Many Good Reasons why Students chooseTechniker Krankenkasse (TK) !
Germany's best health insurance fund
As of 2022, Focus-Money magazine (07/2022) has rated TK as Germany's best health insurance fund for 16 consecutive years. TK is rated as “excellent” in all aspects, such as digital services, transparency and additional services.
TK eHealth Card
The TK eHealth card lets you utilise medical services all throughout Germany. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is located on the back of your TK eHealth card. You are also well-covered with the EHIC in all EU states as well as in many other European countries and even in certain non-European territories.
Free choice of doctors and hospitals
You choose the doctors and clinics you are looking for who will convince you. Because your free choice of doctor and hospital is natural for us! In which hospital you go, you decide in consultation with your doctor. The only prerequisite is that it is a suitable contract hospital of the health insurance companies
TK Bonus program
Paying attention to one's own health always pays off. However, living the good intentions in everyday life is not that easy. Therefore, the technician supports you to motivate yourself again and again.
TK application
Whether you want to send us a sick leave report, use a TK bonus program, or get an overview of your medications: The TK app offers a number of features that make it easy to meet your requirements on your smartphone.
TK Service
Techniker Krankenkasse has established service standards which take a customer-oriented approach and support the customer service process from the first inquiry from a customer through to the completion of a case.
FAQs
German law requires all legal residents to be insured in the healthcare system. German healthcare is strictly regulated and renowned for its quality. Having health insurance makes it easier to access healthcare and avoid high medical bills.
Going to the doctor in Germany without insurance costs around €30 to €60 for a simple consultation. While this may not seem much in theory, this is just the cost of a simple consultation, which means other costs may accumulate, leading to expensive medical bills, often unaffordable with a student budget.
The fact that health insurance is mandatory in Germany for international students should be taken as a good thing rather than a hassle.
- Legal Obligation
Having health insurance also helps international students manage healthcare costs, ensuring that they receive the necessary medical attention without financial strain.
- Requirement for visa application
- Incoming or travel health insurance
- When you apply for a German student visa, you will likely encounter the German health insurance system for the first time. To obtain a visa for Germany, you typically must prove that you have incoming or travel health insurance.
- This insurance should cover your medical needs upon arrival and during your travels to Germany. Usually, it must cover the first three to six months of your stay. This depends on the requirements of your local German embassy or consulate.
- Health insurance
- It is recommended to provide confirmation of private or public health insurance. This is meant to cover you for the rest of your stay in Germany.
- Incoming or travel health insurance
- Requirement for university enrolment
When enrolling at your university, it is mandatory to provide adequate health insurance coverage during the full course of your studies. You can choose any student health insurance in Germany you want, as long as it meets the university’s requirements.
All international students need health insurance in Germany.
However, if you are from the following countries, you may use the insurance from back home:
- EU Member Countries
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Serbia
- Norway
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Switzerland
- Israel
- Turkey
- Iceland
- North Macedonia
- Liechtenstein
- Montenegro
Just make sure you contact your health insurance provider from back home to discuss the technicalities, such as what and how much they can cover while you are in Germany.
The main difference between public and private health insurance in Germany is that public health insurance is based on your income, whereas private insurance is based on your risk profile – things like your age and previous medical history.
Also, with private health insurance, you’ll be asked to pay your doctor’s fees up front and get reimbursed later so there will be times when you’re left out of pocket – which won’t happen if you’re on public health insurance.
- What does student health insurance in Germany cover?
- Student health insurance Germany will cover:
- In-patient hospital care
- Out-patient care (e.g. visiting the doctor)
- Medical check-ups
- Medication
- Basic dental care
- Treatment for pregnancy
- Emergency services
Public health insurance is often a suitable choice for most international students. You can enroll at a German university with the student tariffs of governmental health insurance providers.
This applies if your university is state-recognized and as long as you are under 30 years old. If you fulfil these requirements, the fees you have to pay every month depend on the health insurance provider you choose.
On average, students will have to pay around €126 a month for health insurance. Some of the most common providers of health insurance charge the following:
- TK – Techniker Krankenkasse 120,34 EUR for students younger than 23 or with child / 125,21 EUR for students older than 23 and without child
- AOK Nordost 124,40 € / 129,27 €
- Barmer 128,38 € / 133,25 €
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is the most popular as it’s one of the cheapest health insurance in Germany for students. TK also has 24/7 support available in English, so it’s perfect for international students who don’t speak German.
If you are a student over 30 or your university is not state-recognized, you cannot have governmental health insurance. If you still wish to be publicly insured, you may voluntarily apply for it.
Some students are not eligible for public health insurance in Germany and must get a private health insurance plan.
This includes:
- Students who are over 30 years of age.
- Preparatory and language course students.
- Post-graduate students, guest scientists, and scholarship holders without an employment contract.
- Freelancers or self-employed students.
If you belong to any of the groups mentioned above, you should know there are some pretty convenient private health insurance plans out there. So, you should not worry about costs, benefits, or visa requirements.
If you are eligible for public health insurance (e.g., under the age of 30 and pursuing a regular degree program), after a certain period (usually 12 months), you may have the option to switch to private health insurance. Once you switch to private health insurance, it is typically not possible to switch back to public health insurance during your degree program in Germany.
If you are on private health insurance, switching to public health insurance is generally more challenging. You can only switch back to public health insurance under specific circumstances, such as when you become eligible for public insurance again (e.g., if you change your degree program or your age exceeds the public insurance eligibility limit, usually 30 years old).
To terminate your health insurance coverage after you finish your studies, you simply have to let your insurance company know, and they will tell you what steps to take next. In most cases, after you notify your insurance company, they will terminate your contract, and you can request proof of termination.
German nationals can organize public health insurance easily, but international students will need to get this organized before they move. Yes Germany offers students the chance to register for student public healthcare insurance through TK, one of the biggest and most well-known providers in Germany. Our partnership with TK means you have access to the ongoing (including English-language) support offered by this provider. We can help you every step of the way, ensuring your healthcare cover is organised well before you arrive.
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