Skip to content
Emergency

Without health insurance: back into coverage

In Germany there is a general obligation to have health insurance, no one is meant to be without coverage. If you have fallen out of insurance, you generally have the right and the obligation to return. The insurer last responsible usually has to take you back.

Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:

Create a letter to the health insurer →

Your chances of getting your money back

Insurance is mandatory: anyone last insured under the statutory scheme can generally return to statutory health insurance (§ 5 SGB V). The insurer last responsible must in principle take you back.
Contributions can be claimed for the period without insurance. But there are ways to reduce contribution debts or arrange installment payments, so approach the insurer proactively.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Find the responsible insurer

    Clarify where you were last insured (statutory or private). That determines the way back into coverage.

  2. 2

    2. Apply for readmission

    Apply for (re)admission with the responsible health insurer and describe your situation openly.

  3. 3

    3. Clear up contribution debts

    Ask about ways to reduce outstanding contributions or pay in installments. Approaching them proactively helps.

  4. 4

    4. Get help

    If you run into difficulties, the consumer advice center or a social counseling service can help you get back into coverage.

How to spot the scam

  • Despite symptoms you do not see a doctor because you have no insurance.
  • Contribution debts grow because you keep putting the problem off.
  • You are told that returning is 'impossible', which is usually false.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be insured in Germany?

Yes. There is a general obligation to have health insurance. Anyone without coverage generally has the right and the obligation to return to insurance, usually with the insurer last responsible.

How do I get back into insurance?

Contact the health insurer last responsible and apply for readmission. If you were last insured under the statutory scheme, the way leads back to statutory insurance, otherwise usually to private health insurance.

What happens with contributions for the uninsured period?

Contributions can be claimed for the uninsured period. However, there are ways to reduce contribution debts or arrange installments. Approach the insurer proactively and seek social counseling if needed.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

Create a letter to the health insurerCheck a suspicious message
More help: Emergency by phone · Act together · Right to a lawyer · All guides

General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.