Are you new to Berlin and want to learn more about health insurance? Here you can find some information on the first steps in the healthcare system.
How does health insurance work in Germany?
In Germany, everyone should have health insurance. This means that everyone has health insurance and pays for it, or receives financial support if they cannot cover the costs themselves. A health insurance provider is also called a “Krankenkasse”. It covers most of the costs when you visit a doctor, need to go to the hospital, or require medication.
Here you can find information on where to go in case of illness or an accident:
What is the difference between statutory and private health insurance?
Statutory health insurance (GKV)
In Germany, most people are insured with a statutory health insurance provider. If you work and have more than a mini-job, your employer will automatically register you with your statutory health insurance provider. Students and trainees (apprentices) are also often covered by statutory health insurance.
You can choose which statutory health insurance provider you would like to join. Children and spouses can often be insured free of charge. This is called "Familienversicherung" (Free co-insurance for family members). If you have statutory health insurance, you are also automatically covered by social long-term care insurance.
If you are self-employed and were previously insured with a statutory health insurance provider, you can take out voluntary statutory health insurance. Employees who earn more than the mandatory insurance threshold, or people with a mini-job, can also remain in statutory health insurance on a voluntary basis.
Private health insurance (PKV)
Private health insurance is mainly for civil servants, self-employed people, freelancers, and employees who earn more than the mandatory insurance threshold. Students and people without an obligation to work, such as children or people who are ill, can also take out private health insurance under certain conditions .
If you have private health insurance, you usually have to pay for doctor visits and medication yourself first. You then send the invoice to your private health insurance provider and get reimbursed. Some medical practices only treat privately insured patients.
Tip: Compare different health insurance providers at Krankenkassen.de
What do I do if I don't have health insurance?
If you do not have health insurance, you should get insured as soon as possible. Choose a health insurance provider and apply for membership. You can do this online or directly at a branch of the provider.
Counseling centers such as Malteser offer help for people without health insurance. You can receive free and anonymous advice and, in some cases, get treatment for certain illnesses. In case of illness, the medibüro can also help you and arrange anonymous and free treatment, regardless of your residence status.
In emergency situations without health insurance, contact the multilingual Clearingstelle für nicht krankenversicherte Menschen (Health Insurance Advisory Center). They will advise you on whether you can get health insurance or help you find a doctor’s practice in Berlin. The Clearingstelle (Health Insurance Advisory Center) can also cover the costs of your medical treatment if you do not have enough money and live in Berlin.
Clearingstelle für nicht krankenversicherte Menschen
Tip: You can find more information in the Ratgeber zur Krankenversicherung des Bundesministeriums für Gesundheit.
Who pays for my health insurance if I don't earn any money?
If you do not earn any money and receive social benefits, your health insurance will be paid for by the Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency), the Jobcenter , or the Sozialamt (Social Welfare Office).
Do I need health insurance upon entry?
Are you planning to enter Germany with a visa? Please note that not every insurance policy is suitable for a student or work visa. It is best to find information online before entering the country or to seek advice in person.
If you only start work, an apprenticeship , or studies after entering the country, you will only be covered by statutory health insurance (GKV) from that point onward. For the time before that, when you are arriving, you will need your own health insurance, for example travel insurance.
I come from the EU. Do I still need health insurance?
You can also be covered in Germany with health insurance from your country of origin. However, this insurance only covers necessary treatment. You should therefore take out German health insurance as soon as possible. You can find more information in the Flyer der EU-Gleichbehandlungsstelle, available in several languages.
I have applied for asylum. Am I covered by health insurance during the asylum process?
Yes. If you have applied for asylum in Berlin, you will automatically be registered with a health insurance provider by the State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF). During the first 36 months, you will only receive treatment in acute situations. Treatments that are not urgent will not be covered.
Do you have any questions? Here you can find free, multilingual support tailored to your needs.
Locations in this map
Willkommenszentrum Berlin
Show on mapThe Counselling Centre for Migrants, which has existed since 1981, and the Welcome Centre Berlin, which was founded in 2016, were merged in April 2021.
People with a history of migration and their relatives continue to receive competent advice on all questions of migration as well as arrival and advancement from a single source. The grown team of the Welcome Center and the cooperation partners, including the networks Integration through Qualification (IQ) and bridge, inform, advise and support individually and multilingually.
The following concerns are covered by the Welcome Centre - Counselling Centre of the Integration Officers:
- Legal advice in migration law
- Hardship counselling
- social counselling
- Advice on the recognition of professional qualifications from abroad
- Advice on training and further education, German courses and job search - Advice on setting up a business
- Advice on labour law
Language overview: https://www.berlin.de/willkommenszentrum/ueber-uns/unsere-partner/
Consulting hours of the partners: https://www.berlin.de/willkommenszentrum/ueber-uns/unsere-partner
Potsdamer Str. 61
10785 Berlin
Germany
[DeepL:] Our consulting takes place on site, by telephone and digitally.
Opening hours:
Mon 9:00-13:00
Tue 9:00-13:00 + 15:00-18:00
Wed 9:00-13:00
Thu 9:00-13:00 + 15:00-18:00
Consultation by e-mail and arrangement of consultation appointments: beratung@intmig.berlin.de
Appointments for consultation by phone:
Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00-12:00 at (030) 9017-23172.
Personal consultation in Ukrainian and Russian
Monday 09 - 13 h
Tuesday 09 to 13 h, 15 to 18 h
Thursday 09 to 13 h, 15 to 18 h
Clearingstelle für nicht krankenversicherte Menschen
Show on mapCounselling for people with unclear residence status, EU citizens and Germans without sufficient health insurance cover in Berlin to clarify whether they can be placed in mainstream care.
We advise confidentially and anonymously on request.
Zinzendorfstraße 18
10555 Berlin
Germany
Monday, Tuesday, Friday 10:00-13:00,
Wednesday 13:00-17:00, Thursday 17:00-20:00
Malteser Medizin für Menschen ohne Krankenversicherung (MMM)
Show on mapMalteser Medicine is for people without health insurance, people without valid residence status, and we help people without health insurance find a doctor who provides initial examination and emergency care in case of sudden illness, injury or pregnancy.
MMM's practice has consultations for the following specialties:
- General Medicine (Tues, Wed and Fri: 9am-3pm, last intake: 1.30pm).
- Paediatrics (Wed: 9-12 hrs)
- Gynaecology (Tue and Wed: 9am-1pm)
- Dentistry (Tue and Fri: 9am-12pm)
- Orthopaedics (Fri: appointments only)
- Dermatology (Fri: appointments only)
- Physiotherapy (Fri: appointments only)
- Social counselling (Tue, Wed and Fri: 9-15 hrs, Mon and Thurs: appointments only)
- Pregnancy counselling
Aachener Straße 12
10713 Berlin
Germany
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 09:00-15:00 hrs
(last acceptance: 13:30)
Medibüro Berlin
Show on mapMedibüro Berlin does not offer medical treatment itself, but arranges anonymous and free treatment by qualified medical professionals for migrants without residence status and without health insurance.
If necessary, we can provide financial support for aids or medication. It is not possible to provide financial support for medication in the case of chronic illnesses, in the case of serious, long-term illnesses or for subsequent reimbursement of costs for medical treatment or medication. In these cases, we try to find and refer alternative solutions.
Gneisenaustraße 2a
10961 Berlin
Germany
[DeepL:] Monday 15:30-18:30
