Health insurance

Member since 31 October 2024

resandersMember08 January 2026 07:20:57

I suspect that most of your followers are expatriate workers but my wife and I are applying for a long stay visa as retirees with sufficient resources to support ourselves but we are still required to buy our own health insurance. Any clues as to where to go for this would be much appreciated.

Thank you very much.

Ron

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beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

Member since 08 August 2010

Germany & Singapore Expert

beppiGermany/Singapore Expert08 January 2026 07:43:06

15623

You should inform yourself about the German health insurance system.

There are two schemes: Public and private.

As an elder person (especially if you have pre-existing illnesses), private is either not an option or prohibitively expensive. So try to join the public system!

The rules for who can when join which are very complex - and advisers are only available for the private scheme. So contact a public health insurer - they are obliged to advise you (but often don't).

The public system costs a fixed percentage of your (world) income - currently around 16% (to be increased soon), subject to a minimum of approx. 280€ per month (per person).

resanders Member

Member since 31 October 2024

resandersMember08 January 2026 11:00:08

@beppi

Thank you so much.

I would be interested as to how the German govt defines income. I will chase that up.

Regards and thanks,

Ron

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

Member since 08 August 2010

Germany & Singapore Expert

beppiGermany/Singapore Expert08 January 2026 15:20:26

15623

@resanders To my understanding, all your world income is counted here, no matter where and how it is paid. (You are also income tax liable on all of it once you're resident in Germany.) But the public health insurance contribution is capped at around 1100€/month (per person).