Health insurance for foreigners — Price Index 2026: what does cover cost by age & visa?
Written by Steffan Grund — Insurance broker for foreign nationals in Germany · Reviewed
Quick answer: Health insurance for foreigners in Germany costs very differently in 2026 depending on entry age, plan and visa. For a long-term residence permit the entry point is €58/month (entry age 13–40) and rises to €246/month (61–74) — the premium is set by entry age and stays constant for the whole term. For short visits up to 92 days a Schengen plan starts at €0,85/day.
What does Care Expatriate (residence permit) cost by entry age?
| Entry age | Basic (deductible 150) | Comfort (deductible 150) | Comfort (deductible 500) | Premium (deductible 0) | Premium (deductible 500) | Premium (deductible 1000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–12 J. | €64 | €104 | €81 | €191 | €149 | €117 |
| 13–40 J. | €58 | €84 | €63 | €181 | €141 | €109 |
| 41–60 J. | €68 | €103 | €77 | €256 | €201 | €156 |
| 61–74 J. | €246 | €322 | €248 | €432 | €336 | €263 |
Underwriter HanseMerkur · entry age 0–74 · term 3–60 months · premium entry-age-fixed, constant over the term
Care Expatriate Basic, ages 13–40: from €58/month.
Care Expatriate Basic, ages 41–60: from €68/month.
Care Expatriate Basic, ages 61–74: from €246/month (max entry age 74).
Entering before your 61st birthday locks the 41–60 band (€68) for the whole term.
What does Care Economy (visit / bridge / Opportunity Card) cost by duration & age?
| Duration | Up to 64 (with deductible) | Up to 64 (without deductible) | 65+ (with deductible) | 65+ (without deductible) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 90 days | €1 | €1,18 | €2,95 | €3,48 |
| 91–180 days | €1,35 | €1,59 | €3,7 | €4,37 |
| 181–365 days | €1,95 | €2,3 | €4,95 | €5,84 |
| 366–730 days | €2,4 | €2,83 | €7,9 | €9,32 |
Minimum premium €10/contract; from age 65 the daily rate is markedly higher
30-day equivalents (approx., = daily×30): up to 64 from approx. €30/30 days; 65+ from approx. €88,5/30 days.
What does Schengen short-visit health insurance cost?
| Age band | Price per day |
|---|---|
| bis 64 J. | €0,85 |
| 65–74 J. | €2,6 |
Schengen-visa health insurance for short visits: from €0,85/day (up to 64), from €2,6/day (65–74), minimum cover €30,000.
AVB/UNVERIFIED: the tariff registry records a minimum premium of €8,5 per person and trip; verify it in the tariff calculator before purchase.
Which visa → which plan → which price?
| Situation / visa | Suitable plan | Entry price | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short visit / Schengen (≤92 days) | Care Visa Protect | from €0,85/day | up to 92 days |
| Family visit / Opportunity Card / job search | Care Economy | from approx. €30/30 days | up to 2 years |
| Residence permit / long-term (expats, freelancers, self-employed, retirees, family reunification) | Care Expatriate | from €58/month (13–40) · from €246 (61–74) | up to 5 years |
| Employment in Germany | Statutory GKV (e.g. DAK) | approx. 17,8% of gross (split employer/employee) | open-ended |
| Students under 30 (GKV-liable) | Statutory GKV (e.g. DAK) | from €135,52/month | open-ended |
Check the plan and current purchase price
Related health-insurance guides
Frequently asked questions about the 2026 Price Index
What does health insurance for foreign retirees in Germany cost?
For a residence permit: Care Expatriate from €246/month for entry age 61–74 (Basic); the premium stays constant for the term. Maximum entry age 74.
From what price is there health insurance for a German visa?
Short visit/Schengen from €0,85/day; long-term residence permit from €58/month (entry age 13–40).
Why does the insurance get more expensive from age 61?
The premium is set by entry age. Entering before your 61st birthday locks the cheaper 41–60 band (from €68/month) for the whole term.
Does the cheap variant cover pre-existing conditions?
Incoming plans cover acute cases; existing pre-existing conditions are generally excluded (check the AVB). Statutory GKV does not check pre-existing conditions where access exists.
What is the difference between Care Economy and Care Expatriate?
Care Economy is day-based and flexible (visit/bridge, up to 2 years); Care Expatriate is the long-term residence-permit plan (up to 5 years), entry-age-fixed.
Steffan Grund — Insurance broker for foreign nationals in Germany · Reviewed 2026
Method: all figures are entry prices (lowest published premium per age/duration band) of the Care Concept plans (underwriter: HanseMerkur), 2026. Care Expatriate = entry-age-fixed (constant over the term). Care Economy = day-based (daily rate by duration and age band). Prices can change — the tariff calculator at purchase is authoritative. Not legal or insurance advice.
Comparing and applying through this portal is 100% free for you. Upon successful conclusion of a contract, we receive a commission from the insurer — the premium you pay is identical to the direct premium from the insurer. There are no surcharges, processing or mediation fees for you.