Information on health insurance

Incoming health insurance is health insurance for people coming from abroad to Germany or the Schengen area. It covers doctor, hospital, medication and emergency costs during your stay.

Health insurance is mandatory for most visas and residence titles – no insurance, no visa and no registration.

• Everyone with a Schengen visa (tourists, business travellers)
• Language and exchange students
• Students at universities and colleges
• Employees (mandatory under statutory insurance)
• Family reunion, Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), job seekers
• Expats and freelancers

Anyone taking up employment subject to social security or starting full-time studies in Germany is automatically subject to insurance. Students must prove insurance before enrolment (M10 notification). Employees are automatically registered with the statutory insurer through their employer.

A blocked account is a German bank account into which visa applicants must deposit a set amount (currently about €11,904 per year for students). You may only withdraw a set amount per month — this secures your living costs during your stay. As of 2026 — the amount is adjusted annually; the requirements of the competent authority apply.

Care Concept offers a blocked-account solution called Basti Blocked Account, specifically for students.

Care Protector is an additional private liability and accident insurance that you can add to any Care Concept health plan. It protects against claims for damage you cause (e.g. spilling wine on your host family's expensive carpet) and provides additional accident coverage.

Available from €2.00/month.

To obtain a visa for Germany, you must visit the German embassy or consulate in your home country. A key part of your application is proof of adequate health insurance.

For a Schengen visa, the insurance must cover at least €30,000 and be valid throughout the Schengen area.

After arriving in Germany, you must register at the local registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) within two weeks. You will need your passport and confirmation from your landlord (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung).

The registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) is an important document for opening a bank account or signing contracts.

Germany has a system of resident doctors. For health problems, you first visit a family doctor (GP). They will refer you to a specialist if necessary.

As a private patient, you receive an invoice after treatment, which you submit to your insurer for reimbursement. As a statutory patient, you simply show your health card (eGK).

In life-threatening emergencies, dial the Europe-wide emergency number 112. For urgent medical cases outside office hours, call the medical standby service at 116117.

Hospitals have emergency rooms (Notaufnahme) for acute cases that cannot wait until the next surgery hours.

In Germany, you can only obtain medication at pharmacies. Many drugs require a prescription, meaning you need a slip from a doctor.

Pharmacies are recognized by the distinctive red 'A' symbol. There is also an emergency service for nights and weekends.

Language students are generally not subject to statutory insurance. They therefore need a private incoming health insurance like Care College. This meets visa requirements and provides comprehensive protection during the course.

Upon starting studies at a state-recognized university, you usually become subject to statutory insurance. However, under certain conditions, you can be exempted to switch to a private insurance like Care Student.

In statutory health insurance (GKV), spouses and children can be co-insured free of charge under certain conditions (family insurance). In private insurance, a separate premium must be paid for each person.

A private incoming insurance usually ends automatically at the end of the agreed period or if you leave Germany permanently. Switching from private to statutory insurance is mostly only possible when taking up employment subject to social security or starting university studies.

You usually pay private insurance premiums monthly by direct debit or credit card. For employees in GKV, the employer deducts the premium directly from wages and transfers it to the health insurer.