Information on health insurance
In Germany, health insurance is mandatory for all residents. If you already have health insurance in your home country, check whether your coverage can be transferred and whether it meets German requirements. If your coverage is deemed sufficient, you can apply for a certificate of insurance from your country’s health insurer (called Form S1 within the EU) to confirm your eligibility.
However, in most cases, you will need to obtain health insurance in Germany. There are two types of health insurance available, depending on your employment status at the institute and, in some cases, personal preference: statutory and private health insurance.
Statutory health insurance (Public Health Insurance)
If you are an employee of MPIPZ with a working contract you have to enroll in statutory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). Employees exceeding the current annual income threshold relevant for compulsory insurance (GKV) may also opt to choose private health insurance (see below). Several statutory health insurance providers offer different plans. Although they may not differ much in terms of basic benefits, they can vary in terms of additional benefits, customer service and the range of optional rates can vary.
Under certain conditions, family members can be co-insured free of charge, for example, if they do not have their own income.
Health insurance contributions are shared in approximately equal amounts between you and your employer. The institute covers the employer’s share of health insurance costs, the employee’s share is automatically deducted from your gross salary.
The Max Planck Society has agreements with various health insurance companies that offer suitable coverage at reasonable rates. For further details or assistance in selecting a provider, please contact the MPIPZ Human Resources Department.
Private health insurance
If you are an employee with an annual salary exceeding the specified annual income threshold, you can choose between statutory (public) health insurance and private health insurance. The MPIPZ HR department will provide you with a leaflet containing information on health, accident and third-party liability insurance.
Private health insurance plans vary significantly in cost, depending on factors such as the scope of benefits, age and pre-existing medical conditions. Unlike statutory insurance, where costs are shared directly between employer and employee, private health insurance requires the policyholder to pay for medical treatment and medication in advance, with reimbursement from your insurer.
For employees with private health insurance, the employer covers part of the premium - up to 50% of the premium, but only up to the maximum statutory employer contribution for public health insurance. Any additional costs must be covered by the employee.
For further details on available private health insurance plans and employer contributions, please contact the MPIPZ HR department.
Special Case: Fellowship Students
A foreign postdoc on a fellowship or stipend (Stipendium) usually cannot be covered under Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV) unless they meet specific criteria. The GKV system is primarily for people with employment contracts subject to social security contributions in Germany. Stipend holders are generally not eligible for GKV because they do not pay into the German social security system.
When can a postdoc on a fellowship still join GKV?
- If you had GKV before (e.g., as a student or during previous employment in Germany) and there was no major gap — you might be able to stay in the scheme.
- If your fellowship provider has an agreement with a GKV fund — in rare cases, some funders (e.g., DAAD) have arrangements that allow enrollment.
- If your spouse or family is insured under GKV in Germany, and you're considered a dependent.
- If you're from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland and you bring your home statutory insurance (EHIC/S1 form), you may be treated as GKV-equivalent.
What do you do instead?
You’ll need to get private health insurance:
- There are special expat or international researcher plans (e.g., Mawista, Care Concept, or EDUCARE24).
Please ensure that your policy covers both outpatient and inpatient treatment, does not have major exclusions, and is accepted by the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Office). Please contact the MPIPZ Human Resources department for advice.