Question 1

How long does it take to sign up?

Accepted Answer

Submitting your application only takes a few minutes, but getting covered is pretty quick too. For employees and students, you can expect your coverage to be confirmed in as little as a few business days. Self-employed and unemployed persons can expect a longer application process, but usually no longer than 14 business days. If it's super urgent let us know and we can make it happen much faster!

Question 2

How does this insurance work?

Accepted Answer

Public, or state health insurance is really quite simple and easy to understand. Your insurance contributions are calculated as a flat percentage of your income. So, if you're earning a high income you can expect to pay more than someone earning a low income. To find out your exact price, see our useful price calculator.

Question 3

Does this policy fulfill my visa requirements?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. No matter which visa you are applying for, coverage by public health insurance will satisfy the insurance requirement no questions asked.

Question 4

Will I get an SVNR or pension number? If so, when?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shortly after you've been confirmed as a new member, an official letter will be sent to you from the pension service via post with your SVNR number. However, if you need the number sooner, or you can't receive post mail, feel free to get in contact with us and we'd be happy to email it to you.

Question 5

Will I receive an insurance card? If so, when?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Again, shortly you've been confirmed as a new member, you will be receiving some post mail with more information about how to acquire your health card. Generally speaking, it takes just one week after your confirmation to get the physical health card.

Question 6

Am I eligible for this insurance?

Accepted Answer

As long as it's your first time becoming employed in Germany, yes. And for anyone who has recently relocated to Germany from somewhere else within the E.U. (whether they are self-employed, a freelancer, or unemployed) then yes. In all other cases, it's hard to say for sure without more specific details. If you have a tricky situation, please feel free to get in touch with our team and they'd be happy to help you.

Question 7

How do I visit a doctor?

Accepted Answer

Once you've been confirmed as a new member, you can visit a doctor right away without any waiting periods. Simply look for a doctor in your area who speaks your preferred language and call or book an appointment online. Before the appointment, the receptionist will ask you for your health card. And that's all you need to supply. Generally, no payment methods are required.

Question 8

Will this cover my spouse or my family?

Accepted Answer

Yes. On public health insurance, your children (under 18 years old) and a non-working spouse can be covered for free. Please see our FAQ for more information on how to get them signed up.

Question 9

How do I pay for this policy?

Accepted Answer

If you are employed, then your insurance payments will be made directly from your paycheck. Your employer is required by law to pay for half of your policy. The other half will be deducted from your monthly salary.

For self-employed persons, students and unemployed persons, you will be asked to provide an IBAN where automatic monthly payments will be withdrawn from.

Question 10

Does this cover dental?

Accepted Answer

Yes, however coverage for dental under public health is quite limited. For example, only simple check ups, fillings, and x-rays are covered. If you'd like a dental cleaning or high-end composite white-colored fillings you would need to consider adding a supplemental dental insurance. To see our policy, click here.

Question 11

Are my pre-existing conditions covered?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chronic illnesses and pre-existing conditions are not excluded from coverage under public health insurance. In most cases, all ongoing medication schedules or treatments are covered. However, certain medications and specific treatments might not be covered outright or may require a copay.

Question 12

Am I obligated by law to sign up for public health insurance?

Accepted Answer

If you are employed and earning less than 73,800€ per year then yes, you are required by law to be covered under public health insurance.

If you are employed and earning more than 73,800€ per year then you have the option to "opt-out" of the public system and you may choose private insurance. If you are in this situation and would like to consult our team about private health insurance, you can do that here.

For everyone else, the situation may vary. In this case, please feel free to reach out to our team for more detailed information.

Question 13

How will the price increase over time?

Accepted Answer

The increase of 3,3% is based on the average increase across all public health insurance providers. The main contributing factor is that the threshold amount to calculate public health insurance cost has increased every year since 2011. This only applies for employees and freelancers with a high income (above the threshold amount, Jahresarbeitsentgeldgrenze).

Question 14

What's the cancellation period?

Accepted Answer

There is a three month cancellation period when switching to private insurance, 12 months when switching to a different public insurer, and no cancellation period when moving away from Germany or in case of a price change.

Question 15

Does my employer provide health insurance?

Accepted Answer

In Germany, employers contribute to their employees’ health insurance costs. If you’re an employer considering offering health benefits, discover our  company health insurance  solutions.

Public health insurance in Germany

Public coverage, made simple for newcomers

Pre-existing conditions included

Your family, covered

Signup in English

Why Feather?

Digital signup

No German needed

Free to use

Get a price estimate

€ —

Why choose public health insurance?

Works for all residence permits

Comprehensive cover

Video doctor

Reliable and efficient support

Everything was so smooth and stress free

The support made a significant difference in my visa process

Kind, prompt, and efficient

It's super easy

Frequently asked questions