In compliance with the regulations of the German authorities, students from some NON-EU countries must provide proof that s/he has sufficient health insurance coverage for the entire duration of his/her stay in Germany. Please ask for details at your local German mission. EU citizens should check to see if they have a European Insurance card. Please note: you should bring all medications that you take and need on a regular basis with you provided that they may be imported.

If you would like to be covered by a German insurance policy, we can take out an affordable health insurance policy for you, and, if necessary, provide you with documentary proof for your visa application. There are both public and private insurance providers in Germany that satisfy the German health insurance requirements for the residence permit. Be aware that there are pros and cons for both, the private and public insurance. We cooperate closely with two companies and therefore would like to provide you with an overview of their policies:

Public Insurance with Barmer GEK

If you are younger than 30 and have not studied more than seven years, you may sign up for a public insurance with Barmer GEK. The premium you will have to pay is approx. € 68 per month, offers full coverage for you and your spouse and children in Germany (if they accompany you and do not have a German work contract), within the EU and some other countries. Even if you are older, you can still purchase this public insurance; however, the premium will then be approx. € 140 per month. As a rule, the insurance company debits the premium directly from your bank account. To visit public doctors or public hospitals, you must pay € 10 in cash for the first visit each calendar quarter. If the doctor sends you to a specialist, you must ask for a written referral. In some cases, you may need to wait awhile for a medical examination, even in an urgent case. If you go for a general checkup, please make an appointment in advance. Most medications are free of charge but some will have to be paid extra. Once you are insured and have your insurance card with you, the insurance company automatically pays your doctor’s bills. Should you decide to extend your stay in Germany beyond the MLB Program without having a work contract, Barmer GEK will then increase the premium to more than € 140 per month.

Attention: Another important type of insurance in Germany is liability insurance which covers damage to other people’s (sometimes very expensive belongings) or accidents that happen in your room/flat. If you opt for public health insurance, we highly recommend that you also purchase liability insurance through the company Debeka. The cost is approx. € 6 per month.

Private Insurance with HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG

Irrespective of your age, you may apply for a combined health, accident and liability insurance, HanseMerkur Premium care, which costs € 50 per month. This contract does not cover an accompanying spouse and/or children. The insurance company will debit the premium directly from your bank account. This insurance covers only emergencies; it does not cover general checkups or non-emergency matters. If you regularly need to see a dentist or gynecologist, for example, for preventative care, this coverage is very limited and may leave you paying for expensive visits and treatments. Likewise, the treatment of previous illnesses is only partially covered by the insurance. After the medical treatment you will be billed by the doctor or hospital (via regular mail), you must then forward the original bills, together with a short letter, to the insurance company (keep a copy of the letter and documents!). If you purchase medicine at the pharmacy, you must pay for it yourself and send the original bill and a letter to  HanseMerkur for reimbursement. If the insurance company is willing to refund the purchase price, HanseMerkur will transfer the requested amount to your bank account. You may also extend your insurance after the MLB Program for another four years; you will then pay about € 20 more monthly than was the case for the first 12 months. HanseMerkur travel insurance is valid only during your stay in Germany as well as for short-term stays in your home country and in third countries for up to six weeks.

Both insurances can be concluded only for the complete duration of your stay in Germany. The contract commences and terminates on the dates indicated in the insurance certificate; it must be concluded within 31 days of entry into Germany or before departure abroad. If you wish to purchase one of this insurances, please register via the Response Sheet.

If you have any questions regarding the insurance policies, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Maite Anna Bäurle: maite.baeurle(at)law-school.de.