Aachen · Krankenversicherung
Sign up for health insurance in Aachen
Health insurance is mandatory for everyone living in Aachen — you cannot get a residence permit or start most jobs without it. You choose between public (gesetzlich, e.g. TK, AOK, Barmer) and private cover, and your employer needs the membership confirmation to register you for payroll.
Public: ~14.6% + ~1–2.5% of gross income, split with your employer. Confirmation often same-day.
Health insurance is mandatory and you can't get a residence permit or start most jobs without proof of it. Most people take public (gesetzlich) cover — TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK and others are near-identical, so pick on service/English support; sign-up is free and online, and the membership confirmation often arrives the same day. Private (PKV) can suit high earners or some freelancers but is hard to leave later, so think twice.
What you need to bring
- Passport or IDRequired
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
How to get it: Issued by your home country. Renew at your country's embassy or consulate in Germany — appointments can take weeks, so check the expiry early.
- Employment contractRequired
How to get it: From your employer — the signed contract. If you only have a digital copy, a printout is usually accepted; ask HR for a signed original if an office insists.
- MeldebescheinigungRequired
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
How to get it: You receive it at your Anmeldung appointment at the Bürgeramt. Lost it? Request a new copy at the Bürgeramt (small fee, often bookable online).
- Previous insurance details (if any)If applicable
Can you do it online?
Public (gesetzlich): TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK, Techniker and others — benefits are nearly identical, so pick on service/English support; sign up free online (e.g. tk.de) and the membership confirmation usually arrives the same day. Private (PKV) suits high earners / some freelancers but is hard to leave later.
What usually comes next
Good to know
- Employees earning under the threshold must take public insurance; high earners and most freelancers can choose private — but switching back from private to public later is hard, so decide carefully.
- Public insurers are legally required to accept you, and the core benefits are nearly identical between them — pick on service, English support and app quality.
- Family members without their own income are usually covered for free under public insurance (Familienversicherung) — a big advantage over private cover.
- Ask for the Mitgliedsbescheinigung (membership confirmation) right after signing up; your employer and the immigration office both need it.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for Krankenversicherung in Aachen?
You'll need 3 key documents: Passport or ID, Employment contract, Meldebescheinigung. Aachen (home to RWTH) has a big international student community and sits on the Belgian–Dutch border, so offices are used to newcomers; it uses the NRW state portals.
Can I do Krankenversicherung online in Aachen?
Public (gesetzlich): TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK, Techniker and others — benefits are nearly identical, so pick on service/English support; sign up free online (e.g. tk.de) and the membership confirmation usually arrives the same day. Private (PKV) suits high earners / some freelancers but is hard to leave later.
Which office handles Krankenversicherung in Aachen?
Sign up for health insurance in Aachen is handled at the local level in North Rhine-Westphalia. The exact office and any forms are linked from the official source on this page, and the Amtly app opens the right Aachen / North Rhine-Westphalia portal for you.
Checklist last verified 2026-06-11. Rules vary by office and change over time — always confirm with the official source linked above.