Health insurance for students from India

Studying in Germany is a great experience! However, before the studies can begin, several things need to be arranged.

In order to get a visa, you need to have health insurance that is valid in Germany. Your university may also require proof of health insurance. Below you will find everything you need to know about health insurance in Germany.

In Germany, it is mandatory to have health insurance. The origins of the health insurance system in Germany date back to 1883. In that year, the government introduced the statutory health insurance ("Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung" / GKV).

The reason was that many people were dying from accidents or diseases that a doctor could have cured. Unfortunately, not all Germans could afford to go to the doctor or hospital. Statutory health insurance changed that.

To keep it affordable, contributions are based on income. For employees, the employer pays half of the contributions. There are particularly favorable rates for students.

The GKV is a so-called "comprehensive health insurance". This means that it covers the costs for:

• Doctor's visits
• hospital stays
• Medication
• Medical aids

The amount of the benefit is fixed by law. The GKV pays for medically appropriate treatment without special benefits. If you have to be treated in hospital, the statutory health insurance pays for a shared room and treatment by the doctor on duty. If you want a single room and treatment by the head physician, you need to pay extra.

Private health insurers are required by law to offer at least all the benefits of statutory health insurance. In fact, most providers offer significantly more. You can put together the services you want yourself.

This way you can decide for which treatments you want to be reimbursed. With the GKV you have no freedom of choice and can only receive the fixed benefits. If you want to be treated by the head physician in the hospital, the PKV pays the costs for this if you select a corresponding tariff.

Not every health insurance offered in Germany meets the requirements for studies and visas. This applies, for example, to:

• Supplementary health insurance
• Travel health insurance

Supplementary insurances are designed to provide additional benefits to GKV members. Travel health insurance is for travelling abroad for a short time, for example for a vacation.

If you need a international health insurance for students from India, you have to take out a so-called comprehensive health insurance. Here you have, as mentioned, the choice between statutory and private health insurance.

Whether the statutory health insurance or a private health insurance is more suitable for you to cover yourself well and cheaply during your studies in Germany depends on various things. You can find details here.