In Germany, health insurance is mandatory for everyone, including students. I paid a monthly amount of 85€ for it which later increased to 90€. Initially, I thought it is of no use, as back in India I never had one and never needed one either. However, I realized this was wrong. I went to the dentist due to sudden pain in my teeth and got my wisdom teeth removed for 0€. Of course, the insurance covered it all.

Ok, so there are two types of health insurance in Germany: statutory health insurance (SHI) and private health insurance (PHI).

Statutory health insurance is provided by government-regulated non-profit health insurance companies and is typically less expensive than private health insurance. Most students in Germany are eligible for statutory health insurance, as long as their income is below a certain threshold. Some of the companies that provide SHI are:

• AOK (Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse)
• BARMER
• TK (Techniker Krankenkasse)
• DAK-Gesundheit
• KKH (Krankenkasse der Hansestadt Hamburg)

Private health insurance is provided by for-profit insurance companies and is generally more expensive than statutory health insurance. It may be an option for students who are not eligible for statutory health insurance, such as students with a high income or non-EU citizens who are not eligible for SHI. Here are some companies that offer PHI:

• Allianz
• Axa
• DEVK (Deutsche Verkehrs-Versicherung)
• SIGNAL IDUNA
• Union Krankenversicherung

In general, health insurance in Germany covers a wide range of medical treatments, including doctor’s visits, hospital stays, and prescribed medications. It is important to choose a health insurance plan that meets your needs and budget. While choosing one for yourself or your family you should consider your requirements, budget, and needs. It is best to check for a trade-off and then decide what you’d need!