Health insurance
Health insurance in Germany
Comprehensive medical cover for people who live or stay long-term in Germany, with proper inpatient/outpatient benefits, not just emergency travel cover.
Germany has no dedicated digital nomad visa, but its freelance "Freiberufler" residence permit makes Berlin a serious long-stay base for self-employed remote workers. The catch that trips people up is insurance: for the permit, foreign travel or "nomad" cover is not accepted, and you need German statutory or comparable private health insurance. Tourist visits from the US, UK, Canada and Australia stay visa-free for 90 days.
What health insurance covers in Germany
Health insurance is built for long-term residents, slow travelers spending 6+ months in one place, expats. The lines below are the base. Exact terms are carrier-specific, so always check the policy document for the Germany situation you care about.
What you get
- Inpatient hospitalisation, surgery, and ICU
- Outpatient GP visits, specialists, scans, labs
- Prescription drugs
- Maternity and chronic-condition cover (on better plans)
- Mental-health and preventive care (plan-dependent)
What it won't do
- Routine cover in your home country (usually excluded if you're a tax resident)
- Cosmetic procedures
- Pre-existing conditions on day-one of most plans (medical underwriting)
What care costs in Germany
A taste of what health insurance protects you from. The full local cost breakdown lives in the Germany guide.
| Private or self-pay GP consultation | €40 to €70 |
|---|---|
| Specialist consultation (self-pay) | €80 to €150+ |
| Ambulance call-out | roughly €300 to €600 |
Health insurance in Germany: FAQ
In most cases Germany expects long-stay residents and visa applicants to show proof of health coverage. The specific bar (carrier, sum insured, residency-vs-travel cover) depends on your visa class; the Germany guide covers the country's current visa-and-residency stance.
Premiums vary by age, plan and deductible far more than by country; the underwriting risk is priced, not the postal code. The Germany guide breaks down local treatment costs so you can see what your insurance protects you from, then run a real quote for your own number.
It depends on your situation: how long you're staying, your visa class, your age and health, and whether you want cashless treatment or are fine with reimbursement. Rather than push one plan, we match you against the options that actually fit a stay in Germany: answer a few honest questions and see only what's relevant.
Other insurance for Germany
Different stages of nomad life need different cover. Here's the full set we've mapped for Germany.
Get matched with health insurance for Germany
Three minutes of honest questions, then we'll show you the health insurance options that actually fit your situation in Germany.
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