Best Travel Health Insurance For Tourists In Germany [2024 Ultimate Guide]

Key takeaways

• Everyone who needs a visa to travel to Germany is required to get travel health insurance for Germany.
• Even if you are not required to have travel insurance for Germany, getting one is recommended.
• You should consider getting travel health insurance from an insurance company in Germany over an insurance company in your home country.
• You can cancel the travel health insurance free of charge. Moreover, you can get the premium back if you must return home earlier than planned.

This is how you do it

• Get travel health insurance before the start of your trip to Germany and other Schengen countries.
• We find travel health insurance from Dr. Walter* and HansMerkur among the best.

Table of Contents

Best travel health insurance for foreigners in Germany

Travel health insurance	Insurance coverage	Trustpilot Rating (as of 5 May 2024)*	Cost
Dr. Walter*	✅ No deductible ✅ Unlimited coverage of medical costs ✅ No age limit ✅ Cancellation and rebooking free of charge ✅ Contract and services in English	3.7 out of 5 (175 reviews)	1.1 € per day (up to 64 years) 6.5 € per day (65 and above) 20 € minimum premium
HansMerkur	✅ No deductible 🟡 The sum insured is limited to a total of 50,000 € per insured person for all insured events within the contract term. 🟡 Covers individuals who are up to 75 years old ✅ Contract and services in English	2.6 out of 5 (4152 reviews)	1.2 € per day (up to 64 years) 2.5 € per day (65 to 75 years) 10 € minimum premium
ADAC	🟡 50 € deductible ✅ Unlimited coverage of medical costs ✅ No age limit 🟡 Cancellation before start of insurance: 8 € of business fee ❌ Cancellation after the start of insurance: a business fee of 15% (max. 50 €). ❌ Contract and services are in German only	1.9 out of 5 (3700 reviews)	97 € for 3 months (under 66 years) 296 € for 3 months (over 66 years) Find the complete cost table here.

*As most companies offer several products, the customer reviews on Trustpilot reflect a mix of those products.

The following is common among all travel health insurance providers.

• ✅ Provides the necessary medical coverage
• ✅ Coverage in Germany and Schengen countries.
• ✅ Travel insurance recognized by the visa authorities 
• ❌ Existing medical issues and foreseeable medical problems are not covered

Other travel health insurance providers are

• Allianz
• Ergo Reiseversicherung

However, they offer services in Germany only.

Verdict

We find Dr. Walter’s* travel health insurance for people up to 64 years old to be one of the best options. However, HansMerkur is significantly cheaper for people 65 and older.

NOTE: Dr. Walter offers unlimited health insurance coverage, but HanseMerkur’s insurance coverage is limited to 50,000 €.

Do foreign guests need travel insurance to visit Germany?

Yes, everyone who needs a visa to visit Germany is required to get a travel health insurance plan. Additionally, people traveling from countries in the European Union should also get a good travel health insurance policy.

Here are some reasons you should get a good travel insurance policy while visiting Germany.

• You need travel health insurance when applying for a Schengen visa.
• Doctors and medications are expensive in Germany.
• Suppose you must be hospitalized during your stay in Germany and don’t have travel health insurance. You’ll end up paying thousands of euros for the treatment. 
• Travel health insurance companies in Germany also offer add-ons like liability and accident insurance. You should also get these as they can save you from financial ruin. Suppose you forgot to turn off the tap in the bathroom, and it floods the hotel room. You are liable to pay the damage costs. If you have personal liability insurance, the insurer will cover the costs. In the worst, if you hurt someone accidentally, the damage claim can be in millions. Thus, having liability insurance is highly recommended when visiting Germany.

What are the travel health insurance requirements for a Schengen visa?

The visa requirements for travel health insurance are.

• The minimum insured sum is 30,000 €
• It must be valid throughout the Schengen area.
• You must get an insurance plan to cover your entire stay in Germany and other Schengen regions.

The German embassy also accepts travel health insurance from German insurance companies. Furthermore, getting it from a German insurer offers several benefits.

Why is getting travel health insurance from a German insurer recommended over your home country’s insurer?

• Travel health insurance from German insurers offers better services at lower costs. As several insurance companies are active in Germany, the insurance market is very competitive, leading to better services at a lower cost. Dr. Walter* costs 108 € for a 90-day trip to Germany and the Schengen area. You get unlimited coverage, you don’t have to pay when you visit a doctor or a hospital in Germany, etc., at that price.
• German doctors and hospitals charge the insurance companies directly. In travel health insurance from your home country, you must pay the doctor’s fee and get reimbursed later. However, you don’t have to pay a cent if you take travel health insurance from a German insurer. Most doctors and hospitals in Germany bill the insurance provider directly.
• Contracts and information are available in both English and German. The German travel health insurance providers offer documents and information in both English and German. When you visit a doctor or hospital in Germany, you can show them the information in German. Many ground-level staff and doctors can’t speak good English. Thus, having information in German makes it easier for them.
• German insurers are regulated by the German authorities. Germany has very strict regulations around insurance. Every insurance company must comply with these rules or may face hefty fines.
• Clearly describe the travel health insurance coverage. German insurance companies are required by law to describe the coverage clearly. This means that instead of stating just “dental coverage” on their website, they must describe exactly what it means and the coverage limit. For example, Dental treatment for pain relief, simple fillings (plastic filling material), and repair of existing dentures.
• Central bodies like (Verbraucherzentrale and BaFin) take care of customer issues free of charge. 
• You can contact the insurance ombudsman if you have disputes with the insurance company. The insurance ombudsman supports you free of charge.

