Healthcare in Germany

Public healthcare in Germany is available to everyone who lives here legally, and one of the key differences from other countries is that health insurance is mandatory. Regardless of your age or employment status, you’re expected to contribute to the system through regular payments.

These contributions give you access to a wide range of services, including doctors’ appointments, hospital treatment, physiotherapy and more. Expats can benefit from this system, but depending on your employment status, citizenship, and income level, an international health insurance policy might be more suitable initially.

The quality of care in the public healthcare system is generally very good. However, reports in recent years suggest that some patients are not fully satisfied, especially due to longer wait times caused by significant staff shortages – in 2023 alone, there were around 23,000 vacancies in the health sector.

To register for public healthcare, you need to sign up with a statutory health insurance provider (there are 94 to choose from). To do this, you’ll need to provide a valid ID, proof of address, your bank details, and—depending on your situation—employment or pension documents, or an unemployment benefit notice.

Private healthcare is another option for expats in Germany. It often provides quicker access to services, shorter wait times, and a higher level of personal attention. Many private hospitals have bilingual staff, state-of-the-art equipment, and focus on specialist treatments.

You may need private health insurance if:

Private hospitals are typically smaller than public ones but offer greater comfort and more personalised care. They also tend to have better staffing levels and more efficient service overall.

Costs in the private system vary based on the treatment and your insurance coverage. To give you an idea:

Some of the top private hospitals in Germany include the Schön Klinik network, Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch, and Beta Klinik.

While private healthcare is often recommended for expats—especially those with international insurance—it’s worth remembering that if you earn less than €73,800 annually, you’ll be required to join the public system. You can still top up your public coverage with a private supplemental plan if you’d like.

Having health insurance is mandatory in Germany, no matter your residency status. Expats must be covered either through the public insurance system (GKV) or through a private one (PKV). The type of insurance you’re eligible for depends on several factors.

You’re usually eligible for GKV if:

In most cases, your employer will automatically register you with a public insurer, and the cost of insurance will be deducted from your wages each month. Contributions are based on your income, currently set at 14.6% of your salary, plus a supplementary contribution of around 1.6%. Your employer pays half, and the other half is taken from your pay.

If your spouse or children don’t earn an income or earn very little, they can usually be added to your policy free of charge under family insurance.

You may be eligible for private insurance if:

Unlike with public insurance, private plans are not automatically arranged—you’ll need to sort this out yourself. Costs vary depending on your age, health, and level of coverage, but monthly premiums usually fall between €250 and €1,000 or more.

If you’re not eligible for either GKV or PKV when you arrive, you’ll need temporary expat insurance or may be able to use a GHIC/EHIC card if you’re coming from the UK or EU, although that’s only suitable for short-term stays.

English is widely spoken in Germany, with around 56% of people having some level of fluency. That said, you may still encounter doctors or hospital staff who speak only German. But don’t worry, hospitals are legally required to make sure all patients can communicate effectively. In some cases, this means hiring an interpreter, though the cost of this might fall to you.

Germany is home to several top hospitals, especially in major cities like Berlin, Munich, Dresden and Freiburg. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin is known for treating high-profile patients, and Klinikum der Universität München is a leading centre for organ transplants and academic medicine.

Public hospitals cover a broad range of services including emergency care, rehabilitation, surgery and illness treatment. Some specialised treatments may only be available at specific facilities. Private hospitals often offer more tailored treatments and services not covered by public insurance.

In emergencies, you can go directly to either a public or private hospital, or call an ambulance on 112. For non-urgent treatment, you’ll usually need a referral from a GP.

Make sure you take your health insurance card, ID and referral slip with you. If you’re unsure whether you need to go to hospital, you can call 116 117 to speak with an on-call doctor.

Public hospitals usually offer shared rooms with up to four patients and little privacy. They can feel overcrowded at times. In contrast, private hospitals offer private rooms, ensuite bathrooms, guest beds and other amenities, making the stay more comfortable.

Private hospitals will accept PKV or expat insurance, but you may need to pay upfront and claim later. Some will send the invoice directly to your insurer after treatment.

There are no mandatory vaccines for entry into Germany, but some are highly recommended:

In general, health risks in Germany are lifestyle-related rather than due to infectious diseases. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity rates are relatively high. To stay healthy, expats are encouraged to follow a balanced diet, limit alcohol, avoid smoking and maintain an active lifestyle.