Please be advised that your MUST have health insurance if you want to study in Germany!

In Germany, health insurance is seen as the most important insurance and is mandatory by federal law for all students and employees in Germany. There are two types of health insurances: social health insurance and private health insurance. For social health insurance the terms of contract, monthly contributions and the scope of benefits are regulated by federal law. While the terms and conditions for private health insurances vary from provider to provider, the scope of benefits and cover offered approximately correlates with the monthly contribution.

Please note: Some private insurance companies will only accept students within a week of their arrival in Germany.


Before you arrive in Göttingen until your enrolment
For this time we advise that you sign up with a private health insurance (e.g. a travel insurance) since your student health insurance begins to be valid only at the beginning of the semester. Providers of health care services are. for example: the ADAC or the Würzburger Versicherungs AG as well as many other private health insurers.


Students
Students under 30 years of age may sign up with a student health insurance with various German social health insurances. At the moment fees amount to approximately 70 Euro/month. During your first semester in Göttingen, note that the health insurance becomes valid only with the beginning of the semester (April 1 or October 1). Important: Sign on with your health insurance directly after you have received your admission letter, since you will need a documentary proof of having health insurance for your matriculation.

Students older than 30 years cannot sign up with a social health insurance. The have to sign up with a private insurance. Again, for enrolment you need proof of insurance from the private insurance, freeing you from the social insurance obligation.

For enrolment you need proof of insurance. You may obtain such a document by asking your insurance to issue one.


Employees
Employees under a work contract with an annual gross income not exceeding 48.600 Euro (2009) cannot avail of private insurance and must take the social health insurance. In this case, the monthly contribution to the health insurance amounts to 14.9% of the monthly gross income (2009). Employees with an annual gross income of more than 48.600 Euro (2009), as well as entrepreneurs, self-employed persons and free-lancers can choose between insuring themselves with a social health insurance provider as an optional member ('freiwilliges Mitglied') or taking out one of the many private health insurances. According to federal law, the health insurance of each employee (regardless whether she/he has a social or a private health insurance) includes nursing care insurance (Pflegeversicherung). At present (2009), the monthly contribution is 0,98 % of the monthly gross income for employees with children; for employees without children 0,25% to pay in addition to.


Short-term visitors
Foreign visiting students who are visiting Germany for a short-term period and who are therefore not enrolled at the university, or foreign visiting scientists who are not employed in Germany still need to ensure that they are covered by a valid health insurance. For short-term visitors, a travel insurance is generally the best option.