SER Health insurance
German healthcare navigation
Student health insurance in Germany is mandatory for all students, providing comprehensive coverage at an affordable rate. It ensures access to necessary medical care, including doctor's visits, hospital stays, and medications, typically costing around 120-190 euros per month depending on the provider.
Facts about health insurance in Germany and what you need as a student
Where and how to find a doctor
If you feel unwell, such as having the flu, a headache, or a fever, your first point of contact should be a primary care doctor (Hausarzt). These doctors are equipped to treat most common illnesses and can refer you to a specialist if necessary. If you already know that your condition requires specialist care, you can contact the relevant specialist directly.
In Germany, it is customary to visit a doctor (Hausarzt) first and only go to the hospital for emergencies. While many doctor’s offices may not accept new patients, it is always worth calling to check, especially if you are new to the area.
In Germany, you are generally free to choose any doctor or hospital, provided they are registered with the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Vereinigung). Look for signs in the office stating “Kassenarzt” or “Alle Kassen,” indicating they treat patients with statutory insurance. Be aware that some doctors only treat private patients, in which case you would need to pay for treatment out of pocket. Search for doctors here.
When searching for a doctor, it can be helpful to ask fellow students or colleagues for recommendations. If you require an English-speaking doctor, websites like www.med-kolleg.de offer an English-language search function.
Via teleclinic you also may use the possibility of talking to a professional virtually. It is a good substitute but not a sole solution in certain cases.
The TK Doctor Guide can help you find English-speaking doctors in your area.
This guide allows you to filter results by language—simply select "Englisch" or your preferred language in the "Fremdsprache" field.
An online dictionary can assist you in selecting the appropriate specialist in the "Fachgebiet" field.
A further useful website for finding English-speaking doctors can also be found here.English-speaking doctors near KLU
Ärzte am Kaiserkai
https://aerzteamkaiserkai.de/
Augenarztpraxis City
http://www.augenpraxis-city-hamburg.de/
Dentist
Zahnzentrum HafenCity
https://www.zahnarzt-hamburg-dr-jalilvand.de/kontakt
Orthopedic surgeon/Accident surgery
Dr. med. Jochen Schmidt
Spitalerstr. 1, 20095 Hamburg
+49 40 330395
Am Kaiserkai 44
20457 Hamburg
Emergency pharmacyCheck http://www.aponet.de/service/notdienstapotheke-finden for daily updates
Pharmacy at the central station is open daily from 07.00/08.00 – 21.00
Some general practitioners have an open-door policy, allowing patients to visit without an appointment, which is especially useful in emergencies. However, many practices operate by appointment only. It is highly recommended to call ahead to make an appointment to avoid long waiting times. For urgent cases, you will typically be given an appointment immediately or on the same day; otherwise, you may need to wait a few days or even weeks.
You can also check on
- https://www.doctolib.de/ and book appointments online.
Please make sure to select “Gesetzlich versichert” if you have a statutory health insurance and to bring your card to the appointment.
Phone: + 49 40 460 65 10 16 16
Email: jurij.visnakov@tk.de
Monthly TK Support Hour
TK support hours are usually held every month. Please find the dates for the next support hours here:
- September 12th, 1-2 PM @ Room 01.29 next to the Student Services Info Point
- October 3rd, 1-2 PM @ Room 01.29 next to the Student Services Info Point
- November 7th, 1-2 PM @ Room 01.29 next to the Student Services Info Point
- December 5th, 1-2 PM @ Room 01.29 next to the Student Services Info Point
- January 9th, 1-2 PM @ Room 01.29 next to the Student Services Info Point
- February 6th, 1-2 PM @ Room 01.29 next to the Student Services Info Point
- March 6th, 1-2 PM @ Room 01.29 next to the Student Services Info Point
- April 3rd, 1-2 PM @ Room 01.29 next to the Student Services Info Point
- May 8th, 1-2 PM @ Room 01.29 next to the Student Services Info Point
Medicine is sold by pharmacies (“Apotheken”). Drug-dispensing laws are quite strict in Germany, therefore medicines that may be prescription-free in your home country can only be purchased on prescription in Germany.Please check the regulations here.
Statutory health insurance will cover the costs of most prescription drugs, but you may have to pay a small fee.
Notfallpraxen
"Notfallpraxen" in Hamburg are emergency medical practices that provide medical services outside regular office hours, such as evenings & weekends. These centers are designed to treat non-life-threatening conditions that still require immediate medical attention, like minor injuries, infections, or sudden illnesses.
If someone has a medical issue that i not serious enough for a hospital emergency room but can't wait until their regular doctor is available, they can go to a Notfallpraxis.
In Hamburg, there are several of these emergency practices, and they are distributed across different parts of the city. Please find an overview here.
