Students enrolling in German universities must have health insurance by law. Those choosing expat health insurance must apply for an exemption from public health insurance through a public provider, who will send the insurance confirmation (M10 form) to the university. The exemption process varies for students under and over 30 years old. Switching back to public insurance is generally not possible for students under 30 once exemption is granted. Eligibility for full private insurance depends on income thresholds. This article clarifies these procedures and requirements.
Why is health insurance required for university enrollment in Germany?
Health insurance is legally mandatory for all residents in Germany, including students. Therefore, students enrolling in German universities must have valid health insurance coverage to complete enrollment.
What steps must students take after choosing expat health insurance for university enrollment?
Students who choose expat health insurance must first sign up. They then need to apply for an exemption from public health insurance through a public insurer because universities only accept exemption confirmations from public providers. The public insurer will verify that the private insurance coverage meets legal requirements and inform the university by sending the insurance confirmation known as the M10 form.
How do students under 30 years old apply for exemption from public health insurance?
Students under 30 must fill out an exemption application form available in both English and German. The insurance number field should be left blank on the form, and expat health insurance policy documents should be attached. The exemption application is submitted to a public insurer, which then handles confirmation to the university.
What is the exemption process for students over 30 years old who have expat health insurance?
Students over 30 need to request exemption via a public insurer such as BARMER or Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). Please provide the following information and submit it via email to [email protected] for BARMER or [email protected] for TK:
Your full name
Date of birth
Address in Germany
Date you wish to be exempted from public health (please enter the start date of your studies here)
Start date of your degree
Full name and address of your University
Attached copy of your expat confirmation of coverage document (you can download a copy of your policy document from your Feather account).
The public insurer will process the exemption and notify the university by sending the M10 confirmation.
What is the role of the M10 form in the exemption and enrollment process?
The M10 form is an electronic notification sent by the public health insurance provider to the university confirming the student's exemption from mandatory public health insurance due to private expat insurance coverage. The university uses this form to proceed with enrollment.
Can students under 30 switch back to public health insurance after choosing expat insurance?
Students under 30 who apply for and receive exemption from public health insurance by choosing expat health insurance cannot reverse this decision for the duration of their studies. Therefore, the initial choice between student public health insurance and expat health insurance should be made carefully.
What are the conditions for students over 30 to have public health insurance?
Students over 30 may have public health insurance only if they continue coverage from home country public insurance within the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or the UK (voluntary insurance with higher premiums of about €250 or more per month) or if employed under a regular work contract by a German employer. Student public health insurance is generally unavailable for this age group.
Who is eligible for full private health insurance as a student in Germany?
Full private health insurance requires a minimum annual income of €36,000 for self-employed persons or €73,800 for employed persons. Most students do not meet these income thresholds and therefore cannot access full private health insurance.
Where can students get further assistance or information about expat health insurance?
Students can contact our expat health insurance support for additional questions or assistance regarding expat health insurance and the exemption process.