Health Insurance

Everyone living in Germany is required to have a health insurance. For the enrollment you have to provide a proof of sufficient health insurance coverage. 

Students from EU and European Economic Area countries, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Switzerland, Serbia, Tunisia and Turkey

Students who are statutorily insured in these countries, must apply in advance for a European health insurance card (EHIC) or equivalent documentation (Form E-111, AT 11, ATN 11 or BH6). 

Afterwards you must contact a German statutory health insurance provider and request confirmation that you hold statutory health insurance in your home country.

For Enrollment:

Please send a copy of your EHIC and your identity card by email to the health insurance company of your choice.

The health insurance company will transmit the information about your insurance status electronically to the University of Potsdam.


Students from other countries must obtain a statutory or private health insurance in Germany.

Statutory health insurance

Students under the age of 30 may obtain insurance from any German statutory health insurance provider at a student rate (currently about 120 Euro for health and nursing care insurance), which includes all legally mandated benefits:

  • Treatment by doctors or dentists, including dental prostheses
  • Medications, dressings, remedies and aids
  • Treatment in a hospital
  • Screening tests
  • Prenatal and postnatal care
  • Long-term care benefits

To register with a statutory health insurance provider, you will need your passport and university admission notification (Zulassungsbescheid).

You can secure insurance for the intended period of study from your home country, before arriving in Germany. You do not need an address in Germany or a certificate of enrolment from the university! Your letter of admission is sufficient for registration with a statutory health insurance.

For Enrollment:

The health insurance company will transmit the information about your insurance status electronically to the University of Potsdam.
It is not necessary to submit health insurance documents to us by conventional mail.  

Private health insurance

The following applies to students under the age of 30: If you obtain a private health insurance in Germany or wish to bring a policy from your home country, you must nonetheless contact a German statutory health insurance provider and obtain an exemption from the statutory health insurance obligation. The exemption cannot be revoked; it is valid for the entire duration of your university studies.

Private insurance coverage will only be recognized if it corresponds to the minimum benefits provided by German statutory health insurance (see the list above).

For Enrollment:

A copy of your private health insurance is not sufficient!
Students under the age of 30 must contact a German statutory health insurance provider and obtain an exemption from the statutory health insurance obligation.

The health insurance company will transmit the information about your insurance status electronically to the University of Potsdam.

However, if you do not qualify for statutory student health insurance - as a non-EU citizen over 30 years of age - you must seek private insurance coverage. Depending on the conditions of the contract and the benefits on offer, with private health insurance there is more variation in the cost of premiums. Should you choose private insurance, we recommend carefully comparing the prices and benefits of several health insurance providers. The differences can be substantial. 

New enrollees who have reached the age of 30 are not required to provide proof of their insurance status at the time of enrollment.

Statutory health insurance providers in Germany

AOK Nordost - Student Service

Andrea Schmidt
Brandenburger Straße 72
14467 Potsdam
Fon: 0800-265080 36087

andrea.schmidt@nordost.aok.de

Opening hours (only possible by prior appointment):
Tue 10:00-15:00 h
Thu 10:00-15:00 h

AOK - Online Appointment Services

Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)

Bernd Hofer
Neues Palais, house 22, room 0.21
Fon: +49 151 57117914

bernd.hofer@tk.de

Open:
Tue  11:00-15:00 h
Thu 10:00-12:00 h

BARMER | Beratung für Studenten

Nico Huber
Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 8, 14467 Potsdam
Fon (DE): 0800 3331010
Fon (ENG): 0800 3330060

WhatsApp: 0160 907 452 01

BARMER online office: registration - nico.huber@barmer.de

Open:
Mon-Thu 09:00-18:30 h
Fri 09:00-16:00 h

DAK Gesundheit

Yorckstraße 22, 14467 Potsdam
Fon: +49 331 5810700

service727300@dak.de

Open:
Mon-Tue 08:00-16:00 h
Thu 08:00-17:00 h
Fri 08:00-13:00 h

Do not forget!

Before your departure:

If you have signed up with a German health insurance, you must cancel your contract. Please keep in mind that cancellation periods of up to several months may apply.