Short Answer
Travel-style "incoming insurance" is a temporary bridge that offers significantly less protection than a standard German plan.
You are legally required to switch to public insurance (GKV) the moment you sign a regular employment contract.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You relied on your basic €30,000 "incoming" policy while working various part-time gigs. When you developed a severe toothache, the dentist informed you that your policy did not cover "planned" or restorative dental work. You had to pay the full €400 dentist bill out of your own pocket because your "visa-compliant" insurance only covered life-threatening emergencies.
What To Do
- Bring your new employment contract to a public health insurance office the day you sign it.
- Download your "incoming insurance" policy terms to identify exactly which dental and chronic conditions are excluded.
- "Ich habe jetzt einen Job und möchte in die gesetzliche Versicherung." (I have a job now and want to join public insurance.) Say this to an insurer to start the switch from travel insurance.
The Truth
Germany allows "incoming insurance" only as a temporary measure for entry. These policies are designed for visas, not for the actual healthcare needs of someone living and working in the country.