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Health insurance is compulsory for all students in Germany. Contact should be made with the insurance company before departure to clarify all important questions and to ensure insurance cover from the very first day in Germany.
It is not possible to enrol at a German university without health insurance cover. Health insurance must be taken out immediately after arrival in Germany at the latest. Proof of health insurance is also essential for the extension of a residence permit.
Which health insurance companies can I choose? In Germany, there is both private and statutory health insurance. Which one you can choose depends on whether your stay is based on a course of study or a preparatory language course. Deutsche Insurance is an online portal that will help you find the right insurance for you (see links).
International students under the age of 30
Enrolled international students are required to take out health insurance up to the 14th semester, but no later than the age of 30. Up to this point, you can join a statutory health insurance fund (e.g. AOK, TK, DAK, BKK, BEK, GEK, KKH) and take advantage of the favorable health insurance rates. With the exception of a small co-payment, health insurance companies in Germany pay the costs for doctors and hospitals, as well as any medication prescribed by a doctor.
International students over the age of 30 or from the 14th semester
International students who have reached the age of 30 or have already studied for 13 semesters when they come to Germany to study can unfortunately no longer take advantage of the low-cost health insurance offered by the statutory health insurance funds in Germany. In this case, you must take out private health insurance. The costs for visits to the doctor or hospital are very high in Germany and it is therefore all the more important to be well insured in the event of an emergency.
International language students
Language course participants who are not yet enrolled are NOT eligible for statutory health insurance (e.g. AOK, TK, DAK, BKK, BEK, GEK, KKH). The same applies to foreign students and visitors of the Studienkolleg in Germany who are older than 30 years. In this case, private health insurance must be taken out.
For all those taking part in such preparatory language courses in Germany who are not older than 35, there are special and relatively inexpensive health insurance tariffs that protect against high medical costs in Germany.