Health Insurance
In Germany, every student studying at a state-recognised higher education institution is required by law to have health insurance. Valid health insurance is a prerequisite for studying at the Hertie School and obtaining a residence permit, so please make sure to read through the information below carefully.
Most students in Germany are insured by a statutory health insurance fund (“gesetzliche Krankenversicherung”) unless they are already covered by a private health insurance policy or above a certain age.
German students under 30 who wish to remain with their private insurer (for example their parents’ insurance) have to obtain proof that they are exempt from statutory health insurance from a public health insurance company. This confirmation should be presented at Check-In Day.
International Students
EU students
If you are from the European Union you should check with your national health insurance provider whether they will cover you for the entirety of your time in Berlin or whether you need an extra health insurance policy. If you are covered by your national health insurance provider, make sure you obtain your European Health Insurance Card in your home country before you leave. More information about healthcare for EU citizens studying abroad can be found here.
Non-EU students
If you already have coverage in your home country, please find out before your departure whether your current insurance is recognised in Germany! Please make sure that you have health insurance/travel insurance from the time of your arrival in Germany until the beginning of the semester on 1 September, as the student health insurance will only cover you from then on. Please do not come without coverage as medical treatment may be highly expensive! Also, make sure that transport costs back to your home country in case of serious issues relating to your health are included in your coverage.
Public health insurance
If you are under 30 years of age, there are various public health insurance companies that you may choose from. The price for student public health insurance is standardized and costs 79 € per month, regardless of the public health insurance company you choose. After having reached the 15th semester, finished their degree, or reached the age of 30, students can remain in the public insurance scheme but are required to pay a higher premium.
We will offer new students the possibility to join the public insurer Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) during Orientation Week. You could also contact them before if you arrive in Germany earlier. Their information is widely available in English and they have been helpful to students in the past but certainly there are many different health insurance providers in Germany.
AOK is another example of a public insurer which offers some information in English, in addition to some other languages.
Please contact Student Affairs for more information about other public insurance options.
Private health insurance
If you are 30 or older when you start your studies at the Hertie School, you will have to arrange private insurance which can be around 70€ per month, depending on your medical history and the insurance package you choose. Private health insurance differs from public health insurance in that you are required to pay upfront for your treatment and medications and can later claim for reimbursement. For our international students we recommend Mawista Science, Care Concept or the Deutsches Studentenwerk/Victoria partnership insurance, as our students have had positive experiences with those providers in the past. Please contact Student Affairs for more information about other private insurance options.
Home Country Insurance
International students are required to register with an official German health insurance company (see Public health insurance). However, under certain circumstances, coverage you have in your home country might be accepted as adequate if it corresponds in its nature and scope to that of the statutory German health insurance scheme. The health insurer has to issue a written statement that the existing insurance policy fulfills the statutory requirements, i.e. that it specifically does not contain any large-scale exclusions of benefits, require high-percentage excess payments from the insured person, limit the costs reimbursed in any way in the event of illness, or contain any expiration or indemnity clauses. The Foreigners' Authority provides suitable forms for this purpose. A public German health insurance fund then can provide you with a confirmation that you are exempt from statutory health insurance that you will need to present when you register with the school on Check-In day.
Medications and Documentation
Make sure that you bring an ample supply of any medication you may need to Berlin. Do not forget to consult your practitioner in order to find out whether or not your medication is available in Germany and under which label. If you wish to take a larger amount of prescribed medication with you, ask your doctor for a written explanation of what it is for to avoid problems at the custom control. If you have any allergies or diabetes, please bring the relevant documentation with you and notify us so we know what to do in case of an emergency.
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