Before you read the following info, please make sure you have read this important information about the dubious legal status of
international health insurances in Germany.
On international platforms or from insurance brokers / agents outside Germany we find that international health insurances are
being offered and sold indiscriminately to everyone around the world, even if the client claims to have his or her residence in Germany. This derives from a
poor knowledge or even no understanding of the particular health insurance laws in Germany which are very different from most countries around the world.
Doubtlessly there are
many excellent expat health insurance available around the world and brand-names like AETNA, ARPIL, AWW, BUPA, CIGNA or IMG, to name just some of the best-known health insurances around the world, offer good basic coverage up to fully comprehensive premium insurance plans that can be used all around the world.
The problem is: in Germany
not one of them fulfills the legal requirements to be considered as a law-compliant substitute for the
German public health insurances. Which is what in
German a private health insurance is supposed to be: a full substitute, an insurance coverage in lieu of the public insurance and not on top or besides the German public health insurances.
Even though expatriate health insurance is generally not possible as an alternative to German health insurance, there are still situations in which this type of insurance makes sense:
- You have had your insurance for many years already and plan only on a very time-limited stay in Germany. In such a case – especially for EU-citizens not needing to struggle with Visa-requirements – it can be sensible to continue using your international health insurance so that you have an ongoing coverage to take with you when finally, you leave Germany again.
- You are seconded by your employer to Germany. Legally secondment means that you remain outside the German welfare system entirely and only pay taxes in Germany. Secondment can be arranged by employers within the EU but there are also secondment agreements with many countries around the world, for instance with the USA. Under secondment you won’t be able to enter the German health insurance system anyway and the use of an international health insurance may in effect be your only good choice after all.
- You’ll enter the German health insurance system out of necessity, but want to continue your good coverage from an international health insurance still because you like its great coverage and have used it for many years successfully already. In such a case you can basically use it as a supplement to the German public health insurance (either as an employee you are compulsorily insured in the German public system or for other reasons you are a member of it).
As experts for expats we know these insurance plans very well that many non-specialized insurance broker or agents do not know because more often than not these plans are not suitable for Germans or German residents who need to rely entirely and solely on such insurance plans.
We can offer you an international health insurance from well-rated insurance companies as named above if we find together that this is a good solution in your special individual circumstances or of course if you insist after having been informed by us about the legal compliance-issues in Germany and still decide so in full knowledge of the facts.
