The EU Blue Card is Germany's fast-track residence permit for skilled internationals — and it comes with a specific health insurance conversation. Because Blue Card salaries typically sit above the income threshold, most Blue Card holders have full freedom to choose PHI. Here's how to make the choice count.
Salary vs. income threshold
The Blue Card minimum salary for 2026 sits well above the JAEG PHI income threshold of €77,400 for most professions. That means as a Blue Card holder you are almost always free to choose PHI from day one — you do not have to wait a year in GKV first.
Why PHI often makes sense for Blue Card holders
- You are typically 28–42 years old and healthy — the ideal entry age for PHI pricing.
- You want fast access to English-speaking specialists in cities like Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt.
- You want the option of premium refunds in years you don't claim.
- You plan to stay long-term, which means ageing reserves work in your favour.
When GKV is still the smarter call
If your spouse and children need coverage and won't earn income themselves, GKV's free family co-insurance can outweigh PHI's benefit advantage. We calculate both scenarios in the free consultation so the choice is data-driven, not a guess.
Frequently asked questions
Based on 11 Google reviews
As an international student, navigating the health insurance requirements can be confusing, but their team made the entire process smooth and stress-free. They were always responsive, professional, and willing to answer my questions.
I have been working with Ms. Fröhlich for several years and I am extremely satisfied. As an outstanding insurance broker, she finds excellent tariffs, and communicating with her makes dealing with insurance genuinely pleasant. Her expertise across all insurance topics makes her an incredibly reliable specialist. I consider myself lucky to have such a competent insurance broker by my side and can recommend her to anyone without reservation.
Nobody enjoys dealing with the topic of insurance. With Ms. Fröhlich by my side that has changed: perfect advice tailored individually to me, always reliable — without ever building any pressure. On top of that, Ms. Fröhlich works in an extremely service-oriented way. Compared to online services, she offers real added value. In short: I'm thrilled. Thank you so much!
Some client reviews have been translated from German into English for better readability. The original reviews are available on our Google Business Profile.
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Editorial Review
Reviewed by our advisory team
This article was prepared with editorial support and professionally reviewed for accuracy, relevance and clarity before publication.
Tina Fröhlich
Founder & Managing Director
Independent German Health Insurance Broker (§ 34d GewO)
Tina is the founder of Happy Expats and a licensed independent broker under § 34d GewO. She specialises in independent PKV strategy for internationals and is legally bound to act in the client's interest.
Joachim Wiedmann
International Health Insurance Advisor
Joachim advises expats, freelancers and employees on German private health insurance. He focuses on making the German system understandable in plain English and matching each client with a tariff that fits their life in Germany.
Happy Expats provides independent guidance on private health insurance in Germany for internationals. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated regularly to help ensure that the information remains accurate and relevant.