Health insurance

Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. EU employees must join statutory insurance (Krankenkasse) within days of starting work. Feather offers English-language signup.

Last verified: May 2026

What it is

Health insurance is compulsory for everyone in Germany. You must have coverage from your first day of work or residence. There are two types:

Statutory (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung / GKV) — for employees earning under ~€73,800/year. Covers most medical care. Costs ~14-15% of gross salary, split between you and your employer. You choose a provider (Krankenkasse) from options like TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), AOK, DAK, or Barmer.

Private (Private Krankenversicherung / PKV) — for employees earning above the threshold, freelancers, and self-employed people. Often better coverage, but you pay the full premium yourself (no employer split). Can be expensive if you have a family.

For EU employees (standard case)

You need statutory health insurance. Your employer will ask for your Krankenkasse choice on your first day or before. Choose a statutory insurer and register. Your employer pays their half directly.

TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) — the largest statutory insurer, good English support, popular with expats. But TK does not have an open affiliate programme, so we can’t link directly.

Feather — an English-language health insurance broker that helps you navigate statutory and private options. Good for newcomers who want to compare in English before choosing.

What you need

  • Passport
  • Anmeldebescheinigung
  • Employment contract or proof of work (for statutory insurance)
  • Bank account details (for premium direct debit)

Step by step

  1. Decide statutory vs private (most EU employees: statutory)
  2. Choose a statutory provider — compare at krankenkassen.de
  3. Register online or in person with your chosen Krankenkasse
  4. Receive your insurance card (Gesundheitskarte) by post
  5. Give your Krankenkasse membership number to your employer

Common mistakes

  • Waiting too long. Insurance must be active from day one of employment. Don’t delay.
  • Choosing private when statutory is mandatory. If your salary is below the threshold, you cannot opt into private insurance.
  • Not informing your employer. Your employer handles the payments but needs to know which Krankenkasse you chose.