
Statutory health insurance (GKV) only reimburses medical treatment costs abroad if you travel within an EU country or a country with a social security agreement with Germany. Outside Europe, you are usually treated as a private patient and must cover high medical and hospital costs yourself. Travel health insurance protects you if you fall ill while abroad.
What travel health insurance covers:
Medical treatment for acute illnesses and accidents abroad
Necessary medications and remedies
Pain-relieving dental treatments
Medically necessary repatriation to Germany, including emergency air ambulance if required
You can take out travel health insurance for a specific number of travel days or as an affordable annual policy.
Tip: Travel health coverage is sometimes included as a benefit in automobile club memberships, credit cards, or supplementary health insurance. Check your contract documents to see if you already have coverage through one of these products.

For short vacations abroad, a temporary travel health insurance policy is usually sufficient. However, for longer stays—such as for work or extended travel—a long-term (annual) travel health insurance can be a better solution.
A long-term travel health insurance is designed for coverage beyond just a few weeks and can be tailored to the insured’s individual needs. Policies are offered with terms of one or two years, or as permanent travel health insurance with unlimited duration, which can be used continuously and canceled once no longer needed.
Benefits of long-term travel health insurance:
Continuous medical coverage abroad, ensuring no gaps in insurance protection
Coverage for medical treatment of sudden illnesses or accidents during the stay
Inclusion of necessary surgeries and medical procedures
Reimbursement for medically required repatriation, rescue, and transportation costs in case of illness or death
This type of insurance is especially useful when statutory health insurance does not fully cover the costs of treatment abroad. Without coverage, patients would have to pay high medical expenses out of pocket as private patients. Long-term travel health insurance ensures financial security and access to necessary care while abroad.