Health Insurance For Foreign Students In Germany

All international students in Germany are required to have insurance during their stay. In fact, you can’t enroll in university if you don’t have health insurance coverage.

The good thing about being fully insured is the peace of mind knowing that if you happen to have health problems, you can go visit the doctor and get hospital services knowing that you won’t have to pay the large medical bills out of your pocket.

There are two types of health insurance in Germany:

1. The compulsory health insurance (public)
2. Private health insurance.

All students are required to have an insurance plan in Germany, but depending on where you come from, you might be eligible to use the plan you already have in your home country. You should consult your university’s international office for more details.

Even if you have basic coverage, many students also get additional health insurance plans that cover specific conditions and are customized for them. There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to health-related issues.

Health insurance for preparatory course students

Do you need to take a preparatory course before you start university in Germany? You must have health insurance.

Many German universities require you to enroll in a preparatory course and pass the final test before you can begin studying and attending lectures in the normal university program. This depends on your education and in some cases, preparatory courses are not required.

If the international office of the university you’re planning to study in has instructed you to come to Germany to first take a prep course, they surely mentioned you need to have health insurance in addition to the rest of the required application documents.

The German law requires you to have insurance, and you can pick a private plan depending on your needs. You can’t get insured under the public health insurance plan as a preparatory course student.

Some companies have custom-tailored plans for foreign students and can have you covered for the full duration of your preparatory course, with the option of extending your insurance in case you stay in Germany to continue your studies.

Health insurance for guest workers and guest scientists

Are you going to stay in Germany and as a guest researcher or scientist? You are required to have health insurance when you come to Germany.

Germany is one of the countries that welcome thousands of guest workers, researchers, and scientists. The duration of your stay, of course, depends on the work you will be doing, but also the period of time your visa has been granted.

One thing you are required to have if you’re coming to Germany to work as a researcher or guest scientist is an insurance plan.

If you come from an EEA country or a country that has a social security agreement with Germany, you might be eligible to use your insurance policy you already have in your home country.

If you are from a non-EU country and you’re planning to stay in Germany for a longer period of time, you will need to get the compulsory health insurance from licensed insurance companies in Germany.

We recommend you get yourself a plan tailored for guest scientists and researchers such as MAWISTA Science.

Health insurance for International Ph.D. Students/Candidates in Germany

Most Ph.D. students should get private health insurance plans. As a foreigner, you cannot take out statutory insurance if you have reached the age of 30 or have started the 14th semester of studies in Germany.

Only a few of doctoral students are allowed to continue with more reasonable insurance rates, as a gesture of goodwill, depending on whether they have reached their 30th birthday yet or their 14th semester (you should count from the first semester of studies).

Private insurance providers offer a variety of services that are not covered by statutory health insurance providers. They can also offer coverage or reimbursements for private rooms, surgeons, dental implants, private doctors, and other medical possibilities.

The good thing about Ph.D. students is that their risk is not highly calculated as they are still young and in good health, therefore pay less for getting into private health insurance schemes. Otherwise, the monthly rate would have been automatically higher; as older persons are considered more risk-prone and possible to become chronically ill.

To enroll at a German university, you must first present the proof of current insurance plan in Germany or an international policy that is also accepted in Germany. Otherwise, enrollment is impossible!

For international PhD students in Germany, we recommend you choose the MAWISTA Student plan, which you can easily apply for online.

International Doctoral Candidates Receiving Scholarships

Nowadays, scholarships are considered tax-free allowances or student salaries/earnings.  Therefore, Ph.D. students must all be health insured in Germany, and whether they get statutory or private insurance also depends on the amount of money they earn annually or of their scholarship.

Ph.D. Candidates that receive scholarships or who are based in Germany to write their dissertation independently are not subject to compulsory insurance. These students are eligible either to become voluntary members of a public insurance scheme or get any private insurance option.

Unemployed Ph.D. students that have prolonged their studies can take out private insurance for the duration of their doctoral studies.

Doctoral Students as University Staff Members

Doctoral students, that are also University staff members, are insured as employees in the statutory insurance schemes due to their annual payrolls being below the threshold that could have enabled private health insurance options.

The annual payroll limit changes from year to year and is determined by the ‘Beitragsbemessungsgrenze’. However, in 2015, the threshold was 54,900€.

