Various insurance cover for the foreign students in Germany
How it works?
This is it! Well done. You have successfully completed your application for health insurance in Germany!
Health insurance system in Germany: Introduction
Health insurance system
As a foreign student, you can’t be insured in your home country while studying in Germany. Health insurance in Germany is mandatory by law for every international resident.
You have to be insured in Germany if you are:
You have to get an official health insurance contract within 30 days from the day you register at a residential address in one of the German cities. Moreover, without an official German health insurance, you can’t get your German visa and open your blocked bank account in Germany.
This federal law helps insurance companies to cover their costs for providing sufficient health services. It also prevents students from covering medical expenses in case of unexpected emergency situations alone.
Important: The rules are strict – up to withdrawal from your study programme if you are not officially insured in Germany.
However, having a health insurance in Germany is for your benefit.
The German healthcare system is known as one of the best and efficient in Europe. Apart from a good quality of the services provided, you can address most of the insurance companies in English, and have 24/7 hotlines.
As a student in Germany, you have two options when applying for health insurance:
Public health insurance is available for everyone. Private health insurance depends more on several conditions, such as your health conditions, your nationality, the reason you are in Germany, etc.
It is your choice to decide which one you prefer.
Keep reading to learn more about the features of each type of insurance and track differences between them.
Public health insurance
Statutory (Public) health insurance providers in Germany must offer a health insurance for international students under 30 years or until the end of their 14th semester of studies for a minimal price.
After your 14th semester or if you turned 30 while studying, the payment for the government health insurance will increase.
By German law, the price is the same for all insurance companies and monthly student tariff amounts to 80 Euros on average (if under 30 years). The price can vary also based on your health condition or special needs. Unfortunately, the price for the students older 30 and for those, who already completed 14th semesters is significantly higher (around 130-170 euros monthly).
If you are already in Germany for a German course or you came well in advance to get to know the city and you want to save some money, we advise opting for a private health insurance at first.
Private health insurance
Private health insurance is also popular in Germany, especially among self-employed, freelancers or language learners. They don’t have to switch for a public health insurance after the studies begin, as the students prefer to do. However, it lasts only for 5 years.
The amount you pay for private insurance monthly depends on your health condition, your age, and social benefits you get. When you apply for private insurance, you provide a detailed information about your health conditions and for how long you plan to stay in Germany. Based on this information, the insurance company offers people matching tariffs and suitable prices.
Private health insurance is also considered by many people who come to Germany to live and study because it’s cheaper and cover all the basic medical procedures and treatments. The insurance costs 29 Euro’s per month on average and lasts for 18 months or until you need to switch for a governmental insurance.
In case of a private health insurance, you will have first to cover your expenses by yourself after a consultation, medical procedure or in case you got a prescription. After that, you will receive back the money form your insurance company. Another option is to get an invoice from the doctor and send it to your insurance company yourself. After submission, an insurance company will pay all the costs.
Why do I need a German health insurance as a student in Germany?
Take it as a rule: if you are an international student, alongside with
it is not possible for a student to enroll in a German educational institution without a health insurance.
It is mandatory by law. If you somehow manage to avoid having one, after you leave the country you will have to pay back each year you stayed uninsured. As said, as a student you have a privilege to chose between a public and a private health insurance.
Important: Students who came to Germany from the member states of the European Union and the European Economic Area (including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Switzerland, Serbia, Tunisia, and Turkey) can stay with their home providers. Before coming to Germany, they should contact their health insurance and get the necessary guidelines. Usually one gets a health insurance card, recognized by a German health insurance system. It takes time, so it’s better to apply early enough.
International students outside the European Union area have to get an official health insurance in Germany before studies begin.
If you came in advance before your studies begin, you have to cover the period until you are officially insured by a German health insurance company with a Family health insurance or incoming-insurance from your home country.
International students - before the studies begin
Before the studies begin, or in case you take a German or preparatory course before entering a higher educational institution, you can apply for a private insurance.
Private health insurance is also considered by many international young people who come to Germany to live and study. The main reason is it’s cheaper and it covers all the basic medical procedures and treatments.
Keep in mind:
Advantages: Private health insurance benefits can be cheap student tariffs, feel more welcome at the doctors as the rates for consultations and treatments are higher, sometimes they cover more services than public ones. Everything depends on your health status, gender, age and so on.
Disadvantages: Usually you pay for the consultation or treatment yourself first. After that, the company returns you the money. So, if something is not right with the invoice, the insurance company may refuse to cover it. You then have to do all the investigation yourself to get your money back.
We advise: One of the common health insurance providers in Germany is called Advigon or Care Concept. The insurance costs 29 Euro’s per month on average and lasts for 18 months or until you need to switch for a public insurance type.
Learn more and apply for Visum Travel insurance online.
Public health insurance for international students
There are more than 100 different health insurance companies in Germany. They all are aware students come to study and live in Germany every new semester. That’s why the process is rather simple, and everything is translated into English. You can reach their customer service whenever you need in English.
If you are a student under 30 years old entering an educational institution, you can apply for a public health insurance at the student contribution rate. Keep in mind: switching to a public insurance is possible only when you apply for a student visa and your studies begin. In the other case, you can’t obtain a public health insurance as long as you have a student status.
Necessary conditions to get a public health insurance are:
The student rate for a public health insurance lasts until you get 30 or after you complete your 14th semester of studies.
Advantages: After you get an insurance card, you are free to use all the services and can easily pick any specialist you need. All the other bureaucratic operation will be done between a doctor and your insurance company.
Disadvantages: Sometimes you will have to wait in the line and there might be less free spots for those with public insurance unlike for those with a private one.
We advise: Among others, a common public health insurance company that international students in Germany choose is Techniker Krankenkasse. Having average costs (72,82 € monthly), they provide all kind of necessary services and guide you through the application process until you get your medical card.
You can apply online right now and ask any questions about your health insurance for free.
Important: it takes time to release an insurance certificate. Apply as soon as possible to avoid troubles in the foreign student office (Ausländerbehörde). You can even send some of the documents later, such as German address, certificate of enrollment, you IBAN and SEPA numbers that you will get after opening a blocked bank account. The most important is to send an application so the process starts.
Useful solutions for English speaking students: from TK
Here is the list of useful services provided by our partner Technische Krankenkasse after you get your insurance card:
Do you have a question?
If something is not clear, and it surely can be with this complex system, you can always ask us any questions on the process and on the form to register for a health insurance.
We will get back to you as soon as possible!
Overall, right after you send us the contract, the process will start and we will be there from A to Z. You will receive all the necessary documents to easily and quickly obtain a German health insurance for a student per email state away.
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