Travel, Incoming or Full Insurance: Which Benefits Differ in Germany?

Travel policies cover only emergencies abroad (~€1–3/day, no residence permit). Incoming (Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day, Care Expatriate from €58/month) is § 5 AufenthG-compliant for stays up to 5 years. Full GKV (DAK-Gesundheit, 17.8% of gross) is the long-term statutory system.

Only for Schengen short stays up to 90 days. For residence permits and long stays, the Ausländerbehörde requires Incoming or GKV — Care Visa Protect (from €0.85/day) for Schengen, Care Expatriate (from €58/month) for the Aufenthaltstitel under § 5 AufenthG.

Chronic conditions, follow-up treatment, dental care, mental health, and pregnancy after 8 months — none of which travel policies cover. Care Expatriate runs 1–60 months from €58/month with €0 deductible, accepted for the residence permit.

From day one of employment (if gross <€77,400/year in 2026, JAEG), and for students under 30 with matriculation. DAK-Gesundheit charges 17.8% of gross (employees) or ~€135.52/month for students — Incoming tariffs are not equivalent.

Plan Incoming cover (from €58/month) before applying for the visa or residence permit. No — Incoming tariffs like Care Visa Protect and Care Expatriate must be started before entry. Travel policies expire and cannot be upgraded.

Travel insurance (Reisekrankenversicherung) covers only emergency treatment during short stays (up to 90 days). Incoming insurance provides broader coverage for medium-term stays (up to 2 years), including outpatient and inpatient care. For long-term stays, full coverage (GKV/PKV) is typically required. Care Visa Protect (from 0.85 EUR/day) is ideal for short Schengen stays.

For a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel), authorities typically require full health insurance coverage (Vollversicherung) or an equivalent policy. A travel insurance alone is usually not accepted. Depending on your situation, Care Expatriate (from 58 EUR/month) or statutory insurance (GKV) may be appropriate.

Incoming insurance starts from around 30 EUR per 30 days (Care Economy), while statutory insurance (GKV) costs approximately 17.8% of gross salary. The right choice depends on your stay duration, employment status, and whether authorities require full coverage for your visa type.