Ph.D. academic staff working at the university and needing to pay social security fees are automatically covered by the statutory policies.

Ph.D. students employed as research assistants at a university or other higher education institutions are covered by social security – therefore, statutory health insurance is obligatory.

Health insurance for Refugees in Germany

As official statistics show, over 700,000 refugees have been registered at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in Germany during 2016.

These refugees mostly come from areas of conflict like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and because of this a large number of them are either injured or have some kind of illness. For their physical and mental health, having a proper medical and psychological treatment is more than crucial.

As already stated, the health insurance in Germany is mandatory for everyone residing in Germany. This includes refugees seeking asylum in Germany, regardless of their citizenship status.

But, there are some rules and limitations a refugee in Germany should be aware of when deciding to get insurance. First, one must know that the refugees have fewer benefits than legally insured citizens in Germany. However, current legal regulations allow treating specific cases to further extend if needed.

Below we’ve provided all the information refugees must have prior to seeking insurance in Germany:

Where can I get health insurance as a refugee in Germany?

It all begins with knowing where to make a request for seeking health insurance. The first place the refugee need to address his/her health issues as a refugee is the immigrant center where he/she is registered.

There are specific officials and sections that deal with the health issues of the refugees accommodated there. A refugee is supposed to undergo regular medical check-ups to come up with a conclusion over his health situation. If needed, the team of medicals at the reception center may require the subject to undergo further analyzes to examine their health problems into more details.

What benefits does The German Health Insurance for Refugees cover?

The German Health insurance for Refugees covers less medical services than normally insured citizens. As a refugee, an individual can request regular medical checkups and basic medical assistance. Further intervention can only be given if the medical team assess that there is an emergency to act.

Common medical services refugees in Germany can seek:

• Regular medical check-ups
• Medical treatment for acute illnesses
• Nursing and medical treatment for pregnant women (including remedies)
• Medical assistance for women who just gave birth (including remedies)

Can I get statutory health insurance like permanent residents in Germany?

15 months from the first day at the immigrants’ reception center, the refugee is eligible to seek statutory insurance in Germany. To a certain degree the refugees will get the same benefits as German residents, however, there will still be limitations.

From the very first day in the migrants’ camp, everyone is obligated to undergo regular checkups to see if their health is at acceptable limits. These medical checkups are usually a routine at refugee camps so the refugees’ health is known at any time. This is very important because there are many individuals that have an unknown medical background and may impose a threat to the community.

After a refugee lives in Germany for this period of time he/she is entitled to the German insurance and social assistance scheme. Similar to other insured citizens, refugees must share a percentage of their earnings to cover their health insurance. Currently, the social grants to refugees are around 4,800 per year, or slightly over 400 per month and 2% of this income must be allotted to paying health insurance.

What is the Gesundheitskarte?

The Gesundheitskarte is an electronic insurance card. This chip-card allows the patient to go directly to the doctor without even visiting a social services department to take a medical certificate or asking for a permission beforehand.

After 15 months of residing in Germany, refugees can get this insurance card.

Note that the new medical reform that introduced the Gesundheitskarte is not available in every Federal state.

Which German Federal States give health insurance cards to refugees?

As mentioned, not every German state offers health care insurance cards to refugees. Below is the exact list of German states that do and do not offer such cards to their immigrants

These states have implemented the health insurance card for refugees

• Bremen
• Berlin
• Hamburg
• Schleswig-Holstein

Partially implemented

• Brandenburg
• Rheinland-Pfalz
• Nordrhein-Westfalen
• Niedersachsen

In implementation

• Thuringen

In political process:

• Hessen
• Sachsen-Anhalt

Denied

• Bavaria
• Sachsen
• Baden-Wurttemberg
• Mecklenburg- Vorpommern

Should refugee students seek health insurance in Germany?

Just like for normal students in Germany, health insurance is also mandatory for refugee students who want to attend university. This applies only to students who are under 30 years of age and haven’t finished their 14th semester.

Also, refugee students carry the same monthly premium as other students. Currently, a student’s contribution is 66.33 euros.

But students in Germany are also assigned for another type of insurance, the long-term care insurance. As students with equal rights, the refugee students are obligated to pursue it as well.

