Health Insurance for Refugees in Germany

According to UNHCR statistics, by the middle of 2021, Germany had nearly 1.24 million refugees and 233,000 asylum seekers. This is a significant increase from the previous year, when Germany reported over 1.21 million refugees, and a drastic increase from 2015, when Germany reported just over 316,000 refugees.

The refugee numbers have increased in 2022 and 2023, with hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Germany since the war started in Ukraine.

Refugees mostly come from areas of conflict like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Many of them are either injured or have some illness. Having proper medical and psychological treatment is more than crucial for their physical and mental health.

Do Refugees Have Access to Healthcare in Germany?

Yes! Refugees are eligible for healthcare in Germany. But there are a few factors to consider, such as the duration of your stay in Germany and your residence status.

  • Refugees with a residence permit. If you belong to this category, you can join a health insurance scheme like all other residents of Germany. This means the rules and regulations that apply to you are the same as other residents.
  • Refugees who receive benefits from the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (“Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz”). If you belong in this category, it means you have a tolerated stay, known as “Duldung,” or have been issued a border crossing certificate, known as “Grenzübertrittsbescheinigung.” In this case, you can access health care services, but to a limited extent. What you should consider is the duration of your stay in Germany. E.g.,
    • You have been in Germany for less than 18 months. Read the specifications below.
    • You have been in Germany for more than 18 months. Read the specifications below.

You Have Been in Germany for Less Than 18 Months

If you belong to this group, you can only access emergency healthcare*, which means you will only be treated if you have an acute illness. In cases of chronic diseases, the cost of treatment is usually not covered by the state.

*Including acute diseases or pain, for which individuals will receive necessary medical and dental treatment.

Can I Access Healthcare as a Pregnant Woman in This Category?

Yes, pregnant women can benefit from all services related to their pregnancy and childbirth in Germany. Even though you have been in Germany for less than 18 months, you are considered an exception if you are pregnant.

What Procedure Should I Follow to Be Able to Access Healthcare?

As someone who has been in Germany for less than 18 months, you must apply for a voucher known as “Krankenschein,” before you go to the doctor. You can get these vouchers from your initial reception center or the person responsible for you at the Social Welfare Office.

You can either get a few at once, which are valid for three months (you will need to get new ones after three months), or get one at a time each time you need to see a doctor.

Can’t I Get a Health Card Instead of a Voucher?

You can get a Health Card, but only in some federal states and cities [listed below]. This Health Card has been introduced to avoid bureaucratic procedures, like going to the authorities to get vouchers.

But even if you have this card, you will still only be able to receive emergency medical treatment.

You Have Been in Germany for More Than 18 Months

If you have been in Germany for more than 18 months as a refugee/asylum seeker, you will get a Health Card for Refugees, known as “Gesundheitskarte für Flüchtlinge” in Germany. You can use this card to access medical care without getting vouchers from the authorities.

What Services Can I Get If I Belong to This Group?

Once you have spent more than 18 months in Germany, you will be eligible for all services under the statutory health insurance scheme, with only a few limitations, like the long-term care insurance “Pflegeversicherung.”

The state will reimburse the health insurance company for the services you receive. This means you will not be directly insured in the statutory health insurance scheme but only receive the services it provides.

Can I Choose My Health Insurance Provider?

Yes, you can choose your preferred health insurance provider. You must inform the authorities of your decision, and they will go through the registration process.

Is Dental Assistance Free for Asylum Seekers in Germany?

Yes, asylum seekers who have been in Germany for less than 18 months are eligible for basic dental assistance in cases of emergency. Those who have been in Germany for more than 18 months can also get dental assistance under the supervision of a statutory health insurance scheme (without being officially insured by a statutory health insurance company) – the cost of which will be reimbursed to the company by the state.

How Do Refugees in Germany Get Medical Assistance?

Refugees will get medical assistance immediately after arriving in Germany and being accommodated in the initial reception center.

If you need medical help after that, you can visit a doctor who treats individuals with statutory health insurance. Some doctors only accept privately insured patients.

Can I Get Vaccinated in Germany as a Refugee?

Yes, you can. Regardless of the duration of your stay, everyone, including refugees/asylum seekers, can get vaccinated in Germany.

Which Federal States in Germany Offer Health Insurance Cards to Refugees/Asylum Seekers?

German Federal States that offer health insurance cards to refugees/asylum seekers in Germany:

  • Berlin
  • Brandenburg*
  • Bremen
  • Hamburg
  • Schleswig-Holstein
  • Thuringia

*In Brandenburg, asylum seekers in initial reception centers, who are under the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior, can only receive medical assistance from doctors at the center.

German Federal States where only select municipalities offer health insurance cards to refugees/asylum seekers:

  • North Rhine-Westphalia
  • Lower Saxony
  • Rhineland-Palatinate

German Federal States that do not offer health insurance cards to refugees/asylum seekers:

  • Bavaria
  • -üٳٱ𳾲
  • Saxony
  • Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

What if I Need Medical Help as a Ukrainian Refugee in Germany?

You will receive the necessary medical help if you become ill while in Germany. How health insurance for refugees is implemented depends on what sort of benefits you, as a Ukrainian refugee, are receiving in Germany.

Summary

To receive social benefits, Ukrainian refugees must apply for a temporary residence permit after arriving in Germany. After receiving this residence permit at the Arrival Center at Tegel Airport, they can apply for social benefits at the Jobcentre.

Ukrainian refugees who receive social benefits from the Jobcentre are eligible for statutory health insurance in Germany. Refugees can also apply for social assistance (Sozialhilfe), through which they will receive a health insurance card from a statutory health insurance fund.

Those who have not yet received their temporary permit are also eligible for healthcare through the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG). Read the specifications below.

Here is what you need to know about health insurance as a Ukrainian refugee in Germany:

Benefits from the Jobcentre

If you belong to this category, you are entitled to statutory health insurance in Germany. What does this mean? In case you need medical help during your stay in Germany, you are entitled to numerous services.

The services you’re entitled to under statutory health insurance in Germany as a Ukrainian refugee include:

  • Medical Treatment
  • Pregnancy and Maternity Treatment
  • Services for Prevention/Early Disease Detection

Social assistance (Sozialhilfe)

If you fall in this category as a Ukrainian refugee in Germany, the law does not make you eligible for statutory health insurance coverage. But, you will still have access to healthcare services in line with services that statutory health insurance provides. What does this mean?

Here’s what you need to know if you fall into this category:

  • You will have access to healthcare services through your health insurance card, which you will receive through a statutory health insurance fund.
  • Costs will be covered by the social welfare office (Sozialamt).
  • The social welfare office responsible for you is the one in the district you are living in.

The Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz)

If you fall into this category, you will only be entitled to medical and dental treatment required for acute illness or pain.

Here’s what this means if you fall into this category:

  • You will only be entitled to medical/dental treatment for emergency healthcare.
  • You will be covered for medicine and dressings required to ease your illness.

Note: If you fall into this category, you will be entitled to more medical treatment in special circumstances, such as severe psychological/physical violence.

Additional Information

You will receive coverage for officially recommended vaccinations and examinations.

If not registered as war refugees yet, patients with cancer and dialysis should contact the social welfare office (Sozialamt) immediately to join a health insurance scheme.