German health insurance for my visa application
1.1 Do I have to take out health insurance, and if so, what kind for my German student visa?
Medical insurance in Germany is compulsory for all persons who do not have a tourist visa or are nationals of certain countries.
Most permanent visas require some form of (incoming) health or travel medical insurance. Therefore, it is mandatory for everyone residing in Germany, including international students, to be medically insured.
The German health insurance system is made up of public and private providers. There are several options for international students to comply with compulsory health insurance, depending on the duration and purpose.
However, depending on the courses and specialties, German regulations allow students to opt for different types of health insurance. But only the specific residence status will allow you to enter the public system.
This article will cover all international student groups planning to study in Germany. We give you the most practical advice to choose the right health insurance for your studies in Germany:
- Medical insurance for international students (full-time bachelor and masters)
- Health insurance for language course students
- Medical insurance for preparatory course students (preparatory college)
- Medical insurance for exchange students
1.2 What type of insurance is essential for my German visa application?
There are two types of health insurance for international students in Germany:
- Public/statutory health insurance = legal health insurance- GVK for short (German)
Private health insurance = Private health insurance PKV (German)
Below, EDUBAO will present these two types of medical insurance for your visa application trip to offer you a helpful guide.
Travel medical insurance for your entry visa
Usually, international students must present a certificate of medical insurance covering the travel period and up to 6 months of their stay in Germany.
Therefore, private insurance for the coverage of the incoming trip is always the right option to insure yourself in this first period because
It’s easy to get if you’re in another country right now.
No additional paperwork or documents are required.
It is not offered by public insurance.
Suppose you have decided to apply for a German university and a German student visa. You are still in your home country. In that case, you first need an (incoming) travel medical insurance for the travel period and the first days or even the first months until your enrollment at the university. Once enrolled, you can enter the public system, since it is open to undergraduate and master’s students, or opt for private health insurance.
Public or private medical insurance for the extension of your visa in Germany?
Public health insurance, which may also be called “compulsory health insurance,” is offered by state providers. Coverage and pricing are strictly regulated by law and vary by carrier and state by a small margin.
Instead, private health insurance works freely. It offers students various additional services depending on their demands and needs, for example, travel insurance, legal, entry, etc.
In most cases, international students are free to choose whether they want to be officially or privately insured.
The entry visa you obtained from the German Embassy in your home country is usually valid for six months. That means you must extend your entry visa to a regular permit after successfully enrolling in your university.
For this visa extension, you must present a German health insurance certificate. The Alien Registration Office, “foreigners Authority” in German, which handles your visa extension, will check whether you have full health insurance during your study stay. However, they have no preference for which one you choose.
Next, we present you in more detail what type of medical insurance you can contract as
- A full-time bachelor’s/master’s student
- Language course student
- Student of a preparatory course
- an exchange student
- German health insurance for foreign students
2.1 What types of health insurance can an international student choose?
As we have already said, there are public and private health insurance for a student to choose from in Germany.
optional for private health insurance during the first three months after obtaining your student status. Make sure you make a wise decision because then you can’t change. Once you have decided on one system, it will remain for the rest until you finish your studies.
Note: There is no detailed list of statutory health insurance providers which lists all services individually. However, there is a so-called catalog of statutory benefits, which consists of the relevant guidelines. According to the Social Security Code (SGB = social code), insured persons can apply for help when sick.
Guidelines include:
- The medical, dental and psychotherapeutic treatment of illnesses (medical and dental treatment)
- Early detection and prevention of diseases (screening examinations/prevention)
- Home nursing (need of care)
- Rehabilitation measures and drug supply (Rehabilitation)
2.2 How much should I pay per month?
From the winter semester of 2020/2021, students will pay around 80 euros per month for their public health insurance coverage.
In addition, they will have to pay for health care (“care insurance” in German) and an extra contribution (“additional contribution” in German).
On average, university and international students pay a monthly fee for health insurance in the public system of between 104 and 112 euros.
Medical insurance for students of language courses and preparatory courses
Health insurance is also compulsory for international students taking a language course in Germany. Usually, the language or the preparatory course (preparatory college) lasts from one semester to one year until the students pass the (language) exam and are admitted to German universities.
The international students in these two groups have not yet enrolled in any German higher education institution. Therefore, students can only take out private health insurance for the duration of the language course or the preparatory course. As soon as the student is admitted, they can switch to a compulsory insurance provider, such as AOK, to be fully insured during their studies and life in Germany.
Medical insurance for exchange students
German universities offer many exchange programs, not only for German students but also for international students. These programs involve cultural trips, professional exchanges, or internship possibilities in different universities or countries.
Furthermore, students who come to Germany can benefit from the German educational system, for example, by attending workshops, experiencing German culture, etc. The duration of exchange programs varies greatly depending on the program itself. However, these exchange programs are part of undergraduate studies, and students remain enrolled at their home universities. This is why exchange students can sign up for [public health insurance] (https://edubao.org/aok-products/) during their stay in Germany.
What do I have to do after arriving in Germany?
International students must complete the following steps after arriving in Germany:
- Register your address in Germany at the Registry Office (citizen office) of your city
- Update your address with the blocked account and open your current account (checking account)
- Update your address in the AOK and get another health insurance certificate for your next steps
- Enroll in college
- Extend your student visa for up to 2 years at the Foreigners Registration Office (foreigners Authority)
Therefore, you will have to give your data to your health insurance provider after you arrive in Germany to activate your health insurance. After starting your health insurance, you will get health insurance certificates for your university enrollment and visa extension.
conclusion
We hope we have helped you navigate health insurance as an international student in Germany. With EDUBAO, you don’t have to worry about what insurance you need because we have already made the right choice for you at every step. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.