The application process is easier if the applicant has a well-defined civil status (for example a refugee in protection or an asylum seeker). However, a student can still initiate an admission process, but additional requirements and restrictions may be applied.

To a larger degree, this depends on the university’s own policy, so we suggest you contact them in person for details.

In general, if a refugee aims to enroll at a German university, they will be required to show these documents:

• Qualification degree
• Proof of health insurance
• An official notice if there’s a restricted number of programs the students are eligible to apply for
• Personal information

Make sure you have completed your documents as required otherwise the admission committee of your university will deny your application. Also, the refugee’s qualification obtained back in their home country are mostly counted, but it may occur that the university requests another route to assess the applicant’s suitability.

What if the refugee has an acute illness and needs urgent medical interventions?

Insurance providers in Germany are allowed to offer medical help to immigrants to the extent the law allows them.

Health insurance plans for refugees cover only basic medical needs, but if there’s an emergency there are exemptions. Fortunately, the current legal regulations are shown to be very flexible, giving the immigrants an opportunity to seek more specific medical aids if needed.

Does every German state offer health insurance for refugees?

Unfortunately, some German federal states don’t offer health insurance services at all.

Individual states that comprise the country of Germany set their refugee health insurance policy on their own. Until now, the majority of the German federal states have accepted such health insurance scheme for foreigners residing in the country with a specific status.

The German federal states that offer health insurance to refugees:

• Brandenburg
• Bremen
• Berlin
• Hamburg
• Schleswig-Holstein
• North Rhine-Westfalia
• Thuringia
• Rheinland-Pfalz

The German federal states that haven’t introduced health insurance services for refugees:

• Baden-Wurttemberg
• Bavaria
• Mecklenburg- Vorpommern
• Saarland
• Saxony

German federal states with partial application or ongoing debates about offering refugee health insurance:

• Hesse
• Lower Saxony
• Saxony-Anhalt

Third-Party Liability Insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung)

The private third-party liability insurance covers damages which are due to careless action, thoughtless behavior or missing performance of duties. It is applicable to all damages for which the insured person is liable to pay or for which he/she has to assume financial responsibility. According to the German Civil Code the liability for damages is defined as liability with your total assets. As neither the maximum reimbursement amount nor the duration of payment is limited, the worst case may feature lifelong payments and a life in poverty.

Example: In case of an accident caused by you, the other party involved in the accident is seriously injured and wheelchair-bound from now on. All related costs have to be borne by you, i.e. The person who is responsible for the accident. Over the years, these costs may amount to hundreds of thousands of Euros. In such an event the third-party liability insurance covers these costs.

Attention: It is important to know that only damages caused to third parties (not to your spouse e.g.) are insured. Moreover, the third-party liability includes passive legal protection, i.e. It fends off unjustified claims in a legal dispute and bears the related costs.

Fire Insurance (Feuerversicherung)

A fire breaking out in a building can destroy everything within seconds. Consequently, not only the building itself, including fixed installations, but additionally the household lie in ashes. As the amount of such damages may easily threaten the existence of both homeowners and tenants, they are recommended to protect themselves against the financial burdens which may accrue from a fire. The fire insurance bears all these financial burdens, including the costs for non-residence, the fire service costs or the damages caused by the firefighting water.

Automobile Liability Insurance (Kfz-Versicherung)

Every driver of a motor vehicle is legally bound to take out an automobile liability insurance. This insurance policy covers personal and property damages which arise from an accident caused by the motorist. The amount paid by the automobile liability insurance is stipulated in the policy item “agreed sum insured”.

Residential Building Insurance (Wohngebäudeversicherung)

The residential building insurance is identical with a fire insurance, but additionally covers damages caused by mains water, storm, hail and natural hazards. In other words: it pays all costs arising from the damage including clean-up, the damage at the building or accommodation away from home.

Insurance on Household Contents (Hausratversicherung)

The insurance on household contents protects the belongings from material damages and the related costs. Most objects in a house or flat are insured against numerous causes of damage, including burglary, water damage or destruction. The insurance policy covers not only the stolen objects, but additionally the damages caused by the burglars. Moreover, all damages caused by fire, mains water, storm or hail are reimbursed by the insurance on household contents.