A semester abroad can be an exciting investment in the future, similar to a well-planned IPO. However, while investing in education, you should not neglect protecting your health. Choosing the right health insurance is a crucial step to ensure that you are optimally protected during your stay abroad. In this article, we highlight the various insurance options and offer valuable insights for investors who want to care for the health of their insured.
Insurance Obligation and Options During the Semester Abroad: Optimal Protection Through GKV and PKV
During a semester abroad, students face the challenge of ensuring the right insurance coverage. Both public health insurance (GKV) and private health insurance (PKV) offer different options depending on various factors such as the destination country and individual circumstances. Therefore, it is essential to have a basic understanding of how GKV and PKV work and the services they offer.
Public Health Insurance (GKV)
For German students who remain enrolled at a national university, GKV provides some security. Within the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and existing social security agreements ensure accessible medical treatment. However, EHIC does not necessarily cover all expenses, particularly specialized care, and does not cover repatriation costs to Germany. In countries without social security agreements, GKV is almost inadequate as protection, highlighting the need for supplementary insurance.
In countries with explicit social security agreements, such as Turkey, students can rely on some services, but with limitations. This does not eliminate the need to supplement the relatively limited coverage with appropriate additional insurance.
Private Health Insurance (PKV)
If more comprehensive benefits are desired during a semester abroad, PKV is recommended. It often provides broader protection compared to GKV and includes important benefits such as necessary medical repatriation. Especially during stays outside of Europe, PKV is not only recommended but necessary to avoid risking insurance coverage.
It is also advisable to consider long-term rates if the stay abroad lasts more than ten weeks, as regular travel health insurances are often insufficient. Even in the EEA, where EHIC promises top-level protection, private health insurance for abroad is often suggested.
Ultimately, the decision-making process for choosing appropriate insurances depends on several factors, such as the travel country, the duration of travel, individual health status, and financial possibilities. However, what remains is the urgency to proactively address the available insurance options to be well protected during the stay abroad.
Health Insurance for Extended Stays Abroad: The Protective Shield for Your Study Abroad
A semester abroad offers not only an academic adventure but also requires healthy precautions regarding health. Health insurance for extended stays abroad proves essential, especially when German public health insurance provides inadequate protection, particularly in countries without social security agreements.
While shorter trips abroad can be covered by a regular travel health insurance, extended stays exceeding ten weeks require a form of specialized insurance. This is crucial since traditional travel health insurances usually have a maximum coverage duration of 56-70 days. For a semester abroad, which typically involves longer periods, health insurance for extended stays abroad is therefore indispensable.
Essential features of such insurance include broad coverage of medical expenses, which can be significant in case of serious illnesses or injuries. It should allow the choice of doctor and hospital to ensure the best possible care. Additionally, full reimbursement of expenses for medications and analgesic dental treatments are important elements of the insurance coverage. Crucial is also the repatriation in case of medical emergencies, which should always be included in the insurance, as public health insurance does not cover such costs.
Practical tips for taking out health insurance for extended stays abroad include carefully examining the contractual conditions, such as the issue of any deductibles, as well as the option for insurance during visits home. For more active students, it is advisable to clarify whether sports activities – even those of a more extreme nature – are covered. An extension option can be decisive in case the stay abroad is unexpectedly prolonged.
As for the timing of taking out insurance, this should be done before departure, as many providers no longer allow coverage once the journey has begun. Providers such as Hanse Merkur and other institutions offer various rates specifically designed for long-term travel and allow adjustments to individual needs.
In summary: Careful selection and timely conclusion of the right health insurance for extended stays abroad are central to being fully protected during a semester abroad, both in Europe and beyond.