What is travel health insurance (Auslandskrankenversicherung)?
A travel health insurance policy (Auslandskrankenversicherung, AKV) is private supplementary insurance that covers medical costs during trips outside Germany. It steps in where statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) does not pay or only pays to a limited extent – especially outside the EU and for services such as medical repatriation.
Cover typically applies to holiday trips lasting 6 to 10 weeks per trip. For longer stays abroad (sabbatical, world trip) there are special long-term travel health policies with different terms.
Good to know
Travel health insurance is not trip cancellation insurance. It only covers medical costs during the trip, not cancellation costs before departure.
Why is travel health insurance so important?
Many Germans underestimate the risks of travelling without travel health insurance. Here are the main reasons why cover is indispensable:
1. Statutory insurance does not pay everywhere
Statutory health insurance (GKV) only applies in EU countries and states with a social security agreement (e.g. Turkey, Tunisia). But even there it only covers the costs that also apply to locals in the host country. In the USA, Canada, Thailand, Australia and many other popular destinations, GKV pays not a cent.
2. No repatriation through statutory insurance
Even if you fall ill in an EU country: a medical repatriation to Germany is never covered by GKV. The costs quickly reach five figures: DFV cites €15,000 as an example for a repatriation, DKV €80,000 for a repatriation from South Africa.
Cost examples without insurance
- Hospital stay in the USA (5 days): €50,000 – €150,000
- Air ambulance USA → Germany: €70,000 – €120,000
- Emergency dental treatment (crown) in the USA: €2,000 – €4,000
These amounts are orders of magnitude and depend heavily on the individual case. Travel health insurance from €14.80/year covers such costs within its terms – with no excess for the plans compared.
3. Private medical treatment
Abroad you are usually treated privately. Many clinics even demand payment upfront before they begin treatment. Without insurance you must first bear these costs yourself – and hope that your GKV reimburses part of them. That is not something to rely on.
What does travel health insurance cost?
The good news: travel health insurance is among the cheapest insurance policies there is. For single people up to 64, the annual premiums of the plans compared are between €14.80 and €25. Families pay between €33.60 and €55.10 per year (as of October 2026).
| Age group | Single person | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 64 | €14.80 – €25/year | €33.60 – €55.10/year |
| 65–74* | €46.80 – €95/year | €102.50 – €139/year |
| 75 and over* | €83.30 – €95/year | €139 – €182.40/year |
* Examples from Münchener Verein and HanseMerkur (the other providers do not publish prices for older travellers). For a family, the premium is usually based on the older adult.
Premiums vary by provider, scope of cover and age group. Important: when choosing, do not look only at the price but also at the maximum trip duration (45–70 days per trip for the plans compared) and the repatriation standard.
Key benefits at a glance
Not every travel health policy is the same. When choosing, look out for these core benefits:
Medically sensible repatriation
Not just "necessary" but "sensible" – meaning an earlier return to Germany if treatment there would be better.
Inpatient treatment
Hospital stays including operations are covered without a fixed upper limit in good plans – check the terms.
Outpatient treatment & medication
Doctor visits, prescribed medication and dressings are covered as standard.
Pain-relieving dental treatment
Emergency treatment for acute toothache (fillings, extraction) is included in basic cover.
What to look out for
- Pandemic clause: COVID-19 and other pandemics should be explicitly included.
- Pre-existing conditions: acute deterioration should be insured (not planned treatments).
- No excess: plans without a personal contribution are recommended.
- Rescue costs: helicopter rescues can become expensive after hiking accidents.
Which plan suits whom?
Stiftung Warentest (Finanztest), the German consumer-testing foundation, and Finanztip regularly test travel health insurance. From our comparison, two plans cover typical situations:
Münchener Verein
Long trip duration of 70 days per trip, medically sensible and justifiable repatriation, no excess, no health check and no age limit. Published premiums also for ages 65–74 and 75 and over.
HUK-Coburg
Lowest annual premium in the comparison (family €33.60), no excess. In return, the trip duration is limited to 56 days per trip.
The Münchener Verein plan is also sold by the broker MAXCARE (AuslandGesund) at the same premium. The HanseMerkur annual travel health insurance is more expensive at €25, but according to the provider was rated by Stiftung Warentest as test winner with VERY GOOD (0.5) (Finanztest 05/2025). Check the current test results and terms yourself before taking out a policy.
Special target groups: families & seniors
Family insurance
For families a family plan is almost always worthwhile. It usually insures two adults and the children for a flat price – at HanseMerkur, for example, up to 2 adults and 7 children up to their 26th birthday, also as a couples-only policy. In the comparison, family plans cost €33.60 to €55.10 per year and thus usually less than two individual policies. The age limit for co-insured children differs by provider.
Seniors aged 65 and over
From age 65 premiums rise significantly because the health risk is statistically higher. Examples: at Münchener Verein, single people aged 65 to 74 pay €46.80, aged 75 and over €83.30 per year; HanseMerkur charges €95 from 65 (family/couple €139). It is important that the plan has no maximum age limit – at Münchener Verein there is, according to the provider, neither a health check nor an age limit.
How to take it out correctly
5 steps to travel health insurance
- Check your needs: how often do you travel? How long are your typical trips?
- Compare plans: use our comparison calculator above for a quick overview.
- Check the benefits: pay particular attention to repatriation and maximum trip duration.
- Take it out online: it takes only a few minutes. Trips that begin after the start of the contract are insured.
- Take the documents with you: save the policy on your smartphone for emergencies.
Important: you must take out the policy before departure. If the contract is only concluded while travelling, cover generally applies only to subsequent trips, not to the one already under way. Ideally take out year-round cover – then all trips in the year are automatically insured.
Sources and further information
Our comparison is based on our own independent evaluation of the plans. For further reading we recommend these recognised tests and official bodies:
- Stiftung Warentest: travel health insurance compared
- Finanztip: travel health insurance
- Consumer advice centre: travel health insurance
- DVKA – German Liaison Agency for Health Insurance – International
Last updated: October 2026 (premiums checked on 30 October 2026 on the providers' websites)