What Happens to Your PKV if You Move Abroad from Germany?
Germany's private health insurance system is designed primarily for residents living and working in Germany. When you move abroad — whether temporarily for work, permanently, or for an extended period — your PKV situation requires careful consideration. The good news is that several options exist to protect your healthcare coverage and your accumulated insurance rights.
Key principle: Before leaving Germany, always contact your PKV provider to discuss your options. The right solution depends heavily on whether your move is temporary or permanent and how long you plan to be abroad.
International Emergency Coverage
Most standard German PKV tariffs include emergency medical coverage worldwide. If you fall ill or are injured while abroad — on holiday, a short business trip, or even a longer stay — your PKV will typically cover emergency treatment. However, the specifics vary by tariff:
- Emergency coverage duration is typically limited (commonly up to 6 or 12 weeks per trip)
- Repatriation to Germany may be covered if medically necessary
- Planned medical treatment abroad (elective surgery, specialist consultations) is usually not covered under standard emergency clauses
- Some premium tariffs include broader international coverage for planned treatment
Short-Term Stays Abroad (Under 6 Months)
For stays of up to 6 months — a common scenario for remote workers, researchers, or seconded employees — most PKV policies continue to apply with standard international emergency coverage. You should:
- Notify your insurer before extended travel
- Check the specific duration limits in your tariff's international section
- Consider whether a supplementary international health insurance plan is needed to fill any gaps
Long-Term and Permanent Moves: The Anwartschaft Option
If you are moving abroad for an extended period but intend to return to Germany, the Anwartschaft (dormant insurance) is one of the most valuable options available to PKV holders. An Anwartschaft allows you to:
Permanently Leaving Germany
If you are leaving Germany permanently with no intention of returning, you will generally need to cancel your PKV policy. PKV contracts typically have a standard notice period of three months, though policies often include special termination rights (Sonderkündigungsrecht) on premium increases. Cancellation means you forfeit your accumulated ageing provisions — a significant financial loss if you have been in PKV for many years.
Before cancelling, consider whether a dormant Anwartschaft makes sense even for a long absence, particularly if there is any possibility of returning to Germany within 10–15 years.
Practical Steps Before Moving Abroad
- Contact your PKV insurer to discuss your specific plans and timeline
- Request written confirmation of your international emergency coverage terms
- Ask about Anwartschaft options and their costs
- Research health insurance requirements in your destination country
- If staying in the EU, check your rights under EU health insurance coordination rules
- Keep your German address registration (Anmeldung) active if you are not permanently deregistering
Don't Cancel — Use an Anwartschaft
If you leave Germany temporarily, terminating your PKV outright means losing your acquired entry age, your assessed health status, and the ageing provisions (Alterungsrückstellungen) you have already funded. The smarter move is an Anwartschaft (entitlement insurance), which keeps your contract dormant for a small monthly fee:
| Type | What it preserves |
|---|---|
| Small Anwartschaft (kleine) | Your entry age & health status — no re-underwriting on return |
| Large Anwartschaft (große) | The above plus your accumulated ageing provisions, stabilising future premiums |
Where You Are Moving Matters
Within the EU/EEA you can often coordinate cover under European rules, and a German PKV policy with worldwide cover may continue to pay for treatment abroad. For moves outside Europe, an international/expat policy usually fits better while you are away, with the Anwartschaft holding your German contract open for when you return. Always confirm in writing how your tariff treats treatment outside Germany before you depart.
Returning later? With an Anwartschaft in place you simply reactivate your original policy — no new health questions, no higher entry-age premium. Without one, you re-apply from scratch and may face surcharges or exclusions for anything that developed while you were away.
Official Sources & Further Reading
This guide is based on official German regulatory and government sources. Figures such as the income threshold (JAEG) change annually — always confirm current rules with these bodies or a licensed broker before deciding.
- BaFin — Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, regulator of private health insurers.
- PKV-Verband — Association of German Private Health Insurers (Verband der Privaten Krankenversicherung).
- Bundesgesundheitsministerium (BMG) — Federal Ministry of Health.
- SGB V — German Social Code Book V, the statutory basis for insurance obligation and the JAEG threshold (§6).
- Vermittlerregister — official register to verify any German insurance broker's §34d GewO licence.