Health insurance abroad during a semester abroad stays in place if you remain enrolled in Germany, keep your residence here and study in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland. There you use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Statutory health insurance does not pay for medically necessary repatriation, which is why private travel health cover is worthwhile. Outside the EU you generally need cover in the country where you study or a private policy.
Key points at a glance
- If you remain enrolled and keep your residence in Germany, you stay in the student statutory insurance during a semester abroad in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
- The EHIC covers medically necessary services under the rules of the country you are in. Local co-payments may apply.
- Repatriation to Germany is not part of the benefits of statutory health insurance.
- Outside the EU you generally need cover in the country where you study or a private travel health policy. In countries without a social security agreement, such as the USA or Australia, the statutory insurer does not cover illness.
- Privately insured students should check in their tariff where, for how long and with which benefits cover applies abroad.
Do you stay in statutory insurance during a semester abroad?
Your enrolment, your residence and the destination country decide this. The overview shows what applies in each situation:
| Situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| Enrolled in Germany, residence in Germany, destination in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland | The student compulsory insurance continues as long as you do not exceed the age limit of 30. Family-insured students pay no contribution, self-insured students continue to pay their health and long-term care contributions. |
| Leave of absence from studies or deferral | Compulsory insurance generally continues in this case too, as it does during a semester abroad. |
| Destination outside the EU | As a rule you need insurance in the country where you study or a private travel health policy. |
| Destination without a social security agreement, for example the USA or Australia | The statutory insurer does not cover illness. Private cover is strongly recommended. |
| Privately insured | Your tariff determines where, for how long and with which benefits cover applies abroad. |
These rules apply to stays of one to around two semesters. Under the Erasmus programme, one semester is funded for at most four months and two semesters for at most eight months. If you plan to study abroad for an entire degree and deregister, different rules apply, which are explained in our article on health insurance for students planning to study abroad (in German). For the organisation of the semester itself, see Erasmus and semesters abroad (in German).
Example: Lea, 22, is in the student compulsory insurance and spends a semester in Spain. Assumptions: she stays enrolled at her German university and keeps her residence in Germany. Her compulsory insurance continues, and in Spain she uses the EHIC. In addition, she takes out travel health insurance, because the statutory insurer does not pay for repatriation.
How are you insured during an Erasmus semester?
The Erasmus grant is a financial contribution towards the additional costs. You are insured through your health insurer or a policy. The same rule applies to an Erasmus semester as to any semester abroad: if you remain enrolled in Germany and keep your residence here, the student compulsory insurance continues. Speak to your health insurer before you leave and check whether an additional policy is needed.
What does the EHIC cover during a semester abroad?
The European Health Insurance Card applies in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. It covers medically necessary services under the rules of the country you are in. In other words, you receive the services that insured people of that country receive. Local co-payments apply, for example in France.
Medically necessary repatriation to Germany is not covered. Details for individual countries and practical tips can be found under insurance in the EU abroad (in German).
Do you need health insurance abroad as a student?
Health insurers and the German Consumer Advice Centre (Verbraucherzentrale) recommend private travel health insurance abroad. Outside the EU you need it, or cover in the country where you study. Within the EU it makes sense if you want to insure repatriation. Pay attention to these points:
- Duration: Standard travel insurance often only applies for a limited number of days per trip. For a semester you need a long-term policy that covers the whole stay.
- Repatriation: It should be expressly included.
- Scope: Check whether doctors, clinics, medication and emergencies are covered, and whether the policy applies to studying and not only to a holiday.
Destinations outside Europe have special features, which are explained in our article on insurance outside the EU (in German). If you receive study grants abroad (Auslands-BAföG), there is a supplement for the additional costs of foreign health insurance, half as a grant and half as a loan. How it works is described in our article on the BAföG grant towards health insurance (in German).
What applies to private health insurance during a semester abroad?
Your tariff determines how far private health insurance reaches abroad. Ask your insurer in writing:
- In which countries does the cover apply?
- Is there a time limit on stays abroad, and is it long enough for your semester?
- Is medically sensible repatriation included?
- Does the cover apply to studying or only to travel?
Privately insured students usually pay doctors’ invoices first and then submit them to the insurer. You have three years from the end of the year in which the invoice was issued. Example: an invoice from November 2026 can be submitted until 31.12.2029. Keep invoices, payment receipts and treatment records carefully.
What should you do in an emergency abroad?
Go to the nearest doctor or hospital and, in urgent cases, call the emergency number of the country. Have your identity document, EHIC or policy number and your insurer’s contact details ready. Ask for invoices and a description of the treatment, because you need them for billing. For planned treatment, ask your health insurer or insurer in advance whether the costs will be covered.
What applies to pre-existing conditions, regular medication or pregnancy?
Before you leave, check whether you can get your medication in the destination country and whether your policy includes treatment for existing conditions. In pregnancy the following applies: students in the student compulsory insurance have no entitlement to sickness benefit or maternity benefit. Maternity benefits can be claimed by those who work alongside their studies. If in doubt, speak to your health insurer and your doctor.
What applies after your return?
If you have remained enrolled in Germany, nothing changes in your compulsory insurance. Submit outstanding medical invoices to your health insurer or insurer before the deadline expires, and end the overseas policy at the end of your stay. Ask the provider how to cancel the contract.
Frequently asked questions
Am I insured through my statutory health insurer during a semester abroad?
In the EU, the EEA and Switzerland you remain in the student compulsory insurance if you stay enrolled in Germany and keep your residence here. The EHIC applies abroad. Outside the EU you generally need cover in the country where you study or a private travel health policy.
Do I need health insurance abroad for an Erasmus semester?
It is almost always recommended, because the statutory insurer does not pay for medically necessary repatriation. Outside the EU you need it, or cover in the country where you study. Look for a long-term policy, because standard travel insurance often only applies for a limited number of days per trip.
What does the EHIC not cover?
The EHIC covers medically necessary services under the rules of the country you are in. Local co-payments may apply. Medically necessary repatriation to Germany is not covered. For destinations outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, the card generally does not suffice.
Does my private health insurance apply during a semester abroad?
Your tariff decides. Territorial scope, time limits and repatriation are set out in the policy conditions. Ask your insurer explicitly about a semester abroad and get the answer in writing. You generally submit invoices yourself.
How to proceed now
- Clarify whether you remain enrolled in Germany and where your residence stays registered.
- Ask your health insurer whether your compulsory insurance continues, and obtain the EHIC if your destination is in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
- Compare long-term policies by duration, repatriation and scope.
- If you are privately insured, get the answers to your questions about the tariff in writing.
- Keep all invoices abroad and submit them in good time after your return.
If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the route to advice on the Academycon homepage.
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Related
- Planning a semester abroad: application, Erasmus and funding (in German)
- Health insurance in the EU abroad during your studies: EHIC and more (in German)
- Health insurance outside the EU during your studies: what counts (in German)
- Health insurance for long stays abroad during your studies (in German)
- Travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and work and travel (in German)
- Semester abroad in the UK: health insurance, visa, costs (in German)
- Semester abroad in Spain: health insurance, visa, costs (in German)
- Semester abroad in the USA: health insurance, visa, costs (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
