What is an "Anwartschaft” [prospective entitlement] and how does it protect my insurance cover?

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Application for prospective entitlement when staying abroad for a longer period of time

If you move outside of Europe for a longer period of time, you can end your TK membership so you don't pay full health insurance contributions in Germany and abroad at the same time. However, this can limit your choice of statutory health insurer when you return to Germany.

With an Anwartschaft, or prospective entitlement as it is known in English, you pause your TK cover during your stay abroad and secure your right to return TK later, even if the legal rules change. The Anwartschaft period also counts as previous insurance time for health insurance for pensioners and long-term care insurance.

Important: while the Anwartschaft is active, you have no entitlement to German health insurance benefits. You therefore need separate health insurance for your time abroad - ideally also covering temporary visits to Germany for you and any accompanying family members.

Prospective entitlement can be taken out

by employees of international organisations

by Heilfürsorge-Berechtigte [persons entitled to free medical welfare]

by development aid volunteers

by voluntary insurees

by family members under certain conditions

during prolonged stays abroad under certain conditions

during a posting or secondment

Postings abroad

If your employer sends you abroad temporarily, you keep your German health insurance benefits. We can reduce your TK contribution in some cases. This is possible if you are voluntarily insured and have private health cover from your employer. It also applies if this private cover includes your accompanying family members with free insurance. In that case, you and your family do not claim any TK benefits while abroad or on short visits to Germany. We cannot reduce your contributions if your employer only pays first and TK later reimburses the costs.