How to cancel health insurance when leaving Germany
To cancel German health insurance when you leave, deregister your address first, then send your insurer the Abmeldung with a cancellation letter. Here is the process.
German health insurance (Krankenversicherung) is tied to your residence. To cancel it cleanly when you leave the country, you must deregister your address first — your insurer will not end the policy on your word alone. Follow the steps below to stop contributions and avoid being billed for months after you have gone.
Step 1 — Deregister your address (Abmeldung)
- Book a deregistration appointment at your local Bürgeramt, or submit the Abmeldung by post if you have already left Germany.
- You can deregister up to seven days before your actual departure date.
- Keep the stamped Abmeldebestätigung — every later step depends on this document.
Step 2 — Notify your health insurer
- Send a written cancellation (Kündigung) to your Krankenkasse, quoting your membership number.
- Attach a copy of the Abmeldebestätigung as proof you are leaving Germany.
- State your departure date and your new address abroad for final correspondence.
Notice periods and effective date
When you move abroad, statutory (gesetzliche) health insurance ends on the date you deregister, not at the end of a long notice period. Private insurers follow the notice period in your contract — often three months to the end of the quarter — so check your policy and cancel as early as possible.
Step 3 — Settle final contributions
- Pay any outstanding contributions up to your deregistration date.
- If you were employed, your employer stops contributions automatically once payroll is closed.
- Ask the insurer for a written confirmation (Bestätigung) that your membership has ended.
Step 4 — Keep proof for your new country
Some countries ask for evidence that you were insured in Germany before you join their system. Keep the cancellation confirmation and your last membership certificate for at least a year after departure. If you also need to settle recurring bills before you go, read what happens if you miss a radio tax payment in Germany so no follow-up letter chases you abroad.
Common pitfalls
- Cancelling before deregistering — the insurer will reject it without the Abmeldung.
- Forgetting a private supplementary policy (Zusatzversicherung), which must be cancelled separately.
- Leaving a SEPA mandate active so contributions keep being collected after you leave.