How to Get German Student Health Insurance

If you’re thinking about moving to Germany for school in the next few months, you’re going to be up to your eyeballs in planning, preparation, and paperwork for the foreseeable future. One thing you don’t want to forget about is getting student health insurance.

In fact, having student health insurance is a requirement for the German student visa, so you have to have everything lined up in advance! So, what’s the deal with all of this? I’ve got you covered with this guide on how to get German Student Health Insurance.

Let’s dive in and find out more.

Do I Need German Student Health Insurance?

If you’re an international student who’s heading to Germany for university, college, school, or anything else, you need health insurance. In fact, every resident in Germany needs health insurance by law, so being a student is no different from anyone else in the country.

It’s a part of the visa process, so you need to make sure that you have your health insurance sorted and paid for before you apply for your visa and finalize your university enrollment.

There are public and private health insurance options to choose from, which can be useful if you’re on a budget or if you have very specific needs when it comes to your health.

Public vs Private Health Insurance

If you’re enrolled in a university and you’re under 30 years old, then you can enroll in the public health insurance system in Germany. This is obviously a much cheaper option than choosing a private health insurance plan, but the downside is that sometimes the waiting times for services can be a lot longer than if you pay the premium to go private.

On the other hand, if you’re over 30 years old, have specific health needs, or have some existing coverage in your home country, you might want to opt for private insurance instead.

Some of the more popular private student health insurance providers include

Techniker Krankenkasse (TK).
AOK (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse).
Barmer.
DAK-Gesundheit.
KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse.
hkk Krankenkasse.
BIG direkt gesund.
IKK Classic.

How to Apply for German Student Health Insurance

There are five easy steps to follow when you’re trying to apply for student health insurance in Germany.

First things first, you need to figure out which type of health insurance you’re eligible for. A lot of the time, this comes down to age. If you’re under 30, public health insurance is an option, whereas if you’re over 30, you’re going to want to go with private health insurance.
Choose your provider. There are plenty to choose from, so make sure to cross-reference price, coverage, premiums, reviews, and more.
Sign up for your health insurance. Most insurance providers have an online form that takes no time at all to fill in. You’ll need to fill in a ton of demographic data, health questions, lifestyle questions, and more, so they can accurately work out your premium costs.
Wait for your health insurance certificate to come through. Otherwise known as a Versicherungsbescheinigung in German, you need this certificate for a number of reasons, including your visa applications, university enrollment, and a whole host of other bureaucratic German activities.
Pay your premiums. This will have been laid out in full when you applied for your insurance, showing the frequency of payments, how you should pay it, and what the amount should be. Chances are this is going to be a monthly direct debit payment that you can set up and forget about for the rest of your time in Germany.

How Much Does German Student Health Insurance Cost?

The price of German student health insurance varies massively depending on the provider, coverage level, and any pre-existing conditions that you might have. On average, students pay anywhere between 120 and 200 Euros per month for health insurance, and that’s at a discount compared to other German residents.

It might sound like a lot, but when you consider that German health insurance includes mental health, dental, vision services, prescriptions, and a whole host of other services that aren’t always covered by public health insurance.

Private health insurance options can start as low as 35 Euros, but the coverage will be extremely limited and may increase over time. Check out the inclusions of the policies and consider what you’re likely to need while you’re in Germany, as you might not necessarily need comprehensive public coverage.

Does My Home Country’s Health Insurance Work in Germany?

So, Germany has a few agreements in place with other countries to allow other countries’ health insurance plans to cover you while you’re in Germany. It’s kind of a quid pro quo situation.

So, if you’re in any of the following nations, your home nation’s health insurance is going to be recognized in Germany through the use of an EHIC or European Health Insurance Card or other insurance certificate.

EU member states
European Economic Area countries
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Israel
Morocco
Macedonia
Montenegro
Serbia
Tunisia
Turkey

Private health insurance can be another deal entirely, and might not be recognized in Germany, so contact your individual provider to find out what you need to do to get the green light to use your health insurance in Germany.