How much does travel health insurance for Germany cost?

• Dr Walter costs 1.1 € per day for individuals up to 64 years old. So, you pay 99 € for a 90-day trip.
• HanseMerkur costs 1.2 € per day for individuals up to 64 years old. So, you pay 108 € for a 90-day trip.

The table below summarizes the travel health insurance costs based on age and stay period.

	Dr. Walter	HanseMerkur
30 days	up to 64: 33 € 65 and above: 195 €	up to 64: 36 € 65 and above: 75 €
60 days	up to 64: 66 € 65 and above: 390 €	up to 64: 72 € 65 and above: 150 €
90 days	up to 64: 99 € 65 and above: 585 €	up to 64: 108 € 65 and above: 225 €

What is covered under travel health insurance?

• Outpatient medical treatment. In Germany, doctors and dentists must charge their patients according to the fees regulated by law. If they charge more than the regulated fee, they must give a written justification to the patient. The German travel health insurance plan covers the doctor’s regulated fees. If the doctor charges more than the regulated fee, you must pay the difference on your own.
• The travel health insurance plan covers inpatient medical treatment, including operations.
• Medicines and remedies: The insurance policy covers the prescribed medicines, remedies, and dressing material.
• Rental costs for medically prescribed aids: Suppose you have an accident and need medical aids to recover faster. Travel health insurance will cover the cost of renting such aids. The insured sum is usually limited. Dr. Walter’s* insured sum is limited to 500 € per claim.
• Dental treatment for pain relief, simple fillings (filling material: plastic), and repair of existing dentures. 
• Cost of medically necessary transport to the nearest hospital for inpatient treatment and treatment by an emergency physician.
• Medically necessary or prescribed return transport to your home country.
• Repatriation costs: The cost of bringing the mortal remains to your home country or funeral expenses in Germany. The insured amount is limited, and the value varies from insurer to insurer.
• Personal liability insurance: It covers the cost of damage you caused to a third party negligently. It covers bodily injury and property damage. The insured sum is 1 million euros.

What is not covered under travel health insurance for visitors in Germany?

• Pre-existing or known diseases.
• Travel insurance doesn’t cover the cost of over-the-counter medicines.
• Massages, medicinal baths, and poultices.
• Visual and hearing aids are not covered by travel health insurance.
• Doesn’t cover the cost of damage caused by the use of a motor vehicle. So, if you rent a car in Germany or the Schengen area, you must get separate car insurance.
• If you cause damage intentionally, liability insurance will not cover the costs.
• Accidents that you caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Poisoning from food or other substances.
• Intervertebral disc degeneration.
• Active participation in motor racing.

What should you know about visiting a doctor in Germany?

You fell sick during your travel to Germany. What should you do next? How do you find the right medical care? How do you file a claim with your travel insurance company? Let’s have a look.

How do you find a doctor in Germany?

Like most countries, Germany has two types of physicians: general practitioners and specialists. You must visit a general practitioner if you don’t have a life-threatening situation, such as catching a cold, fever, or minor injury. 

General practitioners are called “Hausartz” in German. So, Google “Hausartz” to find the general physicians near you.

However, suppose you need to visit a specialist, such as a skin doctor or orthopedic surgeon. In that case, you must first visit a Hausartz and get a prescription to visit a specialist.

You can ask the general physician for the specialist’s contact details or search on Google Maps. 

Getting an appointment with a doctor in Germany?

Weekends, public holidays, after hours

Private practices in Germany are closed on public holidays, weekends, or after working hours. So, if you want to visit a doctor on weekends, you must visit the nearest hospital (Krankenhaus).

You must go to the hospital’s emergency area (Notfall) and tell them your problem. You can expect to wait 2 to 8 hours, depending on your medical condition. 

Weekdays

You can check the doctor’s opening hours on Google Maps or their website. To make an appointment, you must call the doctor.

Most receptionists in Germany don’t speak English, so you must explain your situation in German. You can also ask your host family or hotel staff for help to get a doctor’s appointment. 

Visiting a hospital during your trip to Germany

In Germany, hospitals (Krankenhaus) are open 24/7. You go to a hospital in two situations: a private practice is closed or an emergency.

In an accident or emergency, you should call an ambulance. The ambulance number in Germany is 112.

Buying medicines during your trip to Germany

German pharmacies are called “Apotheke” in German. You can find them everywhere. However, they are usually open

• from 08:00 to 18:00 on the weekdays
• 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturday
• closed on Sundays and public holidays.

There are a few 24×7 pharmacies that you can search on Google.

Your travel insurance doesn’t cover the costs of over-the-counter medicines, but it does cover medicines prescribed by a doctor.

Always keep the receipts of the pharmacies. You need them when claiming the travel insurance benefits. Pharmacists in big cities can speak English. But if they don’t, be prepared with German text.

How do you file a claim with the German travel insurance companies?

Here is how you file a travel insurance claim with Dr. Walter.

Doctor’s visit

• Consult a general practitioner before seeing a specialist or going to hospital.
• Show your physician Ärzte-Info-Ticket (medical information card) prior to treatment. When you take travel insurance, Dr. Walter gives you the medical information card.
• Inform your doctor that travel insurance only covers acute medical treatment.
• Usually, the doctor bills the insurance company directly. However, if they don’t, you get an invoice from them.
• Ensure that the invoice contains the following information.
• your name (treated person), illness, type of medical services performed, and total treatment costs.
• You must pay the doctor and later claim the costs from the travel insurance company.
• To submit the claim, you can use Dr. Walter’s online form. Attach all the invoices to ensure fast processing.

Hospitalization in an emergency situation

The insurance company considers a life-threatening situation that occurred unexpectedly as a medical emergency. In a medical emergency, severe health impairment or death may occur if no immediate medical care is given.

In an emergency situation, you show your Ärzte-Info-Ticket (medical information card) to the hospital. The hospital will contact the insurance company and usually settle the bill directly with them.

Hospital or inpatient treatment in a non-emergency situation

In this scenario, you must contact your travel insurance company before getting the treatment. Check what medical costs are covered to avoid any surprises later.

What can you do if the travel insurance provider rejects your claim?

You have three options if you think the insurance company falsely rejected your claim.

• File a complaint online at Verbraucherzentrale. You must submit the complaint in German language. Google Translate or DeepL works well when translating English to German text. When filing the complaint, you must submit your insurance contract, invoices, email conversation with the insurer, and other relevant documents.
• Another authority to which you can submit a complaint is BaFin. When filing the complaint, submit all the documents.
• You can also contact an insurance ombudsman. They provide support for disputes against insurance companies free of charge.

Can you cancel the Germany travel insurance policy?

Yes, you can cancel your travel insurance contract. There are different scenarios, and cancellation works differently for each.

• Canceling the travel insurance policy before starting the trip. You can cancel the contract or change the travel dates free of cost. You can do this by emailing or filling out an online form.
• Canceling travel insurance due to visa rejection. You can cancel the travel insurance contract free of charge. You must submit the visa rejection email or letter to the insurer.
• Canceling the travel insurance contract if you return early from your trip. You pay for the number of days you were insured under travel insurance. If you must return home earlier than planned, you can get the travel insurance premium back for the remaining days. You must cancel your contract to get the insurance premium back.

NOTE: You must immediately inform the travel insurance company about your changed plans and cancel the contract.

What should you know about traveling in Germany?

• Safety: Germany is a very safe country. So you don’t have to worry about pickpocketing or traveling alone at night. However, you must avoid going to areas or streets that look sketchy at night alone.
• Transport: Germany is proud of its public transport and railway network. You can buy a 49 € monthly ticket and travel all over Germany using any type of public transport (bus, trains, trams, ferries, etc.) except ICEs (fast trains).
• Language: You should know a few German words before coming to Germany. It’ll make your trip more enjoyable. For example, thank you (Danke), Excuse me (Entschuldigung), please (Bitte), train (Bhan), etc.
• Locals: Locals are usually friendly and open to helping foreigners. However, restaurant and shop staff in Germany usually seem cold to foreigners traveling for the first time. But it’s a cultural thing and not racist. 
• Beer: German beer and beer festivals are famous all around the world. So, don’t forget to try a freshly brewed cold beer from the barrel. If you don’t drink alcohol, Germany offers alcohol-free beer for you.

German vocabulary to make your stay in Germany pleasant

• Medical
  • Doctor (Artz)
  • General physician (Hausartz)
  • Orthopedic doctor (Orthopedie)
  • Skin doctor (Hautartz)
  • Hospital (Krankenhaus)
  • Emergency (Notfall)
  • Pharmacy (Apotheke)
  • Pain (Schmerzen)
  • Emergency number: 112
• Travel
  • Train (Bhan)
  • Train station (Bhanhof)
  • Thank you (Danke)
  • Excuse me (Entschuldigung)
  • Food (Essen)

We wish you a great time in Germany and safe travels.

Image Attribution

• Photo by Philipp Kämmerer on Unsplash