In this day and age, it is no longer unusual for a young person to want to travel abroad for a while. Especially in the context of studies, single semesters in another country are almost a matter of course nowadays.
Another possibility is to travel for a language stay in order to improve one's foreign language skills and, of course, to gain new experiences. In the meantime, almost 40% of all students travel abroad for one or more semesters or complete an internship there.
In fact, almost 60% of all students do not consider the topic of health insurance abroad while planning their stay in another country. Should an accident or a serious illness really occur, this can lead to great financial difficulties if the health insurance in Germany does not cover the costs. This is especially the case in non-EU countries and in countries outside Europe.
The international health insurance for students and language students takes over the costs where the normal statutory health insurance no longer pays anything. It covers various services, be it medication or a return transport to the home country.
Absolutely necessary: Student health insurance abroad
If you suddenly fall ill as a student abroad and need medical care or even have an accident and have to be treated in hospital, your health insurance from your home country often does not cover you. If you don't have the appropriate travel insurance, you may be faced with four- or five-figure costs, which is not uncommon in the USA, for example.
For this reason it is an elementary topic to deal with a sufficient foreign health protection already early before the departure. This should be tailored to individual needs and in particular to the duration of the stay abroad.
All-round insurance cover: Insurance package
As an all-round insurance cover for the trip, we recommend taking out an additional property package consisting of emergency, liability, accident and luggage insurance. This way, you can travel with a clear conscience and don't have to worry about your health - or your wallet.
For German students abroad (e.g. USA) or foreign students studying in Germany, we offer travel health insurance for students as a favourable tariff. Simply enter your data and start the calculation.
Here you will find the right student health insurance: Our student health insurance abroad with special rates up to 5 years abroad. And as a supplement, an all-round insurance package with additional insurances.
If you are doing a semester abroad as part of the Erasmus programme, it is essential that you have health insurance abroad.
It is advisable to check exactly which insurances you need before starting your semester abroad. Therefore, we have compiled important information about travel insurance especially for Erasmus students on a separate page.
All information about travel insurance for Erasmus students...
What costs are covered by the international health insurance for students and language students?
Benefits:
Important:outside of Europe, the statutory health insurance does not pay at all. If you have to be treated in a clinic in Madrid because of a special illness, for example, an international health insurance will pay for it. The normal health insurance would not pay these costs - and that can quickly become very expensive without additional insurance. Included in the benefits are basically costs for medication, medical care and for a possible return transport home. The money will be reimbursed by the insurance company afterwards. The exact benefits for the student health insurance abroad must be discussed in advance with the insurance company and contractually agreed upon, so that you do not experience any nasty surprises. Furthermore, it is important to know the period covered by the international health insurance. On average, such a policy is valid for one to three months, unless it is explicitly a long-term international health insurance.Why is it important to have health insurance abroad as a student?
As a privately insured student, you may enjoy the same comprehensive protection when travelling abroad as you do in Germany. This applies at least mostly to EU countries and up to a maximum period of one year. In countries that do not belong to the EU, such as the USA, the insurance cover is often only valid for a few months, which is hardly sufficient for a whole semester. However, the exact regulations are different for each health insurance company.
Therefore, it is important to check a contract and the conditions very carefully and to change the tariff in case of doubt or to take out a student health insurance abroad. Because this cannot be done spontaneously before the trip, one should already deal with the topic several months before departure and choose a suitable insurer.
If you fall ill as a student abroad without having taken out an international health insurance, you have to expect to be asked to pay for medical treatment immediately: Treatments must be paid for immediately, and the bill for them can then be submitted later to the health insurance company, which will then reimburse the money. For young people, who often don't have too much savings anyway, this can quickly become a big problem.
When does the foreign health insurance take effect?
A good international health insurance will cover the most important costs for medical treatment, be it outpatient or inpatient. It also covers expenses for medication as well as for a return transport home, if this is reasonable and justifiable from a medical point of view. If students or language students have to be treated after an accident or due to an illness, the international health insurance will usually cover these costs. You don't have to worry about anything and can fully concentrate on your recovery.
Which costs are not covered by the health insurance abroad? Unfortunately, not all possible benefits are included in a travel insurance: There are almost always some clauses in the contract that exclude explicit cases from the insurance coverage. Mostly you can recognize these passages in the small print if they start with "No obligation to pay benefits exists...". These often include chronic illnesses, for example. What exactly is paid and what is not, however, should always be discussed individually with the insurer - and this is mandatory even before the conclusion of a contract.
Everything that is not literally explained in the contract should also be covered in writing. This way, you can protect yourself and don't have to worry about your money if you submit an invoice for emergency allergy treatment to the international health insurance company and they suddenly reply that this case is not covered at all.
Can you take out international health insurance at a later date?
No, for this you have to be on German ground, otherwise it is not possible for the insurance company to check the time of the illness.
It is therefore important that the travel insurance covers the entire period during which you are abroad. There are special insurances for language students and students who enrol for a semester or for a longer period at a university or language school abroad. With most insurers, students can take out insurance for a maximum period of five years - after which they will need to re-insure. Travel health insurance policies are also often subject to a maximum entry age, which for policies for students and language students is a maximum of 34 years .
