Contents (7 sections)
- Moving within the EU/EEA, a German private policy continues; moving elsewhere, it usually ends unless you agree otherwise (§ 207 (3) VVG, § 15 (3) MB/KK 2009).
- A dormant policy (Anwartschaft) keeps your health status – about 5 to 10% of the premium for the small version, 30 to 45% for the large one (Allianz; insurers differ).
- Ageing reserves can't be taken abroad; if you return and were last privately insured, you must take out private insurance again.
- Public insurance usually ends when you move away; a dormant public membership is only available to certain groups.
If you leave Germany for good, cancel your private health insurance properly – in writing, observing the notice period. If a return is possible, a dormant policy (Anwartschaft) for about 5 to 10% of the premium keeps your health status (Allianz, insurer information). Public insurance usually ends when you move abroad. The planner shows what fits your plans:
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As of 10 October 2026. Dormant policy costs: Allianz information (small 5–10%, large on average 30–45% of the previous premium); other insurers differ. Legal basis: § 204, § 205, § 207 (3) VVG; model terms MB/KK 2009 (§§ 1 (5), 13, 15 (3)) – your tariff terms may differ. Period while away: up to 1 year = 12 months, 1–3 years = 36 months, longer = 60 months shown. General information, not legal advice; your insurer and your health insurance fund decide.
Save your leaving plan – before you deregister
We email you your plan with the steps and deadlines. If you like, a specialised expert from our partner network checks your policy terms for the dormant option and the notice periods.
- Your plan: cancel, pause or keep – with the reasons
- Checklist: what to do before you deregister (Abmeldung)
- Newcomer Health Insurance Starter Kit (PDF)
Done! Thank you! We'll email you your plan. A specialised expert from our partner network will usually get in touch within 24 hours (working days).
Newcomer Health Insurance Starter Kit (PDF)How the leaving-Germany planner decides
The planner combines four questions: which system you are in, where you move, how long you stay away and whether you might come back. Private and public insurance behave very differently when you leave Germany.
Private insurance
Within the EU/EEA your policy continues and pays up to German levels (§ 207 (3) VVG). Elsewhere it usually ends when you move your habitual residence, unless agreed otherwise; for a temporary move you can ask to convert it into a dormant policy (§ 15 (3) MB/KK 2009).
Public insurance
Membership usually ends with your move. A dormant membership is offered only to certain groups – TK, for example, names staff of international organisations and development workers. Insurance periods are documented for a later return.
Cancel, pause or keep: the three options compared
| Option | What you keep | Cost while away | Fits when … |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancel | nothing – ageing reserves stay with the insurer | €0 | you leave for good and won't come back |
| Small dormant policy | your health status – no new health questions on return | about 5 to 10% of the premium | a return is possible within a few years |
| Large dormant policy | health status and entry age; ageing reserves keep building | about 30 to 45% on average | you are older and a return is likely |
| Keep the policy | full cover | full premium | a short stay within the EU/EEA |
Worked example: With a premium of €600 a month and three years abroad, the small dormant policy costs about €30–60 a month, €1,080–2,160 in total. The large version costs about €180–270 a month, €6,480–9,720 in total. Compare that with a new policy at an older entry age after your return – and with the risk that new health questions lead to a surcharge or a rejection.
Before you deregister: the right order
1. Decide
Cancel, pause or keep – with this planner and your policy terms. Ask your insurer for the dormant policy conditions in writing.
2. Notify in writing
Tell your insurer or health insurance fund your moving date. For private policies, observe the three months' notice and any minimum term.
3. Arrange cover abroad
Have your new cover in place before the old one ends. German public insurance does not pay outside the EU/EEA.
4. Deregister
Deregister your address (Abmeldung) and keep all confirmations – you will need them if you return.
