HEALTH INSURANCE FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS IN GERMANY – A GUIDE

Studying in Germany is both exciting and rewarding, but there are also lots of practical matters to be worried about such as health insurance. Health insurance is one of the most important things you must have when living abroad for a long time. Although it may not be the first item that comes to mind (other things take precedence like visa applications, university registration/application,etc) neglecting this detail can prove costly in the end. There are some things you ought to know about students health insurance Germany.

TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE

NATIONAL INSURANCE

National insurance (which is mandatory insurance) is publicly funded insurance that covers all eligible persons. Working persons contribute to the scheme according to their income levels: the more you earn the more you contribute, the less you earn the less you contribute. Students have even more affordable options for coverage. That being said, it is often compulsory for students wishing to enrol in a German university to have health insurance-both local and international.

PRIVATE INSURANCE

 Private insurance offers health coverage for individual persons and is usually sort after by high-earning individuals, clerks and self-employed people. The monthly premium is calculated according to the age and health status of the insured.

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE

 Many foreign students would have health coverage from their own countries. Depending on what country it is and whether there has been any agreement, their health coverage might be valid in Germany. Check to see if there has been any social insurance convention signed between your country and Germany. If there is none then you will have to obtain German health insurance. Even if your country’s healthcare insurance is accepted, you still need to check for exactly what type of coverage exists and what will be covered while you are in Germany.

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR LANGUAGE OR FOUNDATION COURSES

Students attending a preparatory language course or a foundation course also need health insurance. If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you should request information about additional travel health insurance. Everyone else has to take out private health insurance. The International Offices can help. – study in germany

AUSLANDSKRANKENVERSICHERUNG INSURANCE

This represents a third alternative for students who do not qualify for national insurance or private insurance. This is special insurance sold by German health insurance providers. Although this type of insurance may also be offered by companies in your home country, there is an advantage in purchasing insurance from a German company. They have a better understanding of the rules and regulations in Germany and hence this can be better reflected in the coverage amount. Documentation from a German insurance provider will also allow you a smoother and faster transition process when landing in Germany. It might be best to compare prices of German insurance providers and your own country’s providers.

If you are planning to spend a long time studying in Germany (more than one semester) or plan to do so, it might be better to leave your current provider once you have a new provider in Germany. It can be quite burdensome to be paying to providers simultaneously.

CHOOSING AN INSURANCE PROVIDER

There is a wide choice of statutory health insurance providers with whom you can take out insurance. Basic coverage is always the same: your health insurance covers the cost of check-ups, treatment for illness or after an accident, and certain medications. General costs for hospital stays are also covered. More information on the various health insurance providers is available here.

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