Health Insurance

Health insurance in Germany is compulsory for all residents. What makes the German system distinctive is its dual structure: statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) and private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV). Which system you belong to depends primarily on your employment status and income. The statutory system covers all employees whose gross annual salary falls below the compulsory insurance threshold (Versicherungspflichtgrenze). Contributions are calculated as a percentage of gross income and split equally between employee and employer. Non-working family members such as a spouse or children can be covered at no additional cost under the same policy. The GKV provides a comprehensive baseline: doctor visits, hospital stays, prescribed medication and many preventive check-ups are included. Private health insurance is open to the self-employed, civil servants (Beamte) and employees who earn above the income threshold. Premiums are calculated individually based on factors such as age, health status and the level of cover chosen. PKV policies typically offer a wider range of benefits: treatment by the senior consultant, single rooms in hospital and enhanced dental care are common examples. One key difference concerns families: in the GKV, a non-working spouse and children are covered for free under family insurance. In the PKV, every family member requires a separate policy, which can make private cover significantly more expensive for families. If you are moving to Germany from abroad, arranging health insurance is one of the first administrative steps. Employees are usually enrolled automatically through their employer. The self-employed and those not in employment need to register proactively with a statutory or private insurer.