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Do I need Krankentagegeld insurance in Germany?

In short

You need Krankentagegeld insurance mainly if you are self-employed, privately insured as an employee or a high earner in Germany. Statutory sick pay is capped at EUR 135.63 gross a day in 2026, about EUR 118 to 120 net. A daily benefit of EUR 30 from day 43 often costs young employees under EUR 15 a month.

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Do I need Krankentagegeld insurance in Germany?

What it costs

Monthly premiums from published tariff comparisons, depending on age, daily rate and start of payment.

Example	Typical range
Employee, 35, EUR 20 a day from day 43	about EUR 7 to 23 a month
Employee, 32, EUR 30 a day from day 43	about EUR 8 to 10 a month
Age 30, EUR 100 a day from day 43	about EUR 30 to 40 a month
Self-employed, 35, EUR 150 a day from day 29	about EUR 76 to 150 a month

Guide values, October 2026, from published tariff examples.

Age at signing, occupation and pre-existing conditions change the premium considerably; we obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Employee in public insurance earning EUR 8,000 gross

This is the gap from day 43 when the salary is well above the contribution ceiling.

Net salary per month (tax class I, rounded)	about EUR 4,500
Net sick pay (30 days × about EUR 118)	about EUR 3,540
Monthly gap	about EUR 960
Daily rate needed (EUR 960 ÷ 30)	about EUR 32, chosen EUR 35 from day 43
Premium at 35	about EUR 10 to 18 a month

For about EUR 10 to 18 a month your net income stays almost the same even during a long illness. The premium is extrapolated from the sources, a guide value from our quoting practice.

Where the gap opens up

As an employee in public health insurance (GKV) you get your full salary for six weeks of illness. After that the fund pays sick pay (Krankengeld): 70 percent of gross, but at most 90 percent of net and only up to a fixed cap.

Contributions to pension, unemployment and long-term care insurance are still deducted from sick pay. If you earn more than the contribution ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) of EUR 5,812.50 a month, you lose noticeably more, the higher the salary the bigger the gap.

Your situation	Without cover	Our view
Employee, public insurance, salary below the ceiling	sick pay replaces a large share	usually not needed, savings often suffice
Employee, public insurance, salary well above	net income drops from day 43	worth it as a top-up
Employee, private insurance	no money after six weeks	essential
Self-employed, public insurance without sick pay option	no income from day one	essential
Self-employed, public insurance with sick pay option	sick pay only from day 43	add private cover for the first weeks
Self-employed, private insurance	no income from day one	essential, start date matched to savings

Self-employed: every day counts

Self-employed people only get sick pay from public insurance if they actively choose it with a declaration (Wahlerklärung). The contribution rate then rises by 0.6 percentage points, and money still only flows from day 43.

Rent, office, leasing and insurance keep running while you are ill. Private Krankentagegeld can start from day 4, 8, 15, 22 or 29 depending on the tariff. The earlier the start, the higher the premium.

Finding the right daily rate

You insure a fixed amount per calendar day (Tagessatz). As a rule of thumb take your monthly net income, deduct any sick pay you would receive and divide the rest by 30.

You may not insure more than your net income. When your income rises, raise the daily rate. Many tariffs allow this in the first years without new health questions if you apply in time.

Limits many people overlook

Krankentagegeld only pays if you are completely unable to work. If you work half days, you usually get nothing.

Once a doctor confirms occupational disability (Berufsunfähigkeit), payments usually end after a short transition. For long illnesses you also need disability insurance. Krankentagegeld bridges weeks and months, not years.

Step by step

Check whether you get statutory sick pay and from which day.
Write down your monthly net income and fixed costs.
Calculate the gap and divide it by 30: that is your daily rate.
Choose the start date by your savings: if you can bridge three months, a late start saves money.
Answer the health questions fully and honestly.
Adjust the daily rate to your income regularly.

Checklist

Daily rate covers the gap but not more than your net income
Start date fits continued pay or your own savings
Increase possible without a new health check
Treatment abroad covered
No reduction during a temporary dip in income
Occupational disability covered separately

Common mistakes

Setting the daily rate once and never adjusting it to a higher income
Being self-employed and insuring only from day 43 without savings for six weeks
Insuring more than your net income and being cut back when you claim
Confusing Krankentagegeld with disability insurance

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

What is the difference between Krankengeld and Krankentagegeld?

Krankengeld is paid by public health insurance under fixed rules. Krankentagegeld is a private contract with a daily amount you choose, as a replacement or a top-up.

Do employees in public insurance need it?

With a salary below the contribution ceiling usually not. If you earn well above it, a small daily rate from day 43 closes the gap cheaply.

How long does Krankentagegeld pay?

In many tariffs without a time limit as long as you are unable to work. It usually ends once occupational disability is confirmed. Statutory sick pay runs for at most 78 weeks within three years for the same illness.

Is it tax deductible?

Premiums count as other provision expenses. Because the cap is usually already used up by health and long-term care insurance, they often have no effect. The benefit itself is tax free.

What happens if I earn less?

If your income falls permanently, the company may reduce the daily rate to your new net income. Report changes yourself.

Can I get it if I just moved to Germany?

Yes, as soon as you live and work here. Your health history counts, including treatment abroad, so keep your records ready for the health questions.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

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