Health insurance in Germany for British citizens
Since Brexit, UK nationals are treated like other non-EU citizens: German health insurance is required from day one of residency, and the GHIC only covers holidays. Here is how to set yourself up properly.
Five things British citizens should know
The GHIC covers holidays, not residency
The UK Global Health Insurance Card is for temporary visits. Once you register an address or start work in Germany, you need a German contract.
Brexit changed the default
New arrivals from the UK follow non-EU rules. Residents covered by the Withdrawal Agreement keep some pre-2021 protections, but still need German cover.
The S1 form is for UK State Pension recipients
If you receive a UK State Pension, an S1 registers you with a German Krankenkasse at the UK's expense. It does not apply to working-age movers.
Access feels different from the NHS
No GP gatekeeping: you book specialists directly. Private patients typically get the fastest appointments and extras like private rooms.
The private option has an income line
Employees need more than EUR 77,400 gross per year (2026) to choose private. Self-employed British citizens can choose at any income level.
What changed after Brexit
Before 2021, British movers could rely on EU coordination rules. Today there are three groups. New arrivals need German health insurance from day one, exactly like other non-EU citizens, and consulates expect proof for visa and residence applications. Withdrawal Agreement residents, those already living in Germany before 2021, keep their existing arrangements but still hold German cover. UK State Pension recipients can register an S1 form with a Krankenkasse, so the UK funds their German public cover. If none of these fit neatly, our eligibility check points you to the right route in two minutes.
- New arrivals: German cover required from day one, GHIC is not enough.
- Withdrawal Agreement residents: existing German arrangements continue.
- UK State Pensioners: S1 form registers you with a German Krankenkasse.
Public vs. private at a glance
Typical profile: British professional relocating for work, gross salary EUR 85,000, healthy, late 30s.
Public health insurance
Income-based
Private health insurance
Age and tariff based
The essentials
Choose a plan to compare
Figures are 2026 values and typical ranges. Your exact premium depends on age, health and tariff. Get a free quote for a personal calculation.
NHS instincts, German decisions
British clients tend to underestimate how much choice the German system offers. There is no single national provider: public insurance is run by competing Krankenkassen, and private insurance is a separate system with its own tariffs. Waiting lists are shorter than NHS norms in both systems, and private patients see specialists fastest. The trade-off to respect: private is a long-term commitment. Returning to public later is restricted once you are self-employed or over 55, so model the decision over decades, not years. Our guide on switching from public to private covers the mechanics.
- You choose your Krankenkasse; TK is the usual pick for English service.
- Specialists can be booked directly, no referral gatekeeping.
- Private is long-term: check the way back before you commit.
Common questions from British clients
No. The GHIC covers necessary care on temporary visits. Once you are resident in Germany, the law requires a German health insurance contract.
NHS entitlement is based on UK residency, so moving to Germany generally ends routine access. Emergency care on visits works via reciprocity, and your German policy may cover trips as well.
Request an S1 form from the NHS Business Services Authority and register it with a German Krankenkasse. The UK then funds your German public cover.
Private insurers run a health check and can add surcharges or decline. Public insurance accepts everyone. With significant medical history, public is often the stronger option; we assess this in a free consultation.
Public membership ends when you deregister. Private contracts offer an Anwartschaft option that pauses cover cheaply and preserves your entry conditions if you return.
Above the EUR 77,400 threshold it often costs less than the capped public maximum while adding faster access and extras. Whether it stays cheaper depends on age, family plans and tariff. Compare both with real numbers via a free quote.
Talk it through in
Related guides
Two more pages that come up most often when people are at this stage.