Health Insurance for International Degree-Seeking Students

Travel Health Insurance

Travel health insurance is usually required when applying for a visa. The travel health insurance must be valid for the time you are travelling to Germany and, if applicable, for the first few weeks in Germany. Enquire at the German embassy or consulate abroad as to which requirements the travel health insurance must fulfil.

Student Health Insurance

General information

Health insurance is obligatory for all students in Germany.

Your health insurance must be valid for the entire duration of your stay.

Electronic confirmation of insurance is mandatory for enrollment at Heilbronn University.

Electronic confirmation of insurance is obtained from a German statutory health insurance provider.

AFFECTED COUNTRIES:

EU countries

EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)

Countries that have concluded a social security agreement with Germany (the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey).

Students who have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a corresponding replacement document must have their existing insurance confirmed by a German health insurance company. To do this, you must contact a statutory health insurance provider and ask for an electronic confirmation of insurance for enrolment at HHN.

As a rule, the following documents are required:

Letter of admission

Copy of passport

Copy of the health insurance document:
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), front and back
- Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC)
- Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
- BH 6 (for students from Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- D/RM 111 (for students from Macedobia)
- DE/MNE 111 (for students from Montenegro)
- DE 111 SRB (for students from Serbia)
- A/TN 11 (for students from Tunesia)
- A/T 11 (for students from Turkey)

Tip: As in some cases it can take some time to issue the health insurance document, please request the relevant document from your local health insurance company in advance. The statutory German health insurance company will check your documents and send an electronic confirmation of insurance to Heilbronn University that you have sufficient health insurance coverage. As a rule, you do not need to send any further confirmation of health insurance to Heilbronn University for enrolment.

Students whose domestic health insurance is not recognised in Germany must take out German health insurance. There are two types of health insurance in Germany: statutory and private health insurance.

STUDENTS UP TO THE AGE OF 30

Students in Germany until the age of 30 generally have to be insured with a statutory health insurance provider.

Up to the age of 30, you can take out student insurance with the statutory health insurance provider. The statutory health insurance companies in Germany are obliged to offer a favourable tariff for students up to the age of 30. The costs are around €120 per month.

Once you reach the age of 30, the statutory insurance provider will offer you the option of continuing your insurance contract voluntarily, however at a higher monthly cost.

STUDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 30

Students who start their studies at the age of 30 or older and have never been insured with a statutory health insurance company in Germany cannot take out statutory insurance, but must take out private insurance.

Overview of insurance types

Statutory health insurance	Private health insurance
Age restrictions: Student insurance with a statutory health insurance company is only possible for students up to the age of 30.	No age restrictions: Private insurance can be taken out without age restrictions, although different conditions may apply depending on age. Students who start their studies at the age of 30 or older and have never been insured with a statutory health insurance company in Germany must take out private insurance. Students under the age of 30 who do not wish to take out statutory health insurance must apply for exemption from statutory health insurance and take out private insurance. Please note! If you register with a private health insurance company and receive the statutory exemption, you can no longer switch back to statutory insurance for the duration of your studies. Even after graduation, switching is only possible under certain conditions.
Costs of statutory health insurance for students up to the age of 30: approx. 120 EUR.	The price depends on the insurance tariff.
The statutory health insurance benefits are the same for all health insurance companies. However, the health insurance companies differ in their supplementary benefits.	The benefits of private health insurance can vary depending on the tariff and the health insurance company.
No advance payments for medical treatment. All necessary medical treatment is covered by the insurance, although additional costs may occasionally be incurred, e.g. for dental treatment.	You often have to pay your bills in advance and the costs are usually reimbursed later by the health insurance company after the examination. Please note! In some situations (e.g. surgery) the costs can be very high. This can be a major challenge for students' budgets.
No examination for pre-existing conditions.	Pre-existing conditions are generally excluded from the insurance contract.
The statutory student insurance policy generally comes into effect at the start of the semester (1 September for the winter semester and 1 March for the summer semester).	Private health insurance can usually be taken out at the desired time, but must be valid for the entire duration of your studies.

Tip: Statutory health insurance is the best option for eligible students (under 30 years old).

Switching between insurance types

You can switch from statutory to private health insurance at any time.

It is not possible to switch from private to statutory health insurance during your studies. Even after graduation, a change is only possible under certain conditions.

Procedure if you wish to take out statutory health insurance

1. Contact a statutory health insurance company and inform them that you would like to take out health insurance for your studies.

Necessary documents:

Letter of admission
Copy of passport

2. As soon as health insurance has been taken out, the health insurance company sends an electronic confirmation of insurance directly to Heilbronn University. As a rule, you do not need to send any further confirmation of health insurance to Heilbronn University for enrolment.

Procedure if you wish to take out private health insurance

1. Contact a private health insurance company and take out private health insurance.

2. Contact a statutory health insurance company and apply for exemption from statutory health insurance.

Necessary documents:

Copy of private health insurance contract
Letter of admission
Copy of passport

3. The statutory health insurance fund will check whether the tariff you have selected for your private health insurance fulfils the necessary requirements.

4. If your private health insurance is accepted, the statutory health insurance company will send an electronic confirmation of insurance directly to Heilbronn University. As a rule, you do not need to send any further confirmation of health insurance to Heilbronn University for enrolment.