In German insurance documents, "Police" means the insurance policy or policy document, not law enforcement. Read it as your contract, the paper that lists your cover, your premiums, and what is excluded. For internationals comparing systems, the core difference is simple: private premiums are based on your age, health, and chosen cover, while public premiums are based on your income. If any clause is unclear, get English-language help before you sign.
TL;DR:
- For 2026, employees may choose private cover above €77,400 annually or €6,450 monthly; freelancers, people who work for themselves, and civil servants typically qualify too.
- Statutory insurance covers a non-earning spouse and children at no extra cost, while private policies usually charge a separate premium for every family member.
- After age 55, returning to public insurance becomes very difficult, so assess how long you expect to remain in Germany before choosing private cover.
- When reviewing a policy, check exclusions before relying on the benefit catalogue, and verify waiting periods and preexisting condition clauses that can limit or delay claims.
Table of Contents
- Why "Police" Confuses English Speakers
- Glossary: Key Private Health Insurance Terms in English
- Private Versus Public Health Insurance: What Actually Differs
- Who Can Choose Private Health Insurance in 2026
- How to Read Your Private Policy Document in English
- How Myhealthcarebroker Supports English-Speaking Applicants
- A Note on Making This Decision
- Get an English-Language Policy Review From Myhealthcarebroker
- FAQ
- Sources
Why "Police" Confuses English Speakers
German insurers use "Police" the way English speakers use "policy," but the spelling trips up almost every newcomer scanning a contract for the first time. It has nothing to do with officers or law enforcement. It is simply the document that proves your cover exists and spells out its terms.
The safest English translations are "insurance policy," "policy document," or "insurance contract," all referring to the same paper. In German files, you will usually meet one of two related terms:
- Versicherungsschein: the certificate confirming your cover is active, often the first page you receive.
- Versicherungsvertrag: the fuller insurance contract, including all terms, conditions, and annexes.
- Typical opening lines read something like "Ihre Versicherungspolice" or "Police-Nr.," both simply meaning "your policy" and "policy number."
Once you know this, the rest of the document becomes far less intimidating. It is a contract like any other, just written in German insurance language.
Glossary: Key Private Health Insurance Terms in English
A private health insurance policy in Germany uses a consistent set of terms, and once you recognize them, you can read almost any provider's contract without a translator. Here are the terms that matter most:
- Premium (Beitrag): your monthly payment, set by age, health, and the tariff you chose.
- Deductible or excess (Selbstbeteiligung): the amount you pay yourself before the insurer covers costs.
- Tariff (Tarif): the specific plan structure defining your cover level and price.
- Benefit catalogue (Leistungskatalog): the full list of treatments, medications, and services included.
- Waiting period (Wartezeit): the time after signing before certain benefits can be claimed.
- Pre-existing conditions (Vorerkrankungen): health issues you had before applying, which insurers assess during underwriting.
- Risk surcharge (Risikozuschlag): an extra premium charged for a known health risk.
- Reimbursement versus direct billing: whether you pay the provider first and claim money back, or the insurer pays the provider directly.
Pay close attention to cover limits and exclusions. These sections, often buried near the end of the document, determine what you are not covered for, and they matter far more than the glossy brochure summary.
Pro Tip: Highlight every mention of "Ausschluss" (exclusion) and "Wartezeit" (waiting period) the first time you read your policy. Those two words affect your wallet more than any other clause.
Private Versus Public Health Insurance: What Actually Differs
The two systems differ in how they calculate your bill and what they cover beyond basic treatment. Public health insurance spreads cost based on income, while private insurance prices your individual risk. Around 90% of the population in Germany carries public cover, with private insurance making up the remainder.
- Pricing: public premiums rise and fall with your salary, private premiums are fixed at signup based on your age, health, and chosen tariff.
- Family cover: statutory insurance includes a non-earning spouse and children at no extra cost, while private policies usually require a separate premium for each family member.
- Services: private cover often brings faster specialist appointments, private hospital rooms, and broader international cover, though this varies by tariff.
- Long-term consequences: switching back to public insurance after age 55 is very difficult, and for many people, effectively closes that door for good.
