For a semester abroad you need cover that includes treatment and, in an emergency, repatriation. Many students first think of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), but it covers less than the name suggests. This guide explains what the EHIC covers, what a stay-abroad health insurance should add, and what universities typically require.
Kurz beantwortet: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers medically necessary treatment in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland on the same terms as local residents. Repatriation, travel costs and private clinics are not covered. A stay-abroad health insurance closes these gaps. Universities often ask for proof of minimum benefits (as of October 2026, source: Verbraucherzentrale).
The most important points
- The EHIC is available free of charge from your health insurer and applies in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.
- Repatriation and travel costs are not covered by statutory health insurance. This is where stay-abroad health insurance comes in.
- Outside these states, the statutory insurer reimburses only where a social security agreement exists.
- Whether you remain in the student health insurance depends on your enrolment at the German university. The insurer confirms this in writing.
- Check your university’s requirements before you take out a policy.
What the EHIC covers and what it does not
With the EHIC you receive the treatment in the EU that is medically necessary. The provider bills under the rules of the host country, and the insurer covers the benefits that are also available to local residents there. If a doctor does not accept the card, you pay first and submit the receipts to the insurer. As a rule, only costs that the local insurers also cover are reimbursed.
Travel and accommodation costs, private doctors and private clinics, repatriation and medicines that are not prescription-only are not covered or only partly covered. Planned hospital stays and spa treatment need prior approval from the insurer. Emergencies are excluded.
Which cover closes which gap
| Cover | What it covers | Typical gap |
|---|---|---|
| EHIC | Medically necessary treatment in the EU, EEA and Switzerland like for local residents | Repatriation, private clinics, travel costs, medicines not prescription-only |
| Stay-abroad health insurance | Treatment, repatriation and supplement to statutory benefits, depending on the tariff also retrieval | Scope varies by tariff, clauses on pre-existing conditions, minimum requirements of the university |
| Statutory insurance outside the EU | Only where a social security agreement exists | Without an agreement the insurer pays no treatment costs |
A stay-abroad health insurance is therefore usually the part that secures repatriation and the remaining costs. The costs to expect depend on the region and the tariff. Guide values by region are in the guide study abroad health insurance per month.
What to check in a stay-abroad policy
Tariffs differ in scope and conditions. Look for these points in the contract or the conditions before you take out a policy:
- Repatriation and retrieval: when the tariff covers them, and whether a medical justification is needed.
- Duration: does the contract cover the whole stay abroad, including outward and return journeys?
- Territory: does the cover apply worldwide, or only to certain countries and trips?
- Pre-existing conditions: are there exclusions or waiting periods that could affect you?
- Cost coverage: how is inpatient treatment billed, and when do you need a cost guarantee?
Pay particular attention to whether you have to advance treatment costs. Many tariffs require you to pay the bill first and submit it later. This is not a defect, but it has to be included in your cash planning.
Common mistakes in cover
- Relying only on the EHIC, although repatriation and travel costs remain open.
- Not checking the duration against the semester plan, for example when the semester starts earlier than the contract.
- Not keeping proofs, although the university asks for them later.
What your student status has to do with the cover
Compulsory membership in the student health insurance follows section 5(1) no. 9 of the Social Code Book V (SGB V). What matters is that you remain enrolled at a German university and that the semester abroad is part of your course. The health insurer confirms in writing whether this applies to you. Ask before departure how it treats the stay abroad and what proof it needs.
What universities typically require
In the Erasmus programme, universities usually require proof of insurance cover for the stay. The minimum benefits are set out in your university’s requirements, for example in the learning agreement or in an insurance declaration. Treatment, repatriation and a minimum term covering the semester are often mentioned. If your university has a template, follow it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the EHIC enough for a semester abroad in France?
For medically necessary treatment in the EU it is usually sufficient. For repatriation and travel costs it is not. Many universities therefore also require stay-abroad health insurance, even if you have an EHIC.
What does stay-abroad health insurance cost for a semester?
Costs depend on the target region, the duration and the scope of cover. Guide values by region are in the guide on stay-abroad health insurance (in German). A price comparison is only useful if you check the benefits at the same time. The cheapest tariff is not automatically the right one, especially if repatriation or pre-existing conditions matter.
Do I need stay-abroad health insurance outside the EU?
In most cases yes, because the EHIC does not apply there. Without a social security agreement, the statutory insurer reimburses no treatment. Stay-abroad health insurance is therefore a sensible step, and universities often require it.
Does the health insurer pay for repatriation?
No, repatriation is not a benefit of statutory health insurance. It is a typical point that stay-abroad health insurance covers. Check in the tariff whether repatriation applies in an emergency and during trips.
Does the policy also cover semester breaks or trips?
That depends on the tariff. Check whether trips within the host country and to neighbouring countries are covered, and whether there is a maximum continuous duration. If you travel often, look closely at this clause.
Step by step to the right cover
- Clarify your university’s requirements, in particular minimum benefits and proof.
- Apply for the EHIC from your health insurer. The card is free of charge.
- Compare stay-abroad health insurances by repatriation, period of validity and clauses on pre-existing conditions.
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing how the stay abroad is treated in the student health insurance.
- Keep all proofs at hand so you can show them immediately in an emergency.
If you are unsure which combination of EHIC and additional cover suits your semester abroad, you can get personal advice (in German). The decision remains yours.
Related guides
- Study abroad health insurance per month: guide values by region
- Health insurance during a semester abroad: what applies (in German)
- Health insurance for a long study abroad (in German)
- Health insurance abroad: what students need to know (in German)
- Financing a semester abroad: costs, study abroad BAföG, scholarships (in German)
Sources: Verbraucherzentrale, Krank im Ausland (article dated 20 June 2023); section 5 SGB V, compulsory insurance (legal text).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
