Expat health insurance in Germany

Yes, if you’ve recently relocated to Germany and are looking for your first health insurance plan, you're eligible for expat health insurance.

This plan is suitable for those who are:

• Newcomers relocating to Germany
• Students over 30
• Students under 30 who wish to use a private insurance instead of public health
• Freelancers or self employed
• Unemployed
• First time visa or residence permit seekers who are not yet on public or private health

Expat health insurance is an excellent option if you're a freelancer or self-employed. Expat insurance provides emergency and accidental coverage in addition to any illness you might have.

If you’ve been insured in the EU or the UK within the last three months, you have the option to get on public insurance after moving to Germany. You should check out our recommendation tool to go through the other options before signing up for expat insurance.

Freelancers and those who are self-employed are considered to be "voluntarily insured,” or freiwillig versichert, which means public health insurance companies are not obligated to insure them.

As a general rule, expat health works for almost all first time visas and residence permits. Below are the most common ones that our expat policy works for: - Job seeker visa

- Working holiday visa

- Schengen or Tourist visa

- Chancenkarte / Opportunity card visa

- Student visa

- Family reunification visa

- Freelance / Self-employment visa or residence permit

- Visa type D

- Vocational Training Visa (Ausbildung)

- EU Bluecard visa (expat works in conjunction with public/private health as the insurance to bridge the gap between entering Germany and your employment commencing)

Yes, this policy meets the legal requirements for getting your first visa or residence permit in Germany.

However, if you need to renew your visa or residence permit and are not yet eligible for public or private health, you have to sign up to our long term expat plans.

Immediately. Your policy documents will be waiting for you in your Feather account after you finish signing up.

You can use these documents to show proof of health insurance for your visa or residence permit application.

The newcomer expat health insurance plans have a maximum term limit of five years, while the extended expat health insurance plans have no limit. The five-year term starts on the first day you arrive in Germany.

For example, if you moved to Germany on the 1st of January 2025 but signed up for expat health insurance on the 2nd of June 2025, you can only remain on the policy until the 1st of January 2030 with the newcomer plans.

If you purchase a policy and it becomes active within 14 days of purchase, then you have 14 days to cancel your policy from the date of purchase and receive a full refund (as long as no claims were made during this period).

However, if you purchase a policy with a start date in the future (over 14 days), then you have any time before the policy becomes active to cancel it and receive a full refund.

After this period, you can still cancel anytime! Whenever you cancel, you will then no longer be charged during the next monthly billing cycle.

You can check our detailed FAQs about the cancelation policy and how to cancel.

Yes, a standard 31-day waiting period applies before you can use the insurance. However, sometimes, a waiting period can be waived. You can learn more about it and when it can be waived in our FAQ.

Yes, you'll have to pay upfront. We suggest paying the doctor or clinic as soon as possible to avoid any late fees. Following that, submit photos of all invoices, receipts, and documents related to the incident in your Feather account to get reimbursed. The reimbursement will be made to you, not to the doctor.

Yes, dependents can be added to your plan. Please note that each dependent will have to have their own policy, but we can add them all under one account for ease of access.

To add a dependent, simply:

1. Sign up for expat insurance for yourself first (or for the person you want to be the main policyholder)

2. Once you sign up, log into your Feather account and click on your expat policy.

3. Click 'add dependents' and sign up the dependent to whichever policy you wish. You don't have to purchase the same policy for each person.

Yes, absolutely!

If you upgrade then the policies will be linked, however please keep in mind if you downgrade then the policies will not be linked.

In most cases, yes.

But even for those who may be exempt from requiring health insurance on arrival, we still recommend obtaining one. Our expat is a great option therefore for newcomers when they first enter Germany to get them started and covered.

Generally no, most visas require more coverage than what a traditional travel insurance would offer.

Our expat health policy offers more coverage than a typical travel insurance as it includes both inpatient and outpatient care, as well as non medical extras such as dental and physical therapy.

Expat is a type of short term incoming private insurance that is affordable and accessible, but it has a 5 year limit and does not offer broad range coverage.

Public health is long term coverage and is very comprehensive, however you must meet strict eligibility criteria to be eligible (eg obtaining employment in Germany) and the cost is based on your income but is generally more expensive than expat.

We generally recommend starting with expat but switching to public (or even full private) as soon as you are eligible to do so.

Expat is a type of short term incoming private insurance that is affordable and accessible, but it has a 5 year limit and does not offer broad range coverage.

Private health offers long term and very comprehensive cover (with customisable plans). It is generally considered to be more comprehensive than public health (depending on the plan you choose) and is more expensive than expat but usually also cheaper than public health.

We generally recommend starting with expat but switching to public or full private as soon as you are eligible to do so.

Yes.

Our expat health meets the 193 (3) VVG criteria for health insurance in Germany and is a suitable option for those who are not yet eligible or mandated to join the public or private health insurance system in Germany.

Yes, it usually is one of the most affordable options which is why it's great to get you started.

However keep in mind that it offers short term and less comprehensive coverage than public, so we do recommend switching once you are eligible.

Yes.

Our expat health meets the 193 (3) VVG criteria for health insurance in Germany and is a suitable option for those who are not yet eligible or mandated to join the public or private health insurance system in Germany.

Expat insurance covers accidents, emergencies and new illnesses, for both inpatient and outpatient care.

It does not cover pre-existing conditions or preventative care.

You can read a further overview of what is covered under the basic and premium expat plans in our coverage FAQ.

Yes.

We offer a digital health insurance card which you can download and add to your digital wallet via your Feather account after signing up.

However keep in mind you don't need the card to use your insurance!

To use your insurance, you will act as a self paying or privately insured patient, then pay upfront (or request a payment plan if the bill is very high), and submit all invoices/receipts through the claims link in your expat policy in your Feather account.

You can visit any accredited doctor in Germany, and we recommend doctolib.de to find one near you.

Yes absolutely!

You can easily switch from expat to public or private health as soon as you become eligible for them - eg if you obtain regular employment in Germany then you would be eligible for public health and would switch. We can even help you switch!

Simply click the 'switch to public or private health' button in your Feather account as soon as you are eligible and we will take care of it for you!

It depends.

If you are working a mini job, a working student over 30, freelancing or employed overseas, then yes you can stay on expat health.

Otherwise if you have regular employment (earning over the 2026 mini job threshold of 603 euros gross per month), then you will need to switch to public or private health.

We can even help you switch!

Simply click the 'switch to public or private health' button in your Feather account as soon as you are eligible and we will take care of it for you!