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As long as you remain in Germany, you must ensure that you and those accompanying you have health insurance cover, regardless of whether you hold a grant, scholarship, fellowship, or employment contract. This insurance cover must take effect from your first day in Germany.

First of all, please check whether your normal insurance in your home country provides comprehensive coverage in Germany. If this is the case (normally only if a reciprocal social security agreement exists between your country and Germany), you will require written confirmation of this from your insurance company. If your home insurance policy does not cover other countries then you must, before travelling to Germany, take out a health insurance policy that is valid for the whole of your stay in Germany.

If you need to arrange health insurance in Germany, the requirements may vary. Whether you opt for private or statutory insurance will depend on your income. If you have been awarded a scholarship or a grant, you have to take out private insurance. Private insurance companies will take account of how long you wish to stay in Germany and will also offer special reductions for foreigners.

Whatever your circumstances, please seek advice from your employer or your scholarship provider, and from your home insurance company, before travelling to Germany.

Health insurance in Germany is unique in that the statutory and private health insurance companies cover a large proportion of the costs for medical and dental treatment, for drugs and medicines, for hospital treatment (in-patients) and for treatments by therapists, rehabilitation measures, etc. (out-patients). As a rule, you can choose which doctor or hospital you want to go to.

More information on health insurance matters is available on the following websites: www.euraxess.de www.daad.de/health