Which insurance do employees posted abroad from Germany need?
In short
Which insurance employees posted abroad from Germany need: within the EU, the A1 certificate keeps you in German social insurance for up to 24 months. Outside the EU your employer pays first when you fall ill. What is usually missing is international health insurance with repatriation, from about 80 euros a month, liability cover that lasts the whole stay and legal cover.
International health insurance, under 40, without North America
from about 80 euros a month, standard plans about 95 to 140 euros
International health insurance from 60, without North America
about 400 to 700 euros a month
Long term travel health insurance over 12 months, under 55
from about 1.63 euros a day without North America, from about 2.20 euros with
Personal liability for a single person, abroad included
about 40 to 120 euros a year
As of October 2026 from published comparisons; laws and DVKA information checked,
conditions from the GDV model conditions.
How long a given liability policy applies abroad,
that many employers buy group policies and that disability policies usually apply worldwide are
guide values from our quoting practice.
Worked example
Engineer, 38, posted to Singapore for two years
Singapore has no social security agreement with Germany, so every private building block matters.
International health insurance without North America, if there is no group policy
about 95 to 140 euros a month
Liability valid abroad for the whole posting
about 5 to 10 euros a month
Legal cover
not usable for Singapore under the model conditions, ask locally
About 100 to 150 euros a month without a group policy. With a good employer policy only a few euros for liability remain.
How long posted employees stay in the German system
When posted to another EU state, employees stay in German social insurance if the posting is expected to last no more than 24 months, they do not replace another posted worker, and German law applied for at least one month before. The A1 certificate, applied for by the employer, is the proof.
In countries with a social security agreement the duration depends on that agreement, and not every agreement covers all branches. In countries without an agreement, German law continues under section 4 Social Code IV if the posting is limited in advance. Local law may apply as well, so double cover or gaps are possible.
Destination
What applies
What posted employees check privately
EU, EEA, Switzerland
German law up to 24 months with A1
repatriation, liability, legal cover
Agreement country
per agreement, often only some branches
which branches are missing
No agreement
check German and local law
local health cover, gaps
Longer than planned
switch to the host country system possible
continued health cover
Health cover during a posting
If employees with statutory health insurance fall ill while working abroad, section 17 Social Code V says they receive the benefits from their employer. The health insurer refunds the employer only what treatment would have cost in Germany. Expensive treatment in the USA or a flight home stays with the employer.
That is why many employers buy a group policy. Ask in writing before you leave whether it exists, what it pays and whether family members travelling with you are included. Without it, international health insurance costs from about 80 euros a month under 40, without North America.
Liability, contents and the flat in Germany
Under the model conditions, personal liability covers damage abroad during a temporary stay, with the length set in the policy. For postings of two or three years that limit can be too short. Have the length confirmed before you leave.
If you keep your flat in Germany, contents insurance (Hausrat) continues there. Things you take along are covered under the model conditions only while temporarily away from home, for a period fixed in the policy. A household in the host country usually needs a local policy.
Legal cover and disability during the posting
Under the model conditions, legal expenses insurance covers courts in Europe and the countries bordering the Mediterranean. Elsewhere it pays only for stays of at most six weeks that are not work related. For a posting to Asia or the Americas, local disputes are therefore not covered under the model conditions.
Most disability policies apply worldwide. If you take one out just before a posting, the insurer will ask about stays abroad, especially in crisis regions. Name the host country exactly.
What posted employees usually do not need
Standard travel health insurance is not enough for a posting, it is limited to short trips. On the other hand you need no international health policy of your own if the employer group policy pays enough. A second accident policy rarely pays off if your existing one applies worldwide.
Step by step
Get written confirmation from your employer on which social insurance law applies and whether an A1 or agreement certificate has been requested.
Ask about a group policy for illness and repatriation, otherwise buy international health insurance.
Check how long your personal liability applies abroad and extend it if needed.
Keep contents insurance for the flat in Germany and insure the new household locally.
Check legal cover and disability insurance for the host country.
Checklist
A1 or agreement certificate in hand
Health cover with repatriation for the whole posting
Family members included in health cover
Liability valid for as long as the posting
Disability policy without exclusion for the host country
Common mistakes
Going abroad for months on ordinary travel health insurance
Assuming the German health insurer pays everything abroad
Overlooking the time limit abroad in personal liability
Not checking a switch to the host country when the posting is extended
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Who pays if I fall ill during a posting?
For statutory members the employer pays first.
The health insurer only refunds what treatment in Germany would have cost.
How long is the A1 certificate valid?
Usually up to 24 months.
Both countries must agree to an extension.
Do I need international health insurance as a posted employee?
Yes, unless your employer has a group policy that pays enough.
Travel insurance is not enough for long postings.
Does my personal liability apply during the posting?
Only for a temporary stay; the length is in your policy.
What about pension insurance?
With an A1 you keep paying into German pension insurance.
In countries without an agreement, check local law as well.
