Germany has one of the best medical and health care systems in the world. The public health system is built on a broad and sound social basis; almost 90 per cent of the population have statutory or voluntary health insurance. The statutory health insurance companies pay for medical and dental treatment, for drugs and medicines, hospital treatment (inpatient and outpatient) as well as for many other cures, treatments and preventive measures. If not exempted from the additional (prescription) charges, insured persons contribute a basic charge towards the cost of medication (prescription charge) and some other treatments. The only costs which your health insurance will not cover in full are those for dentures, orthodontic treatment, and glasses; in such cases, the health insurance will contribute a fixed payment, however.

Further information on health insurance in Germany can be found in the chapter on “The Social Security System”.

Doctors, physicians and medical practitioners
Besides general practitioners, you will also find specialists (eye specialists/ophthalmologists, skin specialists/dermatologists, etc.). In most cases, you must make an appointment. However, if you are in acute pain, you must be treated immediately or at least in the course of the same day. The names, addresses and phone numbers of doctors can be found in the classified directory/Yellow Pages, where they are arranged by specialisms. You are free to choose which doctor you wish to go to.

Hospitals and clinics
Germany has state-maintained (public) hospitals, charitable/non-profit hospitals (mainly run by the churches) and private hospitals. A university clinic will be found in practically every university town to which you can go for outpatient treatment. If you are admitted to hospital, your health insurance will cover the costs of that stay. However, you will be expected to pay a small day rate for up to the first 14 days (fortnight) of your stay.

Emergency service and emergency call
If you need urgent medical treatment at night or over the weekend, you can call the hospital outpatient unit (Ambulanz) or an emergency doctor (Notarzt). The addresses of the doctors are listed in daily newspapers under the heading of emergency medical service (Ärztlicher Notdienst). Or just call any doctor – the answering machine will automatically tell you the number of the emergency doctor.

Emergency call 112
112 is the free-of-charge phone number with which you can call an ambulance (Krankenwagen). Should you experience the emergency while travelling on a major road (motorway, highway, secondary road), please check the white kilometer stones or posts. These have arrows pointing in the direction of the nearest emergency telephone.

Alternative cures and treatments
Many registered doctors (specialists/general practitioners) with their own practice have additionally specialised in natural (naturopathic) cures, remedies and treatments. Health insurance companies have recognised the efficacy of treatments, such as acupuncture, ozone therapy or homoeopathy and cover part of the costs of such treatment when it is carried out by a registered doctor. It is worthwhile comparing the services offered by various health insurance companies, since they differ in the extent to which they support alternative medicine. We would certainly recommend that you contact your health insurance company before you start the treatment to ask whether and, if so, how much of the cost is actually covered.

Dispensing chemists/pharmacies
In Germany you can only get medicines from dispensing chemists/pharmacies (Apotheke). These should not be confused with drugstores (Drogerie) where, at most, you can get some cough syrup or other weak drugs. There are two types of medication: freely-available drugs and prescription only medicines. You can only get the latter if a doctor has prescribed them. The German Medical Preparations Act is very strict. Some medicines which may be available without prescription in NZ (antibiotics, for example) always have to be prescribed by a doctor. You will have to pay for non-prescription drugs yourself and will have to contribute to the cost of prescription only drugs and medicines, unless you have been exempted from the mandatory prescription charge (Zuzahlungspflicht). If you have private health insurance, you will first pay for your medication yourself and then submit the receipts to claim the costs back from your health insurance company.

Opening hours: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. (18.30); some chemists are closed Wednesday afternoons, depending on the region; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (13.00), very rarely until 4 p.m. (16.00).

Emergency service of Dispensing chemists/pharmacies: Chemists operate a rota system to ensure that some chemists are on call at all times of the day and night. In very small places, you might sometimes have to travel to the next village or town. The addresses are printed in the newspaper under the heading of emergency chemists (Apothekennotdienst), and every chemist has the duty rota posted to show which chemists are open.

The Social Security System
If you live in Germany, you will be integrated into a social security system which protects individual citizens against risks which can endanger that citizen’s existence. Social security provides the insured person with a legally-founded right to certain payments and services. This right is acquired by paying social security contributions.

Social security covers
• Health insurance (Krankenversicherung)
• Nursing care insurance (Pflegeversicherung)
• Accident insurance (Unfallversicherung)
• Pension insurance (Rentenversicherung)
• Unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung)

The following text will describe how you, as a student, are integrated into this social security system and which types of insurance are relevant to you.

Health insurance during your studies
All students in Germany are obliged to have health insurance (statutory health insurance), which means that you will have to provide proof of your health insurance in Germany before you can register at your university or college. If you do not have this proof, you will not be able to study. In principle, students can use a special Student Health Insurance Scheme which offers particularly favourable rates. In addition to this, everybody who has health insurance in Germany must also have nursing care insurance. This statutory nursing care insurance aims to provide social security against the risk of becoming dependent on nursing care and attention, which may arise as a consequence of serious accidents, illness, disease, or in old age. The statutory nursing care insurance is taken out with the same company which provides the health insurance.

The law stipulates that all students who are registered at a state-recognised higher education are obliged to have health insurance (statutory health insurance), unless, exceptionally, they have been exempted from the insurance obligation. Health insurance cover begins with the start of the semester, at the earliest, though, on the day of registration or re-registration at the university or college. This statutory health insurance requirement continues until completion of the 14th full study semester (Fachsemester) – or until the student turns 30, whichever may occur first. Once this obligation comes to an end, the student can opt to take out voluntary insurance. Your health insurance company will advise you on the conditions and on possible exceptions to this principle.

If members of your family (spouse, child(ren)) come with you to Germany, they may, under certain circumstances, be insured with you at no extra cost. To benefit from this arrangement, the family members must have their first (or customary) place of residence in Germany, must not themselves be subject to the statutory health insurance requirement, and must not exceed certain income ceilings.

Voluntary insurance
Even if you are over 30 years of age or have already completed your 14th full semester, you will still be well serviced by a statutory health insurance company. Students with their place of residence in Germany and who are no longer covered by statutory health insurance can opt to take out voluntary insurance with the health insurance company. To do this, they must present proof of their previous health insuranc periods (Vorversicherung) with a German insurance company. The requirement is that insurance cover had been held either for 24 months over the past 5 years or for at least 1 year (12 months) without interruptions immediately prior to registration.

Accident insurance
As a student, you are covered by statutory accident insurance at your higher education institution and on your way between home and the institution. You should inquire at the International Office, for example, to find out about additional (personal) accident insurance which offers extended insurance cover. If you have been awarded a scholarship or grant, please read the conditions and arrangements for the award carefully.

The health insurance card
To be able to benefit from all the medical care, treatment and preventive measures offered by the health insurance system, simply present your doctor or dentist your health insurance card and you no longer have to worry about how the account will be settled.

Exemption from additional (prescription) charges (Zuzahlung)
Insured people whose gross monthly income is below a certain level which has been set by the legislator will be exempted from the need to pay additional (prescription) charges. This exemption applies, for example, to medicines and drugs, bandages and plasters, remedies and cures, dentures, hospital stays, and rehabilitation measures.