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Supplemental Travel 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...
The products and information on this page are for German residents who need limited travel health coverage abroad. Travel health insurance does not meet minimum requirements for expats applying for German residency.
- German travel health insurance offers comprehensive travel coverage when traveling from Germany to other locations.
- Private health insurance (PKV) can sometimes provide worldwide coverage, although benefits vary, making add-on travel plans a meaningful consideration.
- Travel health insurance does not meet German health insurance requirements for incoming expats or prospective residents.
- These insurance policies are not for German residency applications. They offer additional medical coverage but are not accepted by German embassies when applying to live in Germany.
See products and information for German visa requirements and German expat visa insurance requirements.
Top Supplemental Travel Health Insurance Plans
Who Needs Supplemental 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/Vacation health insurance is relevant for:
- Tourists and other international visitors to Germany with existing insurance coverage, who need additional plans to fully insure worldwide medical emergency risks.
- German residents, including expats, who travel abroad should hold a valid travel health insurance policy for emergencies.
- Digital nomads, students, 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.
Supplemental Travel Insurance: Not Covered by Public Insurance
If you are insured through Germany’s statutory health insurance (GKV), your travel coverage is limited.
Travel/vacation health insurance is ideal for situations where you may need to see a private doctor or clinic abroad. Even tourists or expats with an EU or German residency must typically pay out of pocket, which is where additional travel plans cover the gap.
Comparing German Public Coverage to Supplemental Travel Coverage
| Coverage Area | GKV (Statutory Health Insurance) | Supplemental Travel Insurance | Typical Limits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | Included in contribution. | ~€15–€25/year. | Plan dependent. | Higher premiums for worldwide coverage. |
| EU / EEA / Switzerland | ✔ Public care. | ✔ Public + Private (plan-dependent). | €30,000+. | Only medically necessary treatment. |
| Hospitalization | ✔ EU public system only. | ✔ Worldwide. | €30,000 – Unlimited. | May include direct billing depending on insurer. |
| Medical Repatriation | ✖ Not covered. | ✔ Usually covered. | Full cost or high limits. | Definitions of medical necessity can vary. |
| Medication | ✔ Limited (EU rules). | ✔ Usually covered. | Almost always included. | Reimbursement processes vary. |
| Non-EU Coverage | ✖ Not covered. | ✔ Worldwide (plan-dependent). | €30,000 – Unlimited. | Often required for global travel; US/Canada may cost more. |
| Private Doctors / Clinics | ✖ Not covered abroad. | ✔ Often covered. | Policy-based. | Important where public systems are limited. |
| Trip Duration | ✔ No fixed limit (EU stays). | ✔ Typically limited per trip. | Typically capped around ~60 days. | Longer stays need expat/international insurance. |
Supplemental travel insurance is an ideal add-on for those with existing mandatory insurance policies to reduce the costs of uninsured treatment abroad.
Outside the EU, public insurance 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 supplemental travel health insurance policy is strongly recommended.
Supplemental Travel Insurance: Usually Not Covered by Private Health Insurance
Private health insurance (PKV) in Germany can sometimes include 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.
If you’re traveling abroad as a German resident, supplemental travel health insurance can provide a myriad of additional benefits to base mandatory insurance plans.
How to Choose the Right Supplemental Travel Insurance Plan
Finding the right supplemental travel/vacation 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.
Even if you already have health insurance and live in Germany, your insurance policy usually doesn’t cover worldwide medical bills for emergencies, return transport to Germany, or rescue costs – 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 to make sure your supplemental international health insurance policy covers the whole duration, 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 Supplemental 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 foreign healthcare emergencies.
Against this backdrop, we particularly recommend the supplemental international travel health policies offered by digital insurers like 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 usually provide worldwide coverage, including the United States and Canada.
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.
Deutsche Familienversicherung
Deutsche Familienversicherung (German Family Insurance) supplemental travel health insurance is aimed at German residents. It is in German, but a low-cost and ideal add-on.
Conclusion – Do You Need Supplemental International Travel Health Insurance in Germany?
Suppose you are a resident of Germany planning short trips abroad. In that case, a standard supplemental international 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, travel health insurance may be ideal in case of accidents or emergencies.
Whether you’re traveling abroad from Germany or entering the country as a newcomer, supplemental 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
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.