Coming back later: why today's decision matters
When you return, the system you were last in usually decides where you go. If you were last publicly insured – in Germany or in the EU/EEA, Switzerland or the UK – you usually return to public insurance. If you were last privately insured, you must take out private insurance again (§ 193 (3) VVG) – unless you kept a dormant policy, which lets you simply reactivate your old contract. From 55 the way back to public insurance is usually closed (§ 6 (3a) SGB V). Details in health insurance when returning to Germany; the German rules in depth at PKV-Ausland.de (in German).
Don't miss the reactivation window.Insurers often expect you to reactivate a dormant policy within about two months of your return (Allianz). After that, new health questions may apply. Note the date in your moving plan.
Five questions to ask your insurer before you cancel
- Does my tariff continue outside the EU/EEA – with or without a surcharge?
- What exactly does a small and a large dormant policy cost me, in euros per month?
- Until when must I reactivate after my return – and without new health questions?
- When is the earliest end date of my contract, and is there a minimum term?
- Can my long-term care insurance be paused, too, or does it end with the move?
Ask in writing and keep the answers with your moving documents. If you are publicly insured, ask your fund for a confirmation of your insurance periods – and, for EU/EEA moves, how the periods are passed on.
What the planner can't tell you
Your tariff terms may differ from the model terms – some tariffs cover longer stays abroad, others end earlier. Dormant policy prices vary between insurers. And whether you will be insured in your new country is decided there. Before you move, let a specialised expert from our partner network check your policy wording – free and in English.
Next steps
- Everything about leaving: what happens to your health insurance when you leave Germany.
- Only staying a few years? Read private health insurance for short stays before you sign.
- Still deciding between the systems? Start the 60-second decider.
- German terms such as Anwartschaft explained: glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Should I cancel my German health insurance when I leave Germany?
It depends on where you go and whether you may come back. If you leave for good and won't return, cancelling properly is usually right. If a return is possible, a dormant private policy can save you a new health check and a higher entry age later. Public insurance usually ends automatically when you move your residence abroad.
How do I cancel private health insurance in Germany?
In writing. Under the model terms you can cancel at the end of each insurance year with three months' notice, but not before an agreed minimum term of up to two years (§ 13 MB/KK 2009, § 205 VVG). If you move outside the EU/EEA, the policy usually ends with the move unless you agree otherwise – confirm the end date in writing.
What does a dormant health insurance policy cost?
According to Allianz, a small dormant policy costs about 5 to 10% of your previous premium and a large one about 30 to 45% on average. Other insurers charge different amounts, sometimes fixed euro sums. Ask for the exact figure before you move.
Do I get my ageing reserves back if I leave Germany?
No. Ageing reserves are only transferred if you switch to another German private insurer at the same time, and then only the part that matches the basic tariff (§ 204 VVG). If you cancel because you emigrate, they stay with the insurer.
Can I cancel TK or another public fund when I leave Germany?
Membership in public insurance usually ends when you move your residence abroad. Tell your fund your moving date, ask for a confirmation of your insurance periods and arrange cover in your new country before you go.
Sources
- § 205 VVG – cancellation by the policyholder
- § 207 VVG – continuation, move within the EU/EEA
- § 204 VVG – tariff change and transfer of ageing reserves
- PKV association: model terms MB/KK 2009 (§§ 1, 13, 15) – as of June 2024
- Allianz: dormant health insurance (Anwartschaftsversicherung) – insurer information, retrieved 10 October 2026
- TK: dormant membership for stays abroad
- DVKA: frequently asked questions (insurance periods abroad) – as of 26 May 2026
This article provides general information on health insurance in Germany (as of 13 October 2026). It does not replace individual advice. Which solution suits you depends on your personal situation, e.g. age, health, income, family and length of stay. Despite careful review we cannot guarantee completeness and accuracy; laws and tariffs change. It is not immigration advice: whether your insurance is sufficient for a visa or residence permit is decided by the German mission abroad or your immigration office. Publisher: German-PKV.de. German-PKV.de is not an insurance broker and does not provide insurance, legal or tax advice; individual advice is provided exclusively by specialised cooperation partners licensed under § 34d GewO.