Back from abroad?
How to get health insured again.

After a year abroad, a posting or several years abroad: whether you are automatically publicly insured again depends on whether you have a job and how you were last insured in Germany. Here you see what applies to you, why you should register straight away and how you can still choose a cheap health insurer.

What applies to me? → Choose an insurer

Your starting point

Returning to Germany: the most common cases

You start a job in Germany

If you earn below the compulsory insurance threshold (2026: €77,400 a year), you are compulsorily insured from your first working day and choose your health insurer freely – no matter where you were insured before. Exception from 55: if you were not publicly insured in the last five years, you usually stay private. Tell your employer your insurer within two weeks of starting.

In the application: “No” if you are not currently covered by statutory health insurance in Germany. Occupational group: employee.

Job above the threshold

Were you publicly insured before leaving, and did your membership end because you worked abroad? Then you can join voluntarily if you take up employment again within two months of returning – you declare membership within three months. Your employer pays a subsidy.

No job – last insured publicly

Then you are automatically insured again from your first day in Germany without other cover – with the insurer you were last publicly insured with, even if that was many years ago. This also applies from 55. You pay the contribution yourself, based on your income.

Last insured privately

If you were privately insured in Germany before leaving, you usually belong in private health insurance again – every insurer must then accept you at least in the basic tariff. Travel or expat health insurance abroad does not count as “last insured privately”.

Private health & supplementary cover →

Publicly insured in another EU country

Insurance periods in a state system in the EU, EEA or Switzerland can count in Germany like statutory periods. Ask your insurer abroad for a certificate of your insurance periods and give it to the German insurer.

Returning with family

If you are publicly insured in Germany, your spouse or civil partner and children who live here and have little income of their own (2026: up to €565 a month, up to €603 with a mini-job) are insured free of charge.

Important

Register straight away – and still switch

Cover starts automatically

Without other cover, compulsory insurance starts on the first day you are not otherwise covered in Germany – even if you only register later.

Registering late costs money

If you only register months later, the insurer claims the contributions for that period. It should reduce them appropriately and waive late-payment surcharges – but it is cheaper to register right after you return.

You can switch straight away

If you automatically ended up back with your old insurer, you can switch to a cheaper one straight away with the normal notice period – without a 12-month commitment. If you start a job, you choose again anyway.

What does it cost without a job?

The contribution depends on all your income. Even without income, in 2026 the insurer assumes at least €1,318.33 a month – including long-term care insurance that is around €270 to €300 a month, depending on the additional contribution. You pay the additional contribution in full yourself, so switching to a cheap insurer pays off.

A pension from abroad, self-employment or a case that doesn’t fit here? Write to us – we look at your case free of charge.

Step by step

How to get back into public health insurance

Gather documents

The name of your last insurer in Germany, proof of your insurance abroad and your return date.

With a job: choose an insurer

Click “Apply” in the list below and tell your employer the insurer. They receive the membership certificate electronically.

Without a job: call your last insurer

Contact the insurer you were last insured with right after you return. It confirms your cover from the day of return.

Choose a cheaper insurer

If your old insurer is too expensive, switch with the notice period – to the end of the month after next. The new insurer takes care of the rest.

Insurers with online application

After returning: choose a health insurer

Sorted by additional contribution. Choose your federal state – regional insurers only accept you if you live or work there. “Apply” opens the online application of our partner VGK24 further down this page, with the insurer already selected. If you are already insured again with your old insurer, answer “Yes” in the application and enter that insurer.