Police: 110
Fire dept. + ambulance: 112
Emergency Number for practitioners in Hamburg: +49 40 - 228022
Emergency Number for poisoning: +49 30-19240
In case of emergency, stay prepared by getting familiar with emergency situation procedures. Please find more information on what to do in case of an emergency here.
Emergency pharmacy
Check http://www.aponet.de/service/notdienstapotheke-finden for daily updates.
Helpline for homeless people in winter
+49 40 4 28 28 5000 Mo-Fr 8 am to 4 pm or in severe cases or off the job call 112.
During your internship and study abroad period you are continuously enrolled at KLU (as specified in your enrollment certificates).
Please be aware that the information provided is based on German and European law that applies for universities who enroll foreign students/exchange students. German universities cannot enroll students who are not insured with a German/European health insurance company. If a student terminates his/her health insurance contract, s/he will by German law be exmatriculated/de-registered (taken from the register of students) by the university.
Within the European Union, health insurance agreements between the different countries are in force. Outside the EU mutual risks are not covered. Thus, each exchange student must buy an additional health insurance.
Since you are enrolled at KLU during the whole period you cannot quit the German health insurance. It is mandatory to stay insured via your German health insurance provider during your internship and semester abroad.
- Internship: Please verify with your company's contact person the insurance details.
- Study abroad: Please ask the inbound coordinator at your university abroad for insurance details.
Please make sure that you have sufficient health insurance coverage during your semester abroad. Apart from that you should take care of a personal liability and accident insurance for the time of your stay abroad.
Students staying in the EU
There is an EU agreement which guarantees free medical treatment for EU citizens, including Norway and Sweden. Your insurance card is a European Health Insurance Card (“EHIC”). During internship and study abroad you are insured via your present health insurance.
For countries with corresponding agreements, you can request a certificate from your own statutory health insurance (usually within the EU). Kindly note that many statutory health insurances only cover a stay abroad of up to six weeks. Please get in touch with your health insurance directly to find out what is covered and what you may need additionally.
Regulations for students going to a non-EU country
Kindly check with your health insurance company whether your German statutory health insurance will be valid abroad.
With most non-EU countries Germany has no insurance agreement. Thus, very possibly you will need to buy a local health insurance. If this is the case you need to take out a full value insurance abroad while maintaining the present German insurance contract.
In some countries, especially the United States, an additional university-specific insurance policy may have to be taken out.
If you are insured with TK
TK offers a travel insurance: https://www.envivas.de/en/insurance/travelling-abroad
Please note that it is an additional offer from TK that is not included in your German TK health insurance.
Public vs. private insurance
Germany's healthcare system, known as the "Gesundheitssystem," is a dual system that combines both public (statutory) and private health insurance options.
Most students in Germany are insured with a statutory health insurance fund. You have a free choice regarding the offered public insurance companies (e.g. AOK, TK, DAK, HEK etc.) Contributions for mandatory student insurance are regulated by law and are identical for all statutory health insurance companies. Generally, the monthly contribution for students for all statutory health insurance companies is currently ca. € 120. Please note that the Federal law for the promotion of training (BAföG) is the calculation basis for the student rate for all public health insurance providers.
The public insurance is a cost-saving choice as the contributions of the public insurance company are stipulated. Beside the coverage in case of illnesses the public insurance companies also cover preventive medical check-ups as well as the treatments of pre-existing illnesses. With a public insurance spouses (who are not working) and children are included into the insurance free of charge. If you are insured through the public system, you only pay a nominal fee for treatments and medicines as these are directly paid for by your insurance provider.
Services that are covered by a German public health insurance
The quality of the treatment you get as member of the German public health insurance is generally very good. Most of the statutory health insurance benefits are standard services and compulsory for all of the insurance providers. So most medical and dental expenses as well as hospital stays are covered. You can choose any doctor or dentist who is recognized by the insurance company.
Statutory health insurance in Germany provides a range of services and benefits including:
- Medical and dental treatment, with free choice of doctors and dentists
- Hospital treatment
- Medicines and aids such as hearing aids and wheelchairs
- Measures for the prevention and early detection of certain diseases
- Preventive dentistry
- Preventive inoculations
- Medically necessary dentures and crowns.
- X-rays
The rate of a private insurance is based on your risk profile (not on your income). In general older people or women pay higher rates. The benefits of private health insurance companies may vary considerably. Non-EU students younger than 30 years have to be insured with a public insurance company in Germany. Full health insurance cover for your stay in Germany is very important, also for your residence permit. It is a precondition for your legal stay in Germany and therefore necessary for your registration as a resident and as a student.
KLU prohibited from handling medicine
By German law the KLU is not allowed to store nor to handle any kind of medicine.
If you do need medicine please bring it yourself, ask fellow students or go to the pharmacy.