Everyone living in Germany is required by law to have either private or statutory health insurance. Which one you should take out depends on your individual circumstances. To get your work visa you need either public health insurance or private insurance. The public health insurance starts at the earliest with the beginning of your employment. To cover the gap between entry and start of employment, embassies require the combination of public health insurance and a incoming insurance or also called travel insurance.
Public Health Insurance vs. Private Health Insurance
It is recommended that you choose the Health Insurance that suits your needs best.
Public Health Insurance
About 80% of all Germans have statutory health insurance.
The statutory health insurance in Germany is one of the best in the world. If you are employed in Germany and your gross salary in 2023 is less than 66,600 euros per year, the membership in the public health insurance is mandatory.
Incoming/Travel Insurance
People from non-EU countries usually need a visa to enter Germany. In this case, you must already present proof of health insurance when applying for a visa.The statutory insurance is valid from the start of employment. A travel or incoming insurance covers the gap from the date of entry and the start of employment. Many embassies require a combination of statutory insurance + incoming insurance.
Private Health Insurance
Almost 20% of people in Germany are privately insured. Employees earning more than €66,600 gross salary in 2023, self-employed, students and artists are entitled to join the private insurance.