Insurance for living and travelling in Germany

• GKV (statutory health insurance) – statutory health insurance.

Compulsory for many employees within the statutory income limits. Contribution-free cover for spouses and children is available subject to additional conditions.

• PKV (private health insurance) – private health insurance.

For employees above the compulsory insurance threshold and eligible self-employed people and business owners: individually selected benefits, generally subject to medical underwriting.

• Incoming/expat health insurance – entry or longer-term cover for foreign nationals, depending on the plan.

Depending on the plan and its acceptance: national visa applicants, ethnic German resettlers awaiting GKV/PKV cover, interns, volunteers and freelancers starting out.

• Schengen/travel medical insurance – travel cover, up to 90 days depending on the plan.

For short trips and visitor visas: medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation, subject to the plan.

• Student health insurance – student health insurance.

Student GKV generally up to age 30, subject to eligibility; afterwards, voluntary GKV or suitable private plans may be available depending on access requirements.

• Health cover for au pairs, language courses and internships – specialised plans for au pairs, language courses and internships.

• Long-term care insurance – compulsory long-term care insurance.

Statutory or comprehensive private health insurance generally comes with compulsory long-term care insurance. This contributes towards costs if care is needed, but does not necessarily cover all expenses.

• Daily sickness benefit – daily sickness benefit for loss of income.

For self-employed people, freelancers and executives: an agreed daily sickness benefit after the contractual waiting period.

• Supplementary hospital/dental cover – supplementary hospital and dental cover.

Single room and treatment by a senior consultant; enhanced dental cover and implants.

• Personal liability – personal liability in everyday life.

Covers insured liability claims by third parties. Damage caused by children and to rented premises must be included in the plan. An important basic safeguard.

• Animal owners’ liability – liability for dog or horse owners.

Required for dogs in many federal states, depending on local law and the animal.

• Landlords’ / property and landowners’ liability – for landlords and landowners.

• Construction client liability – for building owners and renovation work.

• Professional/business liability – professional and business liability.

For doctors, IT professionals, consultants, construction businesses and other occupations.

• Financial loss liability – liability for pure financial losses.

For professions exposed to pure financial loss claims, such as lawyers, tax advisers, auditors and IT consultants.

• Legal expenses cover – legal expenses cover.

Personal, employment, housing, tax and traffic legal expenses cover, plus business legal protection, within the agreed scope.

• Private accident insurance – private accident insurance.

Unlike statutory accident insurance, private accident cover can also apply during leisure time, often around the clock. Disability and rehabilitation benefits depend on the policy.

• Occupational disability (BU) – occupational disability cover.

Important income protection for IT professionals, other specialists and business owners.

• Term life insurance – term life insurance.

To protect your family, mortgage or business.

• Contents insurance – movable household belongings.

Insured loss caused by fire, escape of water, burglary and related vandalism; bicycles or electronics may require additional cover.

• Residential buildings – buildings, such as houses or condominiums.

For owners: the structure and insured perils; cover for additional natural hazards is often a separate option.

• Electronics and business contents – office or shop contents and stock.

• Bicycles/e-bikes – separate cover for valuable bicycles and cargo bikes.

• Motor liability/partial/comprehensive cover – motor insurance.

Compulsory motor liability cover, with optional comprehensive cover, roadside assistance and traffic legal expenses insurance.

• Annual travel medical insurance – annual travel medical cover.

• Travel cancellation/curtailment – travel cancellation and curtailment.

• Event organisers’ liability – event organisers’ liability.

• Event cancellation – event cancellation or performer non-appearance.

• Transport / trade credit / cyber / D&O – business risks.

Transport, unpaid receivables, cyber incidents and directors’ liability.

• Solar installations, glass and construction works – for homeowners and construction projects.

• Pet surgery insurance – surgery for pets.