Insurer	Additional contribution	Total rate	Open in	Online application
BKK firmus	2.18%	16.78%	Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt	Apply →
AOK Rheinland-Pfalz/Saarland	2.47%	17.07%	Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland	Apply →
BKK Faber-Castell & Partner	2.48%	17.08%	Bavaria	Apply →
hkk	2.59%	17.19%	nationwide	Apply →
Audi BKK	2.60%	17.20%	nationwide	Apply →
AOK Bayern	2.69%	17.29%	Bavaria	Apply →
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)	2.69%	17.29%	nationwide	Apply →
BKK Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg	2.79%	17.39%	Baden-Württemberg	Apply →
AOK Sachsen-Anhalt	2.89%	17.49%	Saxony-Anhalt	Apply →
HEK	2.89%	17.49%	nationwide	Apply →
AOK Hessen	2.98%	17.58%	Hesse	Apply →
AOK Niedersachsen	2.98%	17.58%	Lower Saxony	Apply →
AOK Baden-Württemberg	2.99%	17.59%	Baden-Württemberg	Apply →
AOK NordWest	2.99%	17.59%	North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein	Apply →
BKK Freudenberg	2.99%	17.59%	Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony	Apply →
AOK PLUS	3.10%	17.70%	Saxony, Thuringia	Apply →
DAK-Gesundheit	3.20%	17.80%	nationwide	Apply →
AOK Bremen/Bremerhaven	3.29%	17.89%	Bremen	Apply →
AOK Rheinland/Hamburg	3.29%	17.89%	Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia	Apply →
BARMER	3.29%	17.89%	nationwide	Apply →
Salus BKK	3.29%	17.89%	nationwide	Apply →
BKK EUREGIO	3.39%	17.99%	Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia	Apply →
IKK gesund plus	3.39%	17.99%	nationwide	Apply →
BKK Gildemeister Seidensticker	3.40%	18.00%	nationwide	Apply →
BKK Herkules	3.48%	18.08%	Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony	Apply →
R+V BKK	3.49%	18.09%	nationwide	Apply →
AOK Nordost	3.50%	18.10%	Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania	Apply →
BKK mkk	3.50%	18.10%	nationwide	Apply →
novitas bkk	3.60%	18.20%	nationwide	Apply →
BAHN-BKK	3.65%	18.25%	nationwide	Apply →
SKD BKK	3.65%	18.25%	Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein	Apply →
BIG direkt gesund	3.69%	18.29%	nationwide	Apply →
Pronova BKK	3.70%	18.30%	nationwide	Apply →
KKH	3.78%	18.38%	nationwide	Apply →
Bergische Krankenkasse	3.79%	18.39%	Hamburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia	Apply →
BKK ProVita	3.79%	18.39%	nationwide	Apply →
vivida bkk	3.79%	18.39%	nationwide	Apply →
SBK	3.80%	18.40%	nationwide	Apply →
IKK classic	3.85%	18.45%	nationwide	Apply →
mhplus BKK	3.86%	18.46%	Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia	Apply →
IKK Südwest	3.87%	18.47%	Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland	Apply →
BKK Mobil	3.89%	18.49%	nationwide	Apply →
BKK VerbundPlus	3.89%	18.49%	nationwide	Apply →
BKK melitta hmr	3.90%	18.50%	Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein	Apply →
BKK Pfalz	3.90%	18.50%	nationwide	Apply →
Heimat Krankenkasse	3.90%	18.50%	nationwide	Apply →
SECURVITA BKK	3.90%	18.50%	Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia	Apply →
energie-BKK	3.98%	18.58%	nationwide	Apply →
BKK Wirtschaft & Finanzen	3.99%	18.59%	Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony	Apply →
VIACTIV Krankenkasse	4.19%	18.79%	nationwide	Apply →
IKK – Die Innovationskasse	4.30%	18.90%	nationwide	Apply →
Knappschaft	4.30%	18.90%	nationwide	Apply →
BKK24	4.39%	18.99%	nationwide	Apply →

Additional contribution 2026 according to the list of health insurers published by the GKV-Spitzenverband, retrieved on 1 November 2026. Listed are the 53 insurers we arrange via our partner VGK24 (out of 71 insurers open to the public) – sorted by additional contribution, not by remuneration. You will find all insurers in the full list. Benefits differ – compare contribution and benefits before you decide.

Online application & comparison

Prefer to compare first?

The calculator shows contributions and benefits for your income. If you are not currently insured in Germany, choose “Not insured” as your insurance status. If you chose an insurer above, its online application appears here.

Note: The comparison and the application are free of charge. Legal information can be found in the legal notice, the privacy policy and the initial information.

Remuneration notice: We act as an insurance broker and may receive remuneration if joining or switching to a health insurer comes about through our brokerage. This is paid by the receiving health insurer – there are no additional costs for you.

Ranking notice: The order of the health insurers shown may be influenced by the amount of remuneration. The comparison does not claim to include every health insurer available on the market.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about health insurance after returning

Am I automatically insured again after returning?

With a job below the compulsory insurance threshold, yes, from your first working day. Without a job you are automatically insured if you were last publicly insured in Germany and have no other cover – from the first day without other cover. If you were last privately insured, you usually belong in private insurance again.

Do I have to go back to my old insurer?

Without a job you first become a member of your last insurer again. But you can switch straight away with the normal notice period; no 12-month commitment arises. If you start a job, you choose your insurer freely anyway.

What happens if I register later?

Cover still starts on the first day without other cover. The insurer claims the contributions for the time in between. It should reduce them appropriately for late registration and waive late-payment surcharges – still, register as early as possible.

What does health insurance cost without income?

In 2026 the insurer assumes at least €1,318.33 a month. For health and long-term care insurance together that is around €270 to €300 a month, depending on the additional contribution (without children). If you have income, the contribution is calculated from it.

I’m over 55 – can I get back into public insurance?

If you were last publicly insured in Germany and have no other cover, yes – automatic cover after returning also applies from 55. It is more difficult if you were last privately insured.

Does my insurance abroad count?

Public insurance in the EU, EEA or Switzerland can count like statutory insurance in Germany – have the periods certified. Private travel or expat insurance abroad does not count as previous private insurance: if you were publicly insured before leaving, you still return to public insurance.

Can I insure my family?

Yes, if you are publicly insured and your partner and children live in Germany and have little income of their own. It is then free of charge.

What does your help cost?

Nothing for you. The list, comparison and application are free of charge. If a membership is arranged through us, we receive a fee from the health insurer – not from you.

Back from abroad?How to get health insured again.