5 things to know about healthcare in Germany - and how Cigna can help

Relocating to Germany, as to any other foreign country, comes with significant challenges. Despite this, the whole experience can be very rewarding for expats. Germany is rated amongst the top 10 countries worldwide for quality of life, and is highly regarded by expats for its standard of healthcare and job security. 

Cigna can help you make the best of the German healthcare system

Whether you are planning to move to Germany in the future, or are a newly arrived expat settling into life in your new country, you may find that things are quite different to what you are used to. To help you navigate the German healthcare system, here’s a list of five things you should keep in mind, put together by the experts at Cigna. 

1. Health insurance is mandatory

Health insurance is mandatory for expatriates living in Germany. While most employees are covered by the public insurance system, some have the option to go private if they meet certain criteria. In order to receive health treatment from a doctor, hospital or clinic you will need to show your social insurance card, which will be issued to you once you have registered for insurance.

2. Top-quality care

Healthcare in Germany focuses on giving the best quality of medical care, and the system has been rated as one of the best in the world. High-quality care is to be expected wherever you go in Germany, although particularly in hospitals conditions can vary significantly. If you are privately insured, you can gain access to benefits like private hospital rooms. 

3. All about efficiency

In addition to offering great quality care, the healthcare system in Germany is known to be highly efficient. Timely and effective treatment is the aim of hospitals and clinics. Waiting times for treatment are generally very low, and care for chronically ill and elderly patients is regarded as very good in comparison to many other countries in Europe.

4. Make sure you have a good health cover

Expatriates in Germany are obliged to be covered by a registered insurer - either public or private. While the public system suffices for most, some foreign nationals who travel considerably and require international coverage may find that the public insurance works out quite expensive. For some people, therefore, depending on circumstances, purchasing a plan from an international private medical insurance company like Cigna can be a more affordable and convenient option.

Private health insurance can also offer additional benefits, such as access to a wider range of services, and a predictable monthly bill to help minimise the worry of unexpected expenses.

5. Setting up your health insurance plan before you go

Since health insurance is mandatory in Germany, some expats choose to take out health insurance before they arrive so that they are covered from the moment they arrive. This ensures peace of mind from day one, giving you the freedom to get on with settling into life in your new home. 

Finding the right international insurance plan

If you’re thinking about taking out private health insurance, Cigna Global has flexible international health plans specifically designed for expats, making it easy to tailor a policy to suit your specific needs and budget.

For a limited time only, Cigna also has an exclusive offer where they’ll be upgrading your policy free of charge to include the “Health & Wellbeing” package for the lifetime of your policy, so long as you sign up before the end of May.  

Cigna’s health insurance plans provide an extensive level of coverage, including:

• Access to a global network of over 1,65 million hospitals, clinics, doctors, and medical professionals
• Full cancer care
• Full flexibility on payment options, and add-on benefits to enhance your cover
• Unlimited benefit limit on current or future pandemic related care
• A suite of digital tools, including Global Telehealth, to manage your health on the go

As well as all this, your free Health & Wellbeing upgrade entitles you to:

• Adult physical examinations
• Cancer screenings
• Dietician consultations
• Mindfulness coaching, online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and much more

Visit the Cigna website to claim your free upgrade and start tailoring your health insurance policy.