporary travel coverage to full long-term health coverage once residency begins.
How to Choose the Right Travel Insurance Plan
Finding the right travel health insurance as a visitor or long-term expat in Germany depends on your length of stay, destination, and purpose of travel. Plans vary significantly – not just in price, but in what they’re designed for.
If you need incoming insurance, the policy must meet the requirements of the German embassies for Schengen travel insurance. It must, of course, provide you with reliable insurance cover for medical emergencies during your trip or at the beginning of a longer stay in Germany and the Schengen countries.
If you live in Germany, the same conditions apply to your travel health insurance as for Germans abroad – your expat status is irrelevant in this case. These insurance policies typically only cover medical bills for emergencies, return transport to Germany, and, if included, rescue costs to a certain extent – for example, after an accident.
You can purchase German travel health insurance for short-term trips, either for the duration of your trip or as an annual travel insurance plan. Yearly policies for short-term trips are typically only valid for a specific period per trip, usually 56 days. If you’re staying abroad for an extended period, you’ll need an international health insurance policy with coverage tailored to your specific needs.
There are differences in the regional coverage of policies, which you should check before signing a contract. If you want insurance coverage for the US and Canada, many insurance companies will offer special packages with higher premiums for these destinations.
Expat-friendly travel health insurers in Germany
As an expat, you may wish for a provider that offers easy online sign-up with immediate confirmation, English-language service, and 24/7 support – especially important if you’re navigating a foreign healthcare system.
Against this backdrop, we particularly recommend the travel health policies offered by digital insurers ottonova, Feather, and Getsafe, which are explicitly aimed at expats. They offer their customers full mobile functionality, digital claims, and fast assistance. Their travel and expat insurance policies provide worldwide coverage, including the United States and Canada.
ottonova
ottonova does not offer classic travel insurance, but an expat health insurance that can be taken out for a maximum of 5 years. It provides excellent benefits, with comprehensive coverage similar to private health insurance, and is accepted as incoming insurance for visa issuance purposes. Monthly premiums start at €197. We recommend the ottonova policy as currently the best solution for expat insurance in Germany.
Feather
Feather offers both classic travel insurance for German residents and expat insurance.
Travel health insurance is available in 2 plans: Basic and Premium. The Premium tariff also includes travel cancellation and baggage insurance. The yearly premiums for an annual plan start at €25 for individuals and €44 for families.
Feather’s expat insurance can be taken out in the “Newcomer” and “Extended” tariffs. Both plans are also accepted for Schengen visa applications. The Newcomer plan (from €72 per month) is valid for a maximum of 5 years. Still, it must be converted to a contract with extended coverage and unlimited validity if the visa or residence permit is extended. The “Extended” plan (from €118 per month) is valid for an indefinite period.
Getsafe
Getsafe travel health insurance is aimed at German residents. It is an annual insurance policy that covers individual trips of up to 56 days in duration. The policy costs €15 per year. New customers under the age of 40 receive it free of charge in the first year of insurance.
Conclusion – Do You Need Travel Health Insurance in Germany?
Suppose you are a resident of Germany planning short trips abroad. In that case, a standard travel health insurance policy is a low-cost way to ensure emergency medical coverage beyond what the statutory system offers — especially outside the EU. Annual policies are available for just a few euros and typically cover multiple trips per year, each up to 56 days.
If you are a non-EU national entering Germany on a Schengen or long-stay visa, health insurance is not optional — it is a legal requirement. In this case, you need a visa-compliant incoming insurance policy that meets the official criteria for coverage, duration, and geographic scope. These policies must be in place before you apply for your visa.
Whether you’re traveling abroad from Germany or entering the country as a newcomer, t.travel health insurance provides essential protection against unexpected healthcare costs — and helps you meet important legal and practical requirements from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
You can obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you have statutory health insurance in Germany. The card is often already printed on the back of your regular health insurance card. If not, you must submit an informal application to your statutory health insurance provider.
Incoming insurance is a specific type of travel health insurance. It is designed for foreign guests entering Germany who need to apply for a short-term Schengen visa for up to 90 days or a long-stay national German visa, such as international students, freelancers, or au pairs. The insurance must meet legal visa requirements, including minimum coverage of €30,000, validity across the Schengen area, and coverage for medical emergencies and repatriation.
Several private providers in Germany offer incoming policies with digital sign-up, fast confirmation, and multilingual support — ideal for visa applications. Once you’ve arrived and registered in Germany, you can often switch to statutory or full private health insurance if your residence status allows it.
For German residents seeking coverage for short trips abroad, a standard travel insurance policy typically costs between €10 and €30 per year. These plans usually cover multiple trips, with each trip limited to a maximum duration of 56 days.
The cost of incoming travel health insurance depends on the trip length, the selected rate, and, in some cases, the traveler’s age and any additional services such as other travel or accident insurance. These factors can significantly impact your total policy expenses. Insurance for short stays is typically calculated based on a minimum daily premium. The starting price is around €20–22 (AXA, Dr. Walter). Frequent travelers have the option of taking out annual insurance for their trips to the Schengen area.
With travel insurance provided by credit cards, the scope of coverage varies. These are frequently packages that offer additional insurance for the trip in addition to health insurance. Before deciding to limit yourself to the insurance coverage provided by your credit card, however, you should thoroughly check whether it offers you optimal coverage in the event of a medical emergency.