Is the international health insurance from credit cards sufficient?
More and more credit card providers are offering their customers special international health insurance as part of the credit card contract. The bill for medical treatment or medication abroad is then paid directly by the credit card provider. At first glance, this is quite attractive for all credit card holders, but one should not be too blinded by this.
Often the benefits are tied to certain conditions and are very limited. It often happens that the credit card provider covers the costs for basic medical care, but not for special treatments in private clinics or for medication. It is in your own interest to check this situation and, if necessary, discuss it with your insurer. In most cases, it is always better to take out an additional policy with which you are really comprehensively protected abroad. In no case should you automatically rely on the term "travel insurance" being sufficient. In the worst case, this can lead to a nasty misunderstanding with expensive consequences.
What costs are covered by the international health insurance for students and language students?
Benefits:
Important:outside of Europe, the statutory health insurance does not pay at all. If you have to be treated in a clinic in Madrid because of a special illness, for example, an international health insurance will pay for it. The normal health insurance would not pay these costs - and that can quickly become very expensive without additional insurance. Included in the benefits are basically costs for medication, medical care and for a possible return transport home. The money will be reimbursed by the insurance company afterwards. The exact benefits for the student health insurance abroad must be discussed in advance with the insurance company and contractually agreed upon, so that you do not experience any nasty surprises. Furthermore, it is important to know the period covered by the international health insurance. On average, such a policy is valid for one to three months, unless it is explicitly a long-term international health insurance.Why is it important to have health insurance abroad as a student?
As a privately insured student, you may enjoy the same comprehensive protection when travelling abroad as you do in Germany. This applies at least mostly to EU countries and up to a maximum period of one year. In countries that do not belong to the EU, such as the USA, the insurance cover is often only valid for a few months, which is hardly sufficient for a whole semester. However, the exact regulations are different for each health insurance company.
Therefore, it is important to check a contract and the conditions very carefully and to change the tariff in case of doubt or to take out a student health insurance abroad. Because this cannot be done spontaneously before the trip, one should already deal with the topic several months before departure and choose a suitable insurer.
If you fall ill as a student abroad without having taken out an international health insurance, you have to expect to be asked to pay for medical treatment immediately: Treatments must be paid for immediately, and the bill for them can then be submitted later to the health insurance company, which will then reimburse the money. For young people, who often don't have too much savings anyway, this can quickly become a big problem.
When does the foreign health insurance take effect?
A good international health insurance will cover the most important costs for medical treatment, be it outpatient or inpatient. It also covers expenses for medication as well as for a return transport home, if this is reasonable and justifiable from a medical point of view. If students or language students have to be treated after an accident or due to an illness, the international health insurance will usually cover these costs. You don't have to worry about anything and can fully concentrate on your recovery.
Which costs are not covered by the health insurance abroad? Unfortunately, not all possible benefits are included in a travel insurance: There are almost always some clauses in the contract that exclude explicit cases from the insurance coverage. Mostly you can recognize these passages in the small print if they start with "No obligation to pay benefits exists...". These often include chronic illnesses, for example. What exactly is paid and what is not, however, should always be discussed individually with the insurer - and this is mandatory even before the conclusion of a contract.
Everything that is not literally explained in the contract should also be covered in writing. This way, you can protect yourself and don't have to worry about your money if you submit an invoice for emergency allergy treatment to the international health insurance company and they suddenly reply that this case is not covered at all.
Can you take out international health insurance at a later date?
No, for this you have to be on German ground, otherwise it is not possible for the insurance company to check the time of the illness.
It is therefore important that the travel insurance covers the entire period during which you are abroad. There are special insurances for language students and students who enrol for a semester or for a longer period at a university or language school abroad. With most insurers, students can take out insurance for a maximum period of five years - after which they will need to re-insure. Travel health insurance policies are also often subject to a maximum entry age, which for policies for students and language students is a maximum of 34 years .
Is the international health insurance from credit cards sufficient?
More and more credit card providers are offering their customers special international health insurance as part of the credit card contract. The bill for medical treatment or medication abroad is then paid directly by the credit card provider. At first glance, this is quite attractive for all credit card holders, but one should not be too blinded by this.
Often the benefits are tied to certain conditions and are very limited. It often happens that the credit card provider covers the costs for basic medical care, but not for special treatments in private clinics or for medication. It is in your own interest to check this situation and, if necessary, discuss it with your insurer. In most cases, it is always better to take out an additional policy with which you are really comprehensively protected abroad. In no case should you automatically rely on the term "travel insurance" being sufficient. In the worst case, this can lead to a nasty misunderstanding with expensive consequences.
Our partner Weltweit-Studieren has compiled the most relevant information for you. There you will find information (German language only) about individual countries, universities, as well as packing lists and a tutorial for your studies abroad!
More information for students
Further information on:Application / Payment processing / Billing and performance.
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