Contents (11 sections)
- Private health insurance in Germany in English: what “English” can mean
- Who states English service – an overview
- Why the contract often stays German
- The health questions: where language matters most
- Key German terms in your private health insurance contract
- Living with a German-language contract: practical tips
- English service in public insurance
- Insurer, agent or broker: who works for whom
- Your advice record and complaints: ask for a language you understand
- Checklist: private health insurance in English – what to check before you sign
- Is English service a reason to go private?
- Some providers state English service for private health insurance in Germany – for example ottonova (insurer), Feather and Getsafe (digital intermediaries); on the public side TK states English-speaking assistants 24/7 (all retrieved 10 October 2026).
- English service does not always mean an English contract: ottonova, for example, states that its English translation is non-binding and the contract language is German only.
- The health questions in the application decide your cover; you must answer what the insurer asks (§ 19 VVG) – so you need to understand every question, whatever the language.
- Insurers, agents and brokers have different roles: an agent acts for insurers, a broker for you (§ 59 VVG).
- This page names providers only to describe their stated service – it is not a ranking or a recommendation.
Private health insurance in Germany is available with English service: ottonova (an insurer) and the digital intermediaries Feather and Getsafe state English apps, support or contracts on their websites, and the public fund TK states English-speaking assistants 24/7 (retrieved 10 October 2026). But English service does not always mean an English contract – ottonova, for example, states that its contract language is German only. Check which language version is binding before you sign (as of October 2026).
Private health insurance in Germany in English: what “English” can mean
When a provider says “in English”, it can mean very different things. For your protection, separate four layers:
Service and advice
Chat, phone or email in English – useful for questions, claims and everyday problems.
App and website
English interface for submitting bills, tracking claims and managing your policy.
Binding documents
Policy terms, tariff conditions and the insurance certificate. Here the legally binding version is often German.
Application and health questions
The questions that decide your cover. You must answer what is asked – so you must understand it.
The first two layers make daily life easier. The last two decide what you are covered for. A provider can be excellent in English on layers one and two and still issue the binding contract in German.
Who states English service – an overview
The following providers are named only to describe what they state about English service on their own websites. This is not a ranking, not a test and not a recommendation; other insurers may also offer English service. Statements can change – check them yourself before you apply.
| Provider | Role | English service – as stated by the provider | Note on documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| ottonova | Private health insurer | Real-time English-speaking support, 100% digital, app for policies and claims | States that its English translation is non-binding and the contract language is German only |
| Feather (Popsure Deutschland GmbH) | Digital intermediary; imprint: insurance agent (Versicherungsvertreter) under § 34d (1) GewO | “In English – contracts, claims, and support” | Ask which language version of the insurer's terms is binding |
| Getsafe | Digital insurance platform; for private health insurance it compares offers from partner insurers (named: Hallesche, ARAG, Allianz) | “100% in English, 100% digital” | Contract is issued by the partner insurer – ask for the binding language |
| Allianz | Private health insurer | Information page for foreigners published in German | Ask about English service before you apply |
| TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) | Public health insurance fund – for comparison | English-speaking assistants 24/7, English-language apps and online services | Benefits set by law (SGB V) |
The comparison of the public fund TK with private insurance – costs, family, leaving Germany – is in TK vs private health insurance. Price examples of private insurers, including ottonova and Allianz, are on our page about what private health insurance costs. The major insurers with insured numbers and complaint data are listed in private health insurance companies in Germany.
Why the contract often stays German
German private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) is a German contract under German law – the Insurance Contract Act (Versicherungsvertragsgesetz, VVG) and the insurer's terms. Many insurers therefore issue the binding version in German and provide English translations for information. ottonova, for example, states that its English translation is non-binding and that the contract language is German only (retrieved 10 October 2026).
That is not a problem in itself – but it has consequences:
- In a dispute, the German text counts if it is the binding version. A friendly English summary does not change your cover.
- Letters about premium increases and tariff changes may arrive in German. Plan how you will read them.
- Your withdrawal right runs for 14 days from receiving the policy, the terms and the instructions (§ 8 VVG) – use this time to read the documents, with help if needed.
Ask one question in writing:“Which language version of the policy terms, the application and the health questions is legally binding?” Keep the answer with your documents.
The health questions: where language matters most
Before accepting you, a private insurer asks about your health in the application. You have to disclose everything it asks about in text form, up to the moment you sign (§ 19 VVG). If an answer is incomplete or wrong, the insurer may later withdraw from the contract, cancel it or change its terms – depending on the circumstances. A language misunderstanding is no protection.
- Read every question completely, including the time period it refers to.
- If you are unsure what a German term means, ask before you answer – and keep the explanation in writing.
- Answer from documents, not from memory, where you can.
- With health issues, consider an anonymous pre-check through a broker before any formal application.
How underwriting works – without any health questions on our side – is explained in private health insurance and pre-existing conditions.
Key German terms in your private health insurance contract
Even with an English app, some German words will follow you through letters, bills and policy terms. These are the ones that matter most:
| German term | In English | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Versicherungsschein | Insurance policy / certificate | Shows your tariffs, start date, any surcharge or exclusion |
| Allgemeine Versicherungsbedingungen (AVB) | General policy terms | Define your cover – including stays abroad |
| Selbstbehalt | Deductible | The amount you pay yourself each year |
| Risikozuschlag / Leistungsausschluss | Risk surcharge / exclusion | Possible results of the health questions |
| Wartezeit | Waiting period | Time before certain benefits start |
| Beitragsanpassung | Premium adjustment | The letter that announces a premium increase |
| Beitragsrückerstattung | No-claims bonus | Refund if you claim nothing – not certain |
| Krankentagegeld | Sick pay insurance | Replaces income during longer illness |
| Anwartschaft | Dormant policy | Keeps your rights if you leave Germany for a while |
Our glossary of German health insurance terms explains these and many more in plain English.