What’s Covered by my Student Health Insurance?

One of the best things about public health insurance in Germany is how comprehensive it is. It might seem expensive at between 120 and 200 Euros per month, but when you consider how much is included, it actually seems like a steal.

So, here’s a list of what’s covered by your public student health insurance. Private insurance will cover some of these services, but it definitely depends on your package, coverage levels, premiums, and more. :

Medical treatment, including but not limited to GP consultations, medical exams, specialist appointments, and necessary treatments.
Any inpatient stays.
Medical surgeries and procedures.
Prescription medications.
Any preventive care, including vaccinations, exams, screenings, etc.
Emergency services. Coverage for medical emergencies, ambulance services, and emergency room visits.
Mental health services, including counselling, therapy, and CBT.
Basic dental coverage, like checkups and basic treatment.
Vision checkups and basic treatment.
Physical therapy, including physiotherapy and movement treatments.

Of course, this varies based on your private coverage, but all of this should be included in your public student health insurance as standard.

Are Pre-existing Conditions Covered in Germany?

If you’re eligible for public health insurance in Germany, all pre-existing conditions are covered. This is a huge win because if you have a pre-existing condition, this can massively increase the cost of your monthly premiums, which is already a high cost.

Private health insurance, on the other hand, can turn you down for pre-existing conditions or massively raise the prices. It’s unfortunate, but it is the case. If you have a pre-existing condition, it’s normally best to go down the public health insurance route as it will likely be cheaper and more comprehensive overall.

How Do I Switch My Health Insurance in Germany?

If you want to switch from public health insurance to private health insurance while you’re in Germany, you can do this, but there are a couple of caveats. You need to have been paying into the public health insurance for at least 12 months before you can swap to private health insurance if you want to, and you’re eligible.

However, if you do switch from public to private health insurance in Germany, you cannot swap back to public after a few months. You’re stuck with the private insurance life. There are some extreme circumstances where you can switch back, but it’s really rare, so if you’re unsure, you’re probably better off sticking with public health insurance.

Of course, whenever you need to swap health insurance, double-check those eligibility criteria. If you turn 30 while you’re studying in Germany, you might need to switch to private health insurance as the public offering tapers off!

How Can I Cancel My Health Insurance When I Leave Germany?

Honestly, it’s really easy to cancel your health insurance when you leave Germany. All you need to do is contact your insurance provider and let them know that you’re no longer living in Germany and don’t need the coverage anymore.

Check on your provider’s website to see what your cancellation options are, as some allow you to cancel your policies online or through a customer portal, while other providers require you to call up and cancel over the phone. Make sure you check in advance, as it can take a few days for the cancellation to go through.

Is Student Health Insurance in Germany Free?

Unfortunately, student health insurance is not free in Germany. If you’re struggling to cover the cost of health insurance in Germany, you might be eligible for bursaries and grants from your university or college to help. There are plenty of subsidized options to check out if you’re in need, or you might be able to use some of your student loan to help cover the cost on a monthly basis.

There’s also the German National Association for Student Affairs, which can help direct you toward more cost-effective health insurance options and budgeting questions. They’re a really great resource for anything to do with becoming a student in Germany, so if you have any questions or queries, this is a great place to start.

Final Notes on German Student Health Insurance

If you’re thinking about moving to Germany to study, you’re going to need to buy health insurance before you do anything else. Health insurance is a requirement for all residents of Germany, but students often get public policies at a reduced rate. You need to have your student health insurance all in order before you enroll in your university or apply for your student visa.

Cost-wise, you’re looking at anywhere between 120-200 Euros per month for fully comprehensive public health insurance, which includes services like mental health, physiotherapy, dental, surgeries, inpatient stays, and more!

All in all, student health insurance isn’t optional in Germany, but there are plenty of different public and private options to choose from, so you’re sure to find the best policy for you!