Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. As a salaried employee, you'll be automatically enrolled — but you need to understand how it works, what it covers, and what choices you have.
In Germany, health insurance is not optional — it is a legal requirement. As a salaried Healthcare worker, you will have employer-sponsored statutory health insurance.
─────────────────────────────────────
TWO TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE
─────────────────────────────────────
1. Statutory Health Insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung / GKV)
— Mandatory for employees earning under €69,300/year (2024 threshold)
— Costs ~14.6% of gross salary, split equally between you and your employer
— Covers medical visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, preventive care
— Major providers: TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), AOK, Barmer, DAK
2. Private Health Insurance (Private Krankenversicherung / PKV)
— Available if you earn above the threshold
— Often better benefits, faster appointments, private rooms in hospitals
— Generally not recommended for newcomers until you understand the system
─────────────────────────────────────
HOW TO ENROLL
─────────────────────────────────────
When you start work, your employer's HR team will enroll you in the GKV. You typically need to:
1. Choose a statutory insurer (Krankenkasse). If you don't choose, your employer assigns one automatically.
2. You'll receive your Gesundheitskarte (health card) within 2–4 weeks.
3. Until your card arrives, your insurer will issue a temporary certificate — use this at the pharmacy or doctor.
─────────────────────────────────────
WHAT'S COVERED
─────────────────────────────────────
• General practitioner (Hausarzt) visits — free with the health card
• Specialist referrals from your Hausarzt
• Hospital treatment
• Prescriptions (small co-pay per medication, typically €5–€10)
• Dental (basic; cosmetic procedures not covered)
• Mental health services
• Family members can be co-insured for free if they have no income (Familienversicherung)
─────────────────────────────────────
COMMON TIPS
─────────────────────────────────────
• Always register with a Hausarzt (GP/family doctor) first in your city. Specialists in Germany require a referral.
• TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) is very popular with expats and has excellent English-language support: www.tk.de/en
• Keep your Gesundheitskarte with you at all times — you'll need it at every medical visit.