Exemption from compulsory insurance

If you become subject to compulsory student health insurance as a result of your enrollment, you may be exempt from compulsory insurance under certain conditions. The notification of exemption from compulsory insurance can be made by any statutory health insurance company.

Private health insurance: If you wish to remain privately insured (e.g. via a co-insurance through your parents), you can be exempted from compulsory insurance. This also applies to persons entitled to assistance or persons who enjoy free medical care or military care. In this case, please contact a statutory health insurance company so that a notification of exemption can be sent to the University of Hamburg.

Over 30 years old: If you are over 30 years old, you are not subject to student insurance coverage based on your enrollment. Therefore, you may be exempt from compulsory insurance based on your age. In this case, please contact a statutory health insurance company so that a notification of exemption can be sent to the University of Hamburg.

European health insurance: If you have health insurance in another European country, this can replace the insurance in Germany. In this case, please contact a German statutory health insurance company so that a notification of exemption is sent to the HFBK Hamburg.

Before the exemption is issued, please get detailed advice from the statutory health insurance company about the consequences of the exemption from compulsory insurance, because if you claim the exemption, it is valid for the entire duration of your studies and cannot be revoked.

Information for international students

Students who have health insurance in a European country are usually exempt from compulsory insurance. Please contact a German statutory health insurance company to have the exemption confirmed.

Travel health insurance does not provide sufficient coverage for studying in Germany. Therefore, do not take out a travel health insurance for the duration of your study stay, this type of insurance is not sufficient for studying in Germany.

Please always make sure that your health insurance covers you against all risks of illness, as treatment costs in Germany are high and must be paid privately if the insurance does not cover them. If you have any questions about health insurance coverage in Germany, please contact the Social & International Counseling Center.

International students who are currently still abroad and cannot obtain valid health insurance until they arrive in Germany can apply for insurance after their arrival in Germany, at the latest by 15.10. e.J..

If you already need a health insurance certificate to apply for a visa, you have the option of initially taking out health insurance for the first three months of your stay only. After your arrival in Hamburg, you will then take out health insurance for your studies.

Please note that you must have any form of health insurance that is not a German statutory health insurance checked by a statutory health insurance company. If your health insurance provides sufficient coverage for studying in Germany, any German statutory health insurance fund can report an exemption from the statutory health insurance obligation.