Health Insurance

All EU countries, as well as Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, have a social security agreement with Germany. 

Students from these countries require 

• either the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) 
• or appropriate proof of insurance in their home country.

You must submit your insurance details to a German statutory health insurance fund and apply for exemption from the German compulsory insurance requirement. The health insurance fund will then confirm to OTH Regensburg that your insurance is valid in Germany. The exemption applies for the entire duration of your enrolment.

There is a limited insurance agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Tunisia, which covers only emergencies and acute illnesses; preventive medical check-ups must be carried out in your home country. Please ensure you check with your insurance provider in your home country exactly which services are covered!

Please note!
If, whilst studying in Germany, you undertake a voluntary work placement (lasting longer than 3 months / 70 days) or you take on a part-time job, you must register with a German health insurance provider. Your home country’s health insurance will then no longer be sufficient.

All other students whose countries of origin do not have a social security agreement with Germany must take out health insurance in Germany. Please follow the link and read the further information on our website.

Depending on your country of origin, you may need to provide proof of insurance when applying for a visa. Providers of blocked accounts can recommend insurance companies to you.

We strongly recommend that students under the age of 30 take out statutory health insurance (GKV).

Under the basic tariff, it covers the costs of

• medical treatment
• medication
• emergency treatments
• ambulance journeys
• hospital stays
• selected preventive measures
• rehabilitation

and it guarantees the right to continued pay in the event of illness.

This basic cover is always the same, regardless of which statutory health insurance provider you ultimately choose.

You can find more information about statutory health insurance on the website of the Federal Association of Health Insurance Funds (GKV).

Please choose your health insurance provider carefully! You cannot switch to another provider until at least one year has passed.

To take out statutory health insurance, you must first

• find accommodation
• open a bank account
• register with the local authority.

Until then, you should be covered by travel insurance.

Please note:
Once your insurance has been activated, you must pay the premiums from the first day of cover (i.e. from the first day of the semester at the latest), not from the day of your arrival in Germany.

Students under the age of 30 can also take out private health insurance if they wish. However, private health insurance (PKV) is generally either more expensive or offers a lower level of cover. Once you have opted for private health insurance, you cannot switch back to statutory health insurance for the entire duration of your enrolment!

Students over the age of 30 cannot be insured at the student rate. They must take out private health insurance.

Choose your insurance provider and policy carefully! The cheaper the policy, the more limited the cover.

You should definitely bear the following points in mind:

•  It can be difficult to prove when a new illness first arose, and there is a risk that the insurer will claim that the condition was deliberately concealed when the policy was taken out (e.g. diabetes) – which would render the policy invalid. Medical evidence (e.g. blood test results) from the time the policy was taken out can be helpful as proof.  
• Accidents happen quickly – with unforeseeable consequences. It is important that acute hospital stays of any kind are covered.
• If mental health conditions are to be treated, it becomes very expensive if the insurance does not cover psychotherapy. 

We therefore advise you to examine the insurance terms and conditions very carefully. A higher premium rate may be worth it.

Privately insured persons must also apply for exemption from statutory health insurance by sending proof of insurance to a statutory health insurance fund.