Public vs private health insurance in Germany is a choice only some tech workers get to make. As an employee, you are in public (statutory) health insurance unless you earn more than €77,400 a year in 2026. Above that, you may choose private insurance instead. Public insurance costs a share of your salary, capped at about €509 a month for your share of health insurance, and covers a spouse without income and your children at no extra cost. Private insurance charges a premium based on your age, health and chosen cover, can be cheaper for young, healthy single people, and is hard to leave later.
This guide explains how each system works for employees, what it costs in 2026 and what to think about before you choose. It is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates and thresholds change every January, so check the official links.
Do you have to have health insurance in Germany?
Yes. Everyone who lives in Germany must have health insurance, either public or a private policy with an insurer licensed in Germany. If you take out the required insurance late, you pay a surcharge (§ 193 Insurance Contract Act). For employees, this usually happens automatically: your employer registers you with the public insurer you choose, unless you are allowed to and decide to go private.
Travel insurance that you used for your visa application is not a substitute once you start working. Choose your insurer before your first payday so your employer can register you.
Public vs private health insurance at a glance
| Public (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) | Private (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can join as an employee | Everyone; compulsory below €77,400 a year | Only if you earn more than €77,400 a year (2026) |
| What you pay | A percentage of your salary, up to a ceiling | A premium based on age, health and cover |
| Employer contribution | Pays half | Pays a subsidy, up to half |
| Spouse without income, children | Covered free through family insurance | Each person needs their own policy |
| Switching | You can change public insurer | Returning to public insurance is restricted |
What public health insurance costs in 2026
Public insurance costs 14.6% of your salary plus your insurer’s additional rate. The average additional rate is 2.9% in 2026. You and your employer each pay half (Federal Ministry of Health). Contributions are charged only on salary up to €69,750 a year (€5,812.50 a month).
So at the average rate, your share is 8.75% of your salary, at most:
| Your gross salary | Your health insurance share a month (average rate) |
|---|---|
| €50,000 | about €365 |
| €60,000 | about €438 |
| €69,750 or more | about €509 (the maximum) |
Long-term care insurance comes on top: 1.8% for employees with children, 2.4% if you are 23 or older and childless, on the same capped salary (Federal Ministry of Health). At the ceiling, that is about €140 a month for a childless employee.
Each public insurer sets its own additional rate, and the benefits are largely the same by law, so the rate is the main difference in price. Insurers, such as Techniker Krankenkasse, publish their own rate on their websites; compare a few, and their service in English, before you choose.
Family insurance: the big advantage of public insurance
If you are in public insurance, your spouse or registered partner and your children can be insured with you free of charge, as long as they live in Germany and have little or no income of their own. Children are covered up to 18, up to 23 if not working, and up to 25 while in education (§ 10 Social Code V).
There is one catch: if your children’s other parent is privately insured, earns more than one twelfth of the threshold a month and earns more than you, the children cannot be family-insured with you (§ 10(3) Social Code V).
Private health insurance in Germany: threshold and cost
The 2026 threshold
You may leave public insurance for private only if your regular annual pay is above the compulsory insurance threshold (Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze), which is €77,400 a year (€6,450 a month) in 2026 (Federal Government, Federal Ministry of Health).
If your pay rises above the threshold while you are employed, compulsory public insurance ends at the end of that calendar year, and only if your pay is also above the threshold that applies from the next 1 January (§ 6 Social Code V). If you are unsure whether you qualify, ask your employer’s payroll team or your insurer.
Self-employed people and freelancers follow different rules and are not covered here.
What private insurance costs
Private premiums are not linked to your salary. They depend on your age when you join, your health, the cover you choose and your deductible. A young, healthy single person can find a private policy that costs less than the public maximum; an older person or someone with health conditions may pay more. Every family member needs their own policy and premium.
There is no official average private premium for us to quote, so get several written quotes for the cover you actually want, and compare them over the long term, not just for this year.
Your employer’s subsidy
If you are privately insured because your salary is above the threshold, your employer pays a subsidy towards your health insurance. It equals what the employer would pay if you were publicly insured (half the general rate plus half the average additional rate on your capped salary), but never more than half of your actual premium (§ 257 Social Code V). In 2026 that is at most about €509 a month for health insurance.
The private insurer must meet certain conditions for the subsidy, for example offering a basic tariff, and you give your employer a certificate from the insurer every three years (§ 257 Social Code V).
Can you switch back from private to public?
This is the most important question, because the answer is often no.
- If your salary falls below the threshold before you turn 55, you normally become compulsorily insured in public insurance again.
- From age 55, the law keeps you out of public insurance in most cases: if you become liable for compulsory insurance after 55 but were not publicly insured at any time in the previous five years, and were exempt or privately insured for at least half of that time, you stay exempt (§ 6(3a) Social Code V).
So choosing private insurance in your thirties is, for many people, a decision for the rest of their working life. Private premiums can rise over time. Think about whether you plan to have children, whether your partner works, and whether you might work part-time, go freelance or take a lower-paid job later.
Public or private: which is better for a tech worker?
There is no answer that fits everyone. These points usually decide it:
| Your situation | What tends to matter |
|---|---|
| Earn below €77,400 | No choice: public insurance |
| Single, young, healthy, high salary | Private can be cheaper now; check long-term premiums and the switching rules |
| Partner without income, or planning children | Public family insurance covers them for free |
| Unsure how long you will stay in Germany | Public is simpler; private contracts are designed for the long term |
| Plan to go part-time, freelance or take a sabbatical | Public avoids being locked into private premiums |
Many international tech workers start in public insurance because it is simple, covers their family and keeps their options open. If you are considering private insurance, get advice from an independent adviser, not only from an insurance salesperson.
How health insurance affects your net salary
Your public health and care contributions come straight out of your salary. At €80,000 and €100,000 they are the same, because of the €69,750 ceiling: €6,103 a year for health and €1,674 for care for a childless single person at the average rate, according to our salary after tax calculator. See what €60k, €80k and €100k take home for the full breakdown, and the tax basics guide for the other deductions.
If you move to Austria instead, health insurance works differently, through Austria’s social insurance. See working in Vienna as a developer.
Health insurance as a newcomer: checklist
- Before you start work: pick a public insurer (or, if eligible, get private quotes) and tell your employer.
- Visa applicants: check what insurance proof your visa route needs; our EU Blue Card guide and Opportunity Card guide explain the routes.
- Register your address and get your tax ID; see the relocation checklist.
- Add family members to your public insurance if they qualify for family insurance.
- Keep the decision under review if your salary approaches €77,400; the threshold rises most years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the private health insurance threshold in Germany in 2026?
€77,400 a year, or €6,450 a month. Employees who earn more than this can choose private insurance; below it, public insurance is compulsory. The threshold is set every year.
Is private health insurance cheaper than public in Germany?
Sometimes, for young and healthy single people. Public insurance costs a fixed share of salary, up to about €509 a month for the employee’s health share in 2026. Private premiums depend on age, health and cover, and can rise over time. For families, public insurance is often cheaper, because a spouse without income and children are covered for free.
Can I switch from private back to public health insurance?
Before 55, usually only if your salary drops below the threshold and you become compulsorily insured again. From 55, the law generally keeps you out of public insurance if you were not publicly insured in the previous five years. Check the rules before you leave public insurance.
Does my employer pay for private health insurance?
Your employer pays a subsidy: the amount it would pay for public insurance, but at most half of your private premium. In 2026 that is up to about €509 a month for health insurance.
What health insurance do expats need in Germany?
The same as everyone else: public insurance, or private insurance if you are eligible. Everyone living in Germany must be insured. If you are employed and earn below €77,400, you join a public insurer, and your employer handles the contributions through payroll.
Is Techniker Krankenkasse good for expats?
Techniker Krankenkasse is one of many public insurers. All public insurers provide largely the same legally defined benefits; they differ in their additional rate, service and extras. Compare the current rates and services of several insurers, including English-language support, before you choose.
Next steps
- Work out your net pay with the salary after tax calculator.
- Read the tax basics guide.
- Browse tech jobs in Berlin and Munich.