The largest scheme in the German healthcare system is statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV). It is one of the world’s oldest social health insurance systems, dating back to the late 1880s. Over time, the system has gradually widened, so that nowadays around 90% of Germany’s population is covered by statutory health insurance.
The statutory health insurance system (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV)
If you have a job in Germany, and earn less than 73.800 euros per year (in 2025), you will be automatically enrolled in the statutory health insurance system. Your employer will usually register you with a local health insurance company, although you can state a preference for a specific insurer, if you wish. After the first 12 months, it is also possible to change your health insurance provider (see below). If you are a student, you can also register for student health insurance with GKV at a discounted price.
Every worker is obliged to contribute to a statutory health insurance scheme. You are only able to choose which type of health insurance you would like if:
If any of the above apply to you, you can choose to voluntarily opt in to statutory health insurance, or take out private health insurance, which, depending on your income, may work out cheaper for you.
If you are receiving benefits or allowances, such as unemployment benefit, you are also automatically enrolled in GKV; the contributions are deducted from your benefit payments.
GKV is administered by around 110 non-profit organisations known as Krankenkasssen (sickness funds). All of the Krankenkassen are obliged to provide the same minimum level of care; they are also not allowed to refuse anyone membership.
Companies providing public health insurance in Germany
While the cost of public health insurance for everyone in Germany is a fixed salary percentage, you are able to pick and choose between over 100 providers who often charge different amounts for additional contributions and extra treatments. The following companies all provide statutory health insurance coverage in Germany:
German statutory health insurance comparison
You can compare the different Krankenkassen (health insurance companies) that offer support in English by visiting Feather's website.
What treatment is covered by statutory health insurance?
German statutory health insurance offers fairly comprehensive coverage, including:
- Hospital treatment
- Visits to GPs and doctors
- Rehabilitation, such as home care or physiotherapy
- Health checks from the age of 35
- Cancer screening
- Medicines, dressings, therapies and aids such as hearing aids or wheelchairs
- Dental check-ups
- Dentures and crowns
- Orthodontic treatment up to age 18
Statutory health insurance premiums
The sickness funds all charge the same basic rate of 14,6% of your gross salary (up to a maximum limit of 6.150 euros per month in 2025 - if you earn more than this, you only pay contributions on 6.150 euros of your salary per month). This contribution is split equally between you and your employer (7,3% each) and topped up with government subsidies.
If you are self-employed, you will generally have to pay the full contribution yourself. However, freelancers working in areas like art, PR or writing can apply to have 50% of their contributions covered by the Künstlersozialkasse (KSK). Students are offered specially discounted rates.
Additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag)
Depending on your provider, you may also be charged an “additional contribution” (Zusatzbeitrag) of up to 4,4%, which is also shared equally between you and your employer. This extra contribution sometimes entitles you to extra treatments not covered by statutory health insurance, such as:
- Additional dental care such as professional tooth cleaning or dentures
- Flu and travel vaccinations
- Cancer screening under 30
- Osteopathy
- Homoeopathy
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
- Contraception
Your Krankenkasse is obliged to inform you of any changes to your additional contribution rate, in order to give you the chance to change health insurance provider.
Additional charge (Zuzahlung)
To help cover the costs of the statutory healthcare system, patients are expected to make small excess payments (Zuzahlungen) towards the cost of their healthcare. This includes:
- 10% of prescription costs (minimum 5 euros and maximum 10 euros)
- 10 euros per day for hospital stays (up to a maximum of 28 days per year)
- 10% of home help costs (minimum 5 euros and maximum 10 euros per day, up to a maximum of 28 days per year)
- 10% of travel costs (minimum 5 euros and maximum 10 euros per journey)
Additional insurance (Zusatzverischerung)
It is also possible to purchase additional insurance (Zusatzversicherung) from health insurance providers, to “top-up” the care you receive from your statutory insurance. This might include:
- Foreign travel health insurance
- Additional sickness benefit (your statutory health insurance already entitles you to some; see below)
- Additional long-term care benefits
- Better hospital treatment, including higher doctor’s fees and private hospital rooms
- Additional dental care
- Alternative medicine
Family insurance with public health insurance
One of the big advantages of statutory health insurance is that it can also cover your family and kids at no extra cost. This includes:
- Spouses/partners
- Children up to age 23 if they are not in employment
- Children up to age 25 if they are in school or vocational training
- Stepchildren, grandchildren and foster children (up to age 23 or 25, as above)
To qualify, your dependents must not earn more than 470 euros per month.
Health insurance for pensioners
Pensioners are also obliged to take out health insurance. If you have been contributing to a statutory health insurance scheme for 90% of the second half of your working life, you must contribute to a statutory health insurance for pensioners (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung der Rentner) scheme.
The premiums will be deducted from your pension (approximately 14,6% of your statutory pension and any additional income, including private or company pensions). Your pension fund will contribute 50% of the premium taken from your statutory pension.
If you do not meet the criteria, you can voluntarily contribute to GKV, but your premiums may be higher. Alternatively, you can take out private health insurance for pensioners, and your pension insurance fund will usually supplement your contributions.
Health insurance card (Gesundheitskarte)
Once you have registered for health insurance in Germany, you will receive a health card (Gesundheitskarte) from your provider in the post. You will need to supply this every time you seek medical treatment so that your health insurance company can be invoiced, rather than you having to pay upfront.
Changing your public health insurance provider
Since January 2021, everyone covered by statutory health insurance has had the right to change their health insurance provider after 12 months (previously, the minimum term was 18 months). This means you can switch provider every year, if you wish.
If your provider increases their additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag) rates, you get a special right of termination, no matter how long you have held your policy. You just need to switch your provider before the end of the month in which you were informed of the change.
To minimise bureaucracy, health insurance companies are required to take care of the switchover. So, if you decide to change, you simply need to take out a new policy with your preferred Krankenkasse. They will inform your old insurer and terminate your previous policy. Note that a two-month notice period applies: if you apply for a new policy at the end of January, your health cover will pass to your new insurer by April 1.
Sickness benefit
Usually, if you are unable to work due to illness, your employer will cover your salary for six weeks. After that, anyone who is covered by statutory health insurance is eligible for sickness benefit for up to 78 weeks.
Maternity benefit
If you contribute to statutory health insurance you are also entitled to maternity benefit, usually for six weeks before and after childbirth.
Long-term care insurance
Long-term care insurance funds are usually operated as an arm of statutory health insurance funds; therefore if you are covered by GKV, you can also claim long-term care benefits in the event of sickness and old age.
Child sickness benefit
If both you and your child are insured under a statutory health insurance scheme, you are entitled to claim child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld) if your child falls ill and you have to take time off work to care for them.