You are planning a research stay in Germany and want to find out about health insurance?

Health insurance ("Krankenversicherung") in Germany is mandatory for all researchers and their families accompanying them. What has to be covered is medical treatment in the event of serious illness and accidents in Germany. In the case of illnesses incurred in advance, you should provide yourself with all the necessary medication in your own country because, as a rule, illness incurred in advance is not covered by insurance in Germany and patients have to pay the expenses themselves. It is advisable to make contact with the insurance provider before entering Germany so that any problems can be dealt with in advance and you are covered by insurance from the very first day. In order to issue a residence permit the local immigration authorities require proof that you are covered by this kind of insurance.

First of all, check whether your insurance at home covers medical and hospital expenses incurred during your stay in Germany. The insurance company must then confirm in writing that insurance cover is valid in Germany, too. If the insurance cover is not adequate, you will have to take out an additional insurance policy.

If your stay in Germany is longer and you are required to become resident in Germany please note the following: Since 1 January 2009, anyone resident in Germany is required to possess health insurance cover from an insurance provider licensed in Germany, in so far as they are not covered by statutory health insurance or entitled to allowances for members of the civil service. In this case we recommend obtaining health insurance from a German provider. For the duration of the stay in Germany the foreign health insurance cover can be switched to the tariff for the qualifying period.

In Germany there are private as well as statutory health insurance companies. As of 1 January 2009, there has been a standard rate for all statutory health insurance companies. There is quite a range of statutory health insurance providers and private insurance companies to choose from. In order to help you get a better overview we have drawn up a list of statutory health insurance providers and private health insurance companies under "Further information".


Research stay based on a fellowship:
If you have a fellowship you can only opt for private insurance cover. You should ask the organisation awarding the fellowship for a recommendation.


Research stay based on an employment contract:
If you are employed on the basis of an employment contract then as a matter of principle you are subject to compulsory German health insurance.

However, exceptionally, where there is a Social Security Agreement  (“Sozialversicherungsabkommen”) in place between Germany and your own country the health insurance regulations of that country may continue to be applicable. Your health insurance provider or social security authority at home will confirm this using form number 1 or 101. On the basis of form number 1 or 101 you will continue to be subject to your national health insurance regulations and be exempt from statutory German health insurance, provided that the Social Security Agreement that is in place with your own country applies to health insurance.

As an employed person, if you do not possess form number 1 or 101, you will be subject to statutory German health insurance. Your level of income will determine whether you must obtain private or statutory health insurance.

Up to a gross salary of 50,850 EUR (upper income limit for 2012) you must be insured by a statutory health insurance company. The general statutory health insurance rate is a standardised 15.5 %.

The benefits of statutory health insurance are, for the most part, standardised. There are differences in customer service, additional benefits and optional premiums. You are free to choose your statutory health insurance company. A comparison of the different insurance benefits is therefore still worthwhile.

If your gross annual salary regularly exceeds 50,850 EUR, you are free to choose between a statutory health insurance provider or a private health insurance company. This means that you may opt for both a statutory and a private health scheme.

You must inform your employer which health insurance company you have chosen. It is the employer's task to register new employees with the health insurance company. The latter then forwards the registration to the other social security providers. Contributions to health insurance are deducted from the employee's salary at source. Out of a total contribution of 15.5% the employer is responsible for 7.3%. The employee contribution is 8.2%.


Special case: EU citizens


Questions and answers on health insurance





Further information:

Insurance plan for foreign scientists in Germany
Health, Liability, and Accident Insurance
HanseMerkur Generalagentur Block & Weißenbach

International Science HealthCare Plan
Health, Liability, and Accident Insurance for foreign scholars, award winners and guest scientists in Germany
International Science HealthCare Plan

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Health, Liability, and Accident Insurance available to foreign scientists sponsored, supported or represented by members of DAAD or DAAD Partner Organization’s
DAAD-Group Insurance Scheme

Statutory health insurance companies
List of all the statutory health insurance companies
National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds

Private health insurance companies
List of all private health insurance companies
Verband der privaten Krankenversicherung e.V.