Health Insurance
Students wishing to study in Germany must have a current health insurance coverage.
You will not be allowed to enrol without it.
Important: Since 2023, all students (including students with EHIC or from agreement countries) need an electronic notification of a German statutory health insurance for enrolment. To do this, you can contact any statutory German health insurance company and arrange for your insurance status to be reported to MLU (the ID of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg is H0000861).
Since January 2014, there are new regulations for health insurance coverage that students have to prove for matriculation with the university. Health insurance contracts that students obtained in their home countries for their stay in Germany will be accepted only in exceptional cases!
Thus, we strongly recommend that you:
- obtain only a travel health insurance for the first 4 - 6 weeks of your stay in Germany (please choose a travel health insurance that meets the requirements of the authorities - e.g. Provisit-Visum).
- after your arrival in Germany obtain a statutory health insurance (in German: gesetzliche Krankenversicherung).
The rate students have to pay for statutory health insurance is in a similar range with every state health insurance company (approx. €130 to €150 per month). If you need proof of health insurance for your visa application, please contact us.
In order to be able to provide proof of health insurance cover for enrolment, it is best to consult with a statutory or private health insurance company of your choice early on.
Exception
Students coming from EU countries who have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) only need a status report from a statutory German health insurance company for enrolment, to which they must submit a photo copy of their card and of the health insurance contract.
If you come from one of the Agreement States Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia (excluding Kosovo), Turkey, or Tunisia, you will need a valid proof of insurance from the health insurance company in your home country. Please make sure to obtain this document prior to your departure. For more information on the regulations in the Agreement States, please consult the document "Health insurance for international students" (on the website of the International Office).
Important:
Special regulations apply to students and doctoral candidates who are 30 years of age or older:
Students and doctoral candidates aged 30 or older are no longer subject to compulsory health insurance. Statutory insurance for students and doctoral candidates is therefore no longer possible unless they are in employment that is more than marginal (€556 per month).
Options in this case include DAAD insurance (see below), private health insurance, or providers such as Care Concept or Mawista. Another option is to book an “all-in-one package” from Expatrio, for example, which includes health insurance and a German blocked account linked to a German bank account.
How to prove EHIC
You can prove that you have got statutory health insurance in your home country or that you have European health insurance coverage submitting:
- A photocopy of your EHIC (front and back side)
- A confirmation from your health insurance company
A confirmation or proof of health insurance should contain the following information:
- Your full name
- Your date of birth
- Your Identification number
- Period of Validity/Expiry Date: The full period of your study stay in Germany has to be covered by your health insurance. For example: If you want to study in Germany in winter term, you need proof of health insurance from October 1st till March 31, for summer term from April 1st till September 30
- Symbol of EHIC (circle with stars, country code in the centre)
Further information and models via: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=653&langId=en
Some of the best-known statutory health insurance providers (selection)
- Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)
- AOK - Die Gesundheitskasse
- Barmer GEK
- DAK Gesundheit
- IKK gesund plus
- Deutsche BKK
Online information events hosted by Techniker Krankenkasse
With TK-StudyGuide, Techniker Krankenkasse offers a series of lectures and webinars designed to help students develop their soft skills while promoting their health. The program provides tools and practical tips to help students confidently overcome the challenges of studying.
In addition, the biweekly information session Info Session 'Well prepared for your studies - Health insurance in Germany' covers topics such as health insurance regulations for EU and non-EU students, electronic M10 registration for enrollment, and the healthcare system and medical treatment in Germany.
DAAD insurance (only for DAAD scholarship holders)
Students (and their families) who receive a scholarship from the DAAD or one of the DAAD's partner institutions can take out a special combined health, accident, and personal liability insurance policy through the DAAD. Information on this can be found on the DAAD website.
Finding a doctor
Note: In Germany, if you are ill, you should first visit a general practitioner, known as a “Hausarzt” or “Hausärztin.” Only in serious cases and when doctors' offices are closed should you go to the hospital.
If you are ill and need to see a doctor, the doctor search function provided by the Federal Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians can help you. You can filter your search by specialty, office hours, location, and language skills, among other criteria.
If you are insured with a German statutory health insurance provider, you can also book appointments in urgent cases via the appointment service center at 116117. Appointments can be made by telephone (116117, in German only) or online at eterminservice.de. Appointments can be booked in the fields of general medicine, gynecology, ophthalmology, and pediatrics. Initial appointments for psychotherapy consultations can also be arranged. A referral code is required for other specialist areas.
In medical emergencies, please call 112.
Psychosocial counseling
Students who need psychosocial counseling can contact the psychosocial counseling service of the Studentenwerk Halle or the Psychosocial Center for Migrants in Saxony-Anhalt. These services offer international students counseling and therapy that takes into account their cultural backgrounds and language needs.