Master abroad health insurance is a question many students face when they keep their residence in Germany. Does the German policy stay in place, or does the host country take over? The answer depends on whether you are insured as a student, how old you are, and whether the host country grants an entitlement to benefits in kind. This guide explains the basics and the points you should clarify before you leave.
Short answer
If your residence remains in Germany, your health insurance question stays linked to your enrolment and to the rules of the host country. Under § 5 para. 1 no. 9 of Book V of the Social Code (SGB V), students are subject to compulsory statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV), regardless of their residence in Germany. This applies provided they have no