That last point is worth sitting with. A decision that looks purely financial today can shape your coverage options for decades.
Who Can Choose Private Health Insurance in 2026
For 2026, the annual income threshold to opt out of public health insurance is €77,400, or €6,450 per month. Employees earning above that figure, along with freelancers, the self-employed, and civil servants, typically qualify for private cover.
Students and employees below the threshold generally stay in the statutory system. Crossing the threshold does not obligate you to switch. Given the long-term nature of the decision, it is worth weighing your plans to stay in Germany before choosing a tariff. Our eligibility check can confirm where you stand before you commit to anything.
How to Read Your Private Policy Document in English
A private policy document looks dense, but a structured read takes about fifteen minutes once you know what to check. Work through it in this order:
- Confirm the basics: insurer name, policy number (Police-Nr.), covered persons, and effective date.
- Check the premium section: note the starting amount, how indexation works, and under what conditions it can rise.
- Find the benefit catalogue: this lists exactly what is covered, by treatment type.
- Read the exclusions: these override the benefit catalogue for specific situations, so they carry real weight.
- Note waiting periods and pre-existing condition clauses: these affect when and whether certain claims are paid.
- Locate the cancellation terms: look for notice periods and any conditions attached to ending the contract.
- Find the complaint or ombudsman process: this tells you where to turn if a claim is disputed.
- Save the contact channels: email, phone, and any English-language support lines, before you need them.
Pro Tip: Keep a screenshot of the benefit catalogue page and the exclusions page on your phone. Claims disputes almost always trace back to one of those two sections.
How Myhealthcarebroker Supports English-Speaking Applicants
As independent consultants, we are not tied to any single insurer, which means our comparisons across Germany's major private health insurers reflect your situation rather than a sales target. Our process starts with an English-language eligibility check, continues through anonymous pre-checks for pre-existing conditions, and includes step-by-step onboarding so no form gets lost in translation. As the author of this guide, I work within that process daily, helping internationals turn a dense German contract into a plan they actually understand.
A Note on Making This Decision
Choosing private health insurance is a long-term commitment, not a one-year experiment, especially if you expect to build a life in Germany. Before signing anything, verify the clauses that matter most to you in plain English, and ask for help the moment a sentence feels ambiguous.
— Marco
Get an English-Language Policy Review From Myhealthcarebroker
Reading a private health insurance policy in a second language is harder than it needs to be, and a missed exclusion or waiting period can cost you far more than the premium itself. We offer independent comparison across Germany's major insurers, explain every clause in plain English, and guide you from your first eligibility question through the final signed application.
If you are weighing your options, start with our free eligibility check to see where you stand, or visit our private health insurance page for a full walkthrough of how our English-language support works from start to finish.
This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified financial advisor. Consult a qualified financial professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.
FAQ
What does "Police" mean on a German insurance document?
"Police" is the German word for your insurance policy or policy document, the paper confirming your cover and listing its terms. It has no connection to law enforcement, despite the similar spelling.
What is the income threshold for private health insurance in 2026?
For 2026, the annual threshold is €77,400, or €6,450 per month. Employees above this level, plus most freelancers, self-employed people, and civil servants, typically qualify to apply for private cover.
How are private health insurance premiums calculated compared to public ones?
Private premiums are set at signup based on your age, health, and the tariff you choose, while public premiums are calculated as a percentage of your income. This is the single biggest structural difference between the two systems, as explained by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Can I switch back to public health insurance after choosing private cover?
Switching back becomes very difficult once you pass age 55, which is why advisors treat the private versus public choice as a long-term decision rather than a short-term one. It is worth reviewing your plans to stay in Germany before committing to a private tariff.
Where can I get English-language help with my German health insurance?
Several statutory funds, including Barmer and KKH, publish English-language hotlines and email support for policyholders. For private insurance specifically, English-language eligibility checks, policy comparisons, and application support are available throughout the process.
Sources
- Verordnung über maßgebende Rechengrößen der Sozialversicherung für 2026
- Statutory health insurance (SHI) | BMG
- Contact Barmer
- KKH English service page