Applicants under 30 years of age are subject to compulsory health insurance (GKV). Proof of statutory health insurance must be presented at the time of enrolment. This proof must be provided electronically as part of the reciprocal notification procedure between health insurance companies and universities through the official notification of a statutory health insurance company (§ 199a SGB V). If health insurance is taken out at the start of the study programme, the health insurance company automatically reports this to the university.

The largest statutory health insurance companies in Germany are TK-Health-Insurance, BARMER, AOK and DAK. If a blocked account is to be set up in addition to the health insurance, it may make sense to look at providers such as Expatrio, Coracle or Fintiba.

Students who have private health insurance may want to apply for exemption from compulsory insurance. This requires a confirmation from a German statutory health insurance company that the private insurance is equivalent. Please contact a German statutory health insurance company for verification and proof. If the private insurance is recognised as equivalent, the German health insurance company must inform the University of Oldenburg electronically that you are exempt from compulsory insurance. Without this notification from the statutory health insurance provider, you cannot enrol. Simply write  to get the necessary information.

Applicants who have reached the age of 30 are also required to have health insurance in order to enrol. This age group does not normally have access to statutory health insurance, so you need to obtain private insurance.

Private insurances usually do not cover costs for preliminary examinations, chronic illnesses as well as pre-existing conditions in the cheapest tariff. They are therefore only recommended for very short stays.

Health insurance: what if I’m over 30? (Deutsches Studierendenwerk)

Students who are protected by the Sickness Insurance Scheme of the European Communities in the event of illness and have a European Health Insurance Card / EHIC are exempt from compulsory statutory health insurance. This exemption must be verified electronically within the framework of the mutual notification procedure between health insurance companies and universities by officially notifying a statutory health insurance company (§ 199a SGB V). Simply write , submitting proof of EHIC and specify the number of the University of Oldenburg (H0001293) for the electronic transmission of the confirmation. No contract is concluded. The statutory health insurance then reports your status to the University of Oldenburg. Without this notification from the statutory health insurance provider, you cannot enrol.

Students who are older than 30 do not have to prove their insurance when enrolling. However, insurance is still compulsory.

Please note: If EU or EEA students take up a part-time student job or complete a paid internship in Germany, they must take out health insurance in Germany. There are only a few exceptions to this rule - please ask your health insurance provider.

EHIC, the European Health Insurance Card

Students who are not subject to compulsory health insurance on the basis of a corresponding social agreement as well as students from the UK who have a GHIC are exempt from compulsory health insurance. Based on the official notification by a statutory health insurance provider, this exemption is granted electronically by way of the reciprocal notification procedure between health insurance companies and universities in accordance with Section 199a of the German Social Code (SGB V). The notification can be made easily , no contract is concluded. Please submit the relevant proof to the insurance company and specify the number of the University of Oldenburg (H0001293) for the electronic transmission of the confirmation. The insurance provider will then report your status to the University of Oldenburg. Without this notification, you cannot enrol.

The following documents are required:

• UK: UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
• Bosnia-Herzegovina: BH6
• Serbia/Montenegro: Ju6
• Croatia: D/HR 111
• Macedonia: Ju6
• Turkey: A/T 11
• Tunisia: A/TN 11

Students who are older than 30 years do not have to prove their insurance when enrolling. However, insurance is compulsory.

Please note: If you take on a part-time student job or complete a paid internship in Germany, you will probably have to insure yourself through a German health insurance company. There are only a few exceptions to this rule - check with your health insurance provider.

Participants of the preparatory German course are also required to have health insurance. However, they do not have to prove their insurance when enrolling. There is usually no access to statutory health insurance, so private insurance must be taken out.

Private insurance policies usually do not cover preliminary examinations, chronic illnesses or pre-existing conditions in the cheapest tariff. They are therefore only recommended for very short stays.

Health insurance in Germany: What if I’m over 30 (Deutsches Studierendenwerk)