Health Insurance for Foreigners in Germany: Which Insurance Do You Need?

From €27.50/month: it depends on your status — students use Care College or GKV, employees use GKV, visitors use Care Economy, retirees use Care Expatriate — Care College.

Yes — § 193 VVG makes health insurance compulsory for all residents; the Ausländerbehörde checks proof under § 5 AufenthG at every residence permit.

From €27.50/month: Care College for language schools/Studienkolleg (1–24 months) or GKV for degree students under 30 — overview.

Statutory GKV via DAK-Gesundheit or another fund; the employer registers the employee at the Krankenkasse under § 175 SGB V within 1 week of the job start.

From €30/30 days: Care Economy for the visa stage, then Care Expatriate for the 5-year stay — Care Economy.

It depends on your purpose of stay: Schengen visa → travel insurance (from €0.85/day), students → statutory insurance (GKV from ~€135/month) or private, employees → statutory (GKV), freelancers/expats → private insurance like Care Expatriate from €58/month.

German immigration offices (Ausländerbehörde) typically require insurance covering outpatient, inpatient, and repatriation. Incoming insurance like Care Economy (from €30/30 days) works for transition periods; long-term permits usually require GKV or recognized private insurance.

Costs vary by situation: Schengen visa from €0.85/day, incoming insurance from €30/30 days, student GKV ~€135/month, expat private insurance from €58/month. Compare options at Care Economy or Care Expatriate.