Living with a German-language contract: practical tips
- Ask for the key clauses in English before you sign: deductible, waiting periods, cover abroad, what happens when you move, notice periods.
- Use translation tools with care. They help with letters, but legal terms are easily mistranslated. For anything that affects your cover, ask a person.
- Keep a folder with the binding German version and any English translation – you may need both years later, for example when you leave Germany.
- Doctors' bills in private insurance are usually issued in German. Most insurers' apps let you photograph and submit them; you pay the bill and get reimbursed.
- Premium letters arrive at least once a year if your tariff changes. Read them – they also tell you about your right to change tariffs.
English service in public insurance
If you are publicly insured – by law below the income threshold, or by choice above it – English service can matter just as much. TK, for example, states that English-speaking assistants are available 24/7 and offers English-language apps and online services. Other public funds may also offer English information; ask before you choose a fund. The language of your fund does not change your cover: public insurance benefits are largely set by law and the same at every fund, while funds differ in their additional contribution and extra services.
Insurer, agent or broker: who works for whom
English-language providers have different legal roles. German law distinguishes them (§ 59 VVG):
| Role | Works for | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Insurer | Itself | Carries the risk, sets premiums, pays claims; offers its own tariffs |
| Insurance agent (Versicherungsvertreter) | Commissioned by one or more insurers | Offers the products of the insurers it represents |
| Insurance broker (Versicherungsmakler) | Commissioned by you | Must base advice on a sufficient number of offers on the market |
Agents and brokers must advise you and document that advice in text form before the contract is concluded (§§ 61, 62 VVG). German-PKV.de is not an insurance broker but a free information and calculator portal. If you like, we put you in touch with specialised experts from our partner network (insurance brokers licensed under § 34d GewO) who advise in English. The service is free of charge for you.
Your advice record and complaints: ask for a language you understand
Before you sign, an agent or broker has to ask about your wishes and needs, advise you and give you a record of that advice in text form (§§ 61, 62 VVG). This record is your proof of what was recommended and why. Ask for it in a language you understand – or for a translation of the key points – and keep it with your policy documents.
If something goes wrong later, complain to the insurer in writing first. If you can't agree, the Ombudsman for private health and long-term care insurance (Ombudsmann Private Kranken- und Pflegeversicherung) offers out-of-court dispute resolution free of charge. Its website is in German; ask whether your case can be handled in English or bring someone who can help with the language. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Checklist: private health insurance in English – what to check before you sign
- Binding language: which version of terms, application and health questions is legally binding?
- Service language: can you reach an English-speaking person for claims and complaints – by phone, not only by chat?
- Letters: in which language do premium increase notices and tariff letters arrive?
- Role: is your contact an insurer, an agent or a broker? Check the imprint.
- Exit plan: what happens to the policy if you move outside the EU/EEA? See leaving Germany with private health insurance.
- Full cover: compare benefits, not just the price and the app.
Is English service a reason to go private?
On its own, rarely. English service exists in both systems – TK, for example, states English-speaking assistants around the clock for its public members. The decision between public and private depends on your income, family, age and how long you stay in Germany. If you are eligible and private fits your plans, English service is a sensible tie-breaker between providers – not the main argument.
The full comparison is in public vs private health insurance in Germany. For an honest first answer in English, without health questions, use the 60-second decider.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get private health insurance in Germany in English?
You can get English service: several providers state English apps, chat or support – for example ottonova as an insurer and Feather and Getsafe as digital intermediaries (retrieved 10 October 2026). Whether the binding contract and the application are in English differs; ottonova, for example, states that its contract language is German only.
Are German private health insurance contracts in English?
Often not. Many insurers issue the legally binding terms, the application and the health questions in German and offer English translations for information. Ask in writing which language version is binding before you sign.
Is there English-speaking public health insurance in Germany?
Yes, public funds can serve you in English, too. TK, for example, states on its English website that English-speaking assistants are available 24/7 and offers English-language apps (retrieved 10 October 2026). Public insurance benefits are set by law, so the language of the fund doesn't change your cover.
What is the difference between an insurer, an agent and a broker?
The insurer carries the risk and pays your claims. An insurance agent is commissioned by one or more insurers; a broker is commissioned by you and must base advice on a sufficient number of offers (§ 59, § 60 VVG). Every intermediary must state its status – you find it in the imprint or the first information.
What if I don't understand a health question in German?
Don't guess. Ask the insurer or your intermediary for an explanation or translation before you answer, and keep it in writing. Incomplete or wrong answers can allow the insurer to withdraw from or adjust the contract later (§ 19 VVG).
Sources
- ottonova: private health insurance for expats (English, contract language note) – retrieved 10 October 2026
- Feather: private health insurance (English) – retrieved 10 October 2026
- Feather (Popsure Deutschland GmbH): imprint – retrieved 10 October 2026
- Getsafe: private health insurance (English) – retrieved 10 October 2026
- Techniker Krankenkasse: English website – retrieved 10 October 2026
- Allianz: Private Krankenversicherung für Ausländer – retrieved 10 October 2026
- § 59 VVG – definitions: insurance agent and insurance broker
- § 60 VVG – broker's basis for advice
- § 61 VVG – duty to advise and document
- PKV Ombudsman (Ombudsmann Private Kranken- und Pflegeversicherung) – retrieved 10 October 2026
- § 19 VVG – duty to disclose
- § 8 VVG – right of withdrawal
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.