What Is The Best Health Insurance In Germany? 
In 2007 , health insurance reform legislation -LRB- No ... Not Obamacare ! -RRB- was passed in Germany . It is now the law that citizens must obtain basic hospitalization coverage along with several other benefits including outpatient care . Maternity is one of the `` essential benefits '' also required . In early 2015 , more reform legislation was passed to reduce consumer costs . So . . back to your question ... You can purchase government-provided coverage -LRB- GKV -RRB- or buy a plan from a private insurer -LRB- PKV -RRB- . You can also elect a hybrid combination of both . If you have a high household income , private coverage is the likely result . Owning your personal plan will allow you to better customize the benefits you want . For example , you may not need a low deductible if you have no health issues . Or , if you take an expensive medication , you can choose a plan with lower drug out-of-pocket expenses . 