Since health insurance is mandatory in Germany, freelancers also have to take care of getting insured and choose a provider. As a freelancer you have a choice between private and statutory health insurance. With Advigon, you can enjoy benefits of private health insurance as a freelancer, completely tailored to your needs. We also offer special tariffs for medical insurance in Germany focused on the needs of expats or students.
According to the regulation of the German healthcare system every person living in Germany must have health insurance. There are different kinds of insurance within the German healthcare system. For salaried employees, their employer pays half of the health insurance contribution. Self-employed persons must pay the full contribution for health insurance. Artists are an exception, as they are members of the Künstlersozialkasse, an institution which pays for half of their health insurance contributions.
People from a country outside the Schengen Area who would like to work as a freelancer in Germany need a Schengen visa and a residence permit. In the application for visa and residence permit, freelancers have to prove that they already have clients in Germany. They can document this by submitting letters from companies or individuals who plan to hire them as a freelancer. You can also submit invoices from any freelance job you have already completed.
Visas for freelancers are usually issued for three months. They can be converted to a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) as long as your visa is valid. The institute where you apply for a residence permit is the foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde).
For US citizens, the Schengen visa is not required. You can move to Germany and stay there for 90 days, but you also need a residence permit to stay in Germany for a longer period of time.
The residence permit for the purpose of self-employment is issued for a maximum of three years and can be extended. Freelancers can be granted a settlement permit after five years.
Citizens of an EU member state do not need a work permit. This also applies to citizens of the so-called EFTA states Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. They have the same status as German employees and are allowed to take up an activity in Germany according to the right of free movement.
In Germany, you as a freelancer have the free choice between many health insurance providers. Therefore you can look for the provider that best suits your needs.
Advigon Foreign guests offers a great policy for any freelancer or expat in Germany, EU & all Schengen states. Our insurance meets all requirements for a Schengen visa. The Insurance cover is available for up to five years.
If you are planning a visit to Germany, our health insurance offers up to five years of premium insurance cover – starting at 2.40 € per day. You can choose from two different packages.
| Foreign guests Basic | Foreign guests Profi | |
|---|---|---|
Out-patient treatment | ||
Costs for out-patient treatment
According to the Schedule of Fees for Docots (GOÄ). Treatments otside Germany are reimbursed at the normal local rates. | ||
Prescribed medications and surgical dressings | ||
Costs for radiation therapy, light therapy, and other physical treatments | ||
Prescribed therapeutic aids following an accident | 500 € / year | |
Prescribed massages, medicinal compresses and inhalations | 300 € / year | |
Prescribed aids (not accident-related) | not insured | 500 € / year |
Visual aids
Glasses and contact lenses | not insured | 200 € / year |
Screening check-ups for early detection of cancers | not insured | 300 € / year |
Screening check-ups for children in accordance with the statutory programmes introduced in Germany
according to programmes introduces by law in Germany | not insured | |
In-patient treatment | ||
Costs for in-patient medical treatment under general care insurance
Under general care insurance = multiple-bed room without optional services (treatment by private doctor) | ||
Operations | ||
Ambulance transport to in-patient treatment | ||
Dental treatment, denture | ||
Dental treatment for pain relief
According to Schedule of Fees for Dentists up to factor 2,3 | 500 € / year | 1.000 € / year |
Dental check-ups | not insured | 200 € / year |
Up to 80 % of the cost for medically required dentures | not insured | 1.250 € / year |
More benefits | ||
Pregnancy treatment due to complaints
Medically necessary pregnancy treatment, childbirth up to the end of the 36th week of pregnancy (premature birth), treatment relating to a miscarriage or a medically necessary abortion | ||
Pregnancy examinations and deliveries
After a six-month waiting period. The waiting period is calculated from the start of insurance and, if the contract is extended, from the start of the extension. | not insured | |
Repatriation, if medically desirable | ||
Repatriation of mortal remains to the home country or funeral in the Federal Republic of Germany | 10.000 € | 10.000 € |
Follow-up liability until restoration of ability to travel for up to | 3 months | 3 months |
Deductible | ||
Deductible per insured event | 25 € | 25 € |
Daily Premiums | ||
0 - 64 years | 2,40 € | 3,40 € |
65 - 74 years | 8,60 € | 12,70 € |
| Take out insurance | ||
It's easy to take out health insurance with Advigon. It can all be done via the online booking form on our website:
If you have questions, just call us on our service hotline: 040 - 5555 4020
In case of emergencies, our worldwide emergency assistance line is available for all persons insured by Advigon. It is available at any time, 24/7, including Sundays and public holidays.
Call +49 621 5490-1906
Our daily premiums in the Basic tariff are 2,40 € for people up to 64 years and 8,60 € for people from 65 to 74 years.
In our Profi tariff the daily premiums for people up to 64 years are 3,40 € and for people from 65 to 74 years 12,70 €.
With Advigon foreign guests insurance you are flexible. If you plan to end your stay in Germany you can cancel the insurance prematurely. If you want to stay longer in Germany, you can also extend your contract with us until the 5 year limit is reached. It is also no problem if you visit your home country during your stay in Germany, for example if you want to see your family during the holidays. If your contract period with us is longer than 12 months, you are additionally covered for up to 6 weeks per insured year in your home country through your insurance with Advigon.
As a freelancer you have the right to take out private health insurance where the contributions are not based on your income, but on other factors such as age. In addition, you have certain advantages which vary between the different insurances.
The KSK is a government organization that supports freelance artists such as writers, visual artists, designers, musicians and performing artists. As members of the KSK, artists in Germany can benefit from the same services as employees: As a KSK-insured person, you only pay half of the healthcare insurance contributions.
To be accepted as a member of the KSK, artists must submit the following documents:
The registration documents of the Künstlersozialkasse
A proof of their health insurance and long-term care insurance
Evidence of your work as an artist such as contracts, issued and paid orders
Freelance artists in the KSK can choose for themselves whether they want to take out statutory or private health insurance.
In both our Basic and Profi tariff an amount of 25 € per insured event is deductible.
In Germany, self-employed persons, students and civil servants can switch to private health insurance at any time. However, employees only have the option to change from GKV to PKV if their salary is above the limit of 64,350 euros per year.
All other details about the Foreign guests travel health insurance can be seen in our price overview, the information sheet for insurance products, and the insurance terms and conditions for the Health Insurance for foreign guests.
