Insurance in Germany
Which insurances are legally required, which ones you'd be foolish to skip, and exactly what each costs for your salary.
Which insurance do you need — and when?
Two you must have, two that cost a few euros, and a couple for later.
Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. We are not licensed financial advisors. All figures shown are approximate and may change. Always consult a qualified financial advisor and verify with official sources such as bafin.de, bundesfinanzministerium.de, or your local Finanzamt before making any financial decisions.
Your insurance roadmap
The order to sort them out, from the day you land. Tap a stage to jump to the details.
What the optional covers actually cost
Typical monthly premium for the non-mandatory insurances, cheapest first.
Personal liability is the cheapest cover on the list — and the single most important optional one. There is almost no reason to skip it.
Insurance, bank account, tax & onboarding help in 7 languages — free, and we earn nothing for suggesting him.
Who actually pays for it?
Health + nursing cost roughly 21% of your gross salary — but it is split almost evenly with your employer, so only about half ever lands on your payslip.
Illustrative split. Your exact euro figure is in the calculator below.
Every person residing in Germany must have health insurance — there are no exceptions. The two routes are public (GKV) and private (PKV).
- • ~14.6% + ~2.9% avg supplement of gross, split 50/50 → you pay ~8.75%
- • Covers your spouse and children for free if they have no income
- • Compulsory for everyone earning below ~€77,400/year gross (2026)
- • Popular providers: TK, Barmer, DAK, AOK
- • Only available if gross exceeds ~€77,400/year (2026)
- • Better benefits, faster appointments, private rooms
- • You pay full premium (no employer subsidy beyond the GKV-equivalent)
- • Family members must be insured separately, can be expensive
THE most important optional insurance in Germany. If you accidentally damage something — break a borrowed phone, cause a cycling accident, accidentally flood your neighbour's flat by leaving a tap running — you are personally and fully liable for the cost. German law has no upper cap. This insurance covers you for typically €5–10 million per incident.
Contributions are capped at €5,812.50/month gross (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze, 2026). The supplement (Zusatzbeitrag) varies by insurer; this uses the ~2.9% 2026 average.
Your mandatory share
You vs your employer
Your employer pays a near-equal share on top for health & nursing — it never appears on your payslip. Add ~€5/month for personal liability and you are well covered.
Health Insurance
€262.50
/month
Nursing Care
€72.00
/month (incl. no-child surcharge)
Total Mandatory
€334.50
/month (your share)
Optional insurance estimates
| Insurance | Est. Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Liability (Haftpflicht) | €60–100 | €5–8 |
| Household Contents (Hausrat) | €100–250 | €8–21 |
| Legal Protection (Rechtsschutz) | €200–400 | €17–33 |
| Dental Supplement (Zahnzusatz) | €120–360 | €10–30 |
| Disability Insurance (BU) | ~1–3% of salary | varies |
Employee contributions only. Your employer pays an equal share on top for health and nursing care.
Best starting point for comparing Haftpflicht, Hausrat, and dental supplement plans. Both have English support and display prices side by side. Use these before going directly to any insurer.
English-speaking customer support and one of the most popular providers for international residents. Widely accepted at German universities for student health insurance enrollment.
Other major public health insurers. Rates and services differ slightly. Compare supplement rates on krankenkasseninfo.de to find the cheapest option for your income.
For BU disability insurance, consult an independent broker. They are legally obliged to act in your interest — unlike tied agents who represent one insurer.