If you’re moving out of Germany permanently, you may want to cancel your health insurance.
But Germany has strict rules around when and how you can do this.
Health insurance is mandatory, so unless you’re leaving the country for good, you can’t cancel — you can only switch insurance companies instead, or switch from public to private health insurance.
You also can’t just stop paying. You’ll keep getting billed until your cancellation is officially approved.
Here’s a guide to help you understand what’s required and how to cancel, depending on the type of insurance you have.
Your german health insurance doesn’t automatically end when you leave your job, finish school, or stop working.
It stays active, and you’ll continue to be billed, unless you properly cancel.
For public and private health insurance, you must prove you’re leaving Germany permanently. That means providing your Abmeldung, the official de-registration document, from your local citizen’s office (Bürgeramt).
Note: Your employer can’t cancel your insurance for you. Only you can submit the cancellation, and it must include official proof.
With expat or short term health insurance, you can cancel at anytime (if you chose a policy with flexible cancellation like Feather’s), as long as you show proof that you are either leaving the country or changing to another insurance provider.
Canceling expat insurance is usually simpler than canceling public or private insurance in Germany. In most cases, you don’t need to deregister your address (Abmeldung) to cancel.
However, you should keep in mind that living in Germany without health insurance is usually illegal. If you’re canceling your expat policy, be sure to switch to a new plan.
You can use our recommendation tool to find the right health insurance for your situation.
With that out of the way, here are the steps to cancel your expat insurance:
Canceling your policy with Feather is quick and easy. Just follow these steps:
That’s it! You’ll receive a confirmation email once your cancellation is processed.
Important: You must cancel before the end of your current billing month. If you cancel after that, you’ll still be charged for the full month.
Other short-term insurance providers may have different cancellation rules. In general, most:
Always check your specific policy or contact your provider to understand their cancellation terms.
You need to de-register from your German address before you cancel your public or private health insurance.
Here’s how:
Without this document, your insurance provider is legally obligated to keep your coverage active and charge you.
If you’re leaving Germany permanently, you must cancel your public health insurance properly—just stopping payments is not enough. The best way to cancel is by email, as it’s faster and gives you a written record.
Fill out a cancellation letter: You can use this cancellation letter template. Replace the highlighted yellow sections with your information.
Download it as a PDF: Once filled out, download the document and send it as a PDF via email to your public insurance provider.
Include proof of departure: Along with your cancellation, attach:
Your Abmeldung (the official de-registration form from your local Bürgeramt)
One additional proof that you’re moving abroad, such as:
Make sure your documents clearly show that you are leaving Germany for good.
If you’re leaving Germany temporarily—especially for work, study, or extended travel outside the EU—you may not want to cancel your insurance entirely.
Instead, you can apply for an Anwartschaft (a holding or standby policy), which “freezes” your public insurance and lets you resume it later without losing important benefits.
Without an Anwartschaft, you may:
An Anwartschaft helps you avoid these problems by keeping your place in the system.
Note: While on an Anwartschaft, you are not covered for medical care in Germany or abroad. You’ll need separate health insurance during this time.
Costs vary by provider. For example, with TK (Techniker Krankenkasse):
Health insurance: €51.98/month
Long-term care insurance:
Contact your current provider for more details regarding whether or not you should consider an Anwartschaft.
If you’re permanently leaving Germany, you must officially cancel your private health insurance. Just like with public, you won’t be able to just stop paying to end your coverage.
If you’re relocating abroad, this typically overrides your minimum contract period (for example, Feather has a 2-year minimum term).
But to cancel successfully, you must submit your cancellation within three months of your official de-registration (Abmeldung).
At Feather, you can receive a refund for any overpaid premiums within that 3-month window. Other private insurers may also offer reimbursements, but their timelines can vary.
Always confirm the specific process with your current insurance company.
With that said, here are the exact steps to take to cancel with Feather:
Log in to your Feather account
Upload your documents:
Your Abmeldung from the Bürgeramt
One of the following:
No need to write an email or letter—everything can be handled directly through the Feather app.
Once submitted, Feather will take care of the rest. If anything is missing, we’ll reach out to request it.
If you are insured with another company, the process will likely look similar (though we recommend you confirm that with their support team), but you’ll have to reach out to your insurer via email with the mentioned documents.
In some cases, it may be possible to continue using your German private health insurance even after moving—especially if you’re self-employed or a freelancer moving to another EU country.
This can provide excellent value and consistent coverage, depending on the cost of local health insurance.
However, staying insured under a German plan depends on the rules of your destination country and your employment status. Employees are usually required to join the local health system, while freelancers often have more flexibility.
Feather can help assess your options if you’re unsure.
We’re happy to discuss your situation and provide guidance based on where you’re headed and what you need.
“Pausing my health insurance took just one form, thanks to Feather's fast, clear help.”
Ardi
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Rick
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