June 25, 2026 · 12 min read

German Health Insurance for Expats: Which to Choose and the German You Need

By Language Lab editorial team

How to choose statutory health insurance in Germany — TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK — and the German phrases you need to register, claim, and visit the doctor.

How German health insurance works for new arrivals

Germany operates a dual health insurance system: gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV — statutory health insurance) and private Krankenversicherung (PKV — private health insurance). Most employees earning below a certain threshold (€73,800 gross per year in 2026) are required by law to join a statutory insurer. Freelancers, the self-employed, and high earners can choose between statutory and private. For most expats arriving for employment, the statutory system is the relevant path.

Germany has around 90 statutory health insurers (Krankenkassen), all offering the same legally mandated minimum coverage. You choose which insurer to join — they cannot refuse you — but you can only switch insurers once per year (with 2 months' notice). The premium is set by law as a percentage of gross salary (approximately 14.6%, split equally between you and your employer in 2026), so price is not the differentiating factor between insurers. Service quality, digital infrastructure, additional benefits, and English-language support are the real differences.

The major statutory insurers and how they compare

Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is most commonly recommended for expats in Germany. It has the largest member base, an English-language website, an English-speaking customer hotline, a strong app for digital claims, and is accepted everywhere. The registration process can be completed online in English — unusual among German public institutions.

How to register for health insurance in Germany

To register with a statutory insurer you will need: your passport or EU ID, your German address (from your Anmeldung), your employment contract or a document showing your starting date and employer, and your tax identification number (Steueridentifikationsnummer — this arrives by post 2–4 weeks after Anmeldung, but most insurers will register you before it arrives). Once registered, your insurer will issue a Gesundheitskarte (health card), which you present at every medical appointment.

Key German vocabulary for health insurance

German phrases for medical appointments

Finding a doctor (Hausarzt) who accepts your insurance

Not all doctors in Germany have open patient lists (geschlossene Patientenliste means the practice is not accepting new patients). When registering with a new Hausarzt, bring your Gesundheitskarte and passport. Ask whether the practice is kassenärztlich versorgend — accepting statutory insurance. In major cities with large expat populations, some practices have English-speaking staff; the TK website has a doctor search function that filters for English-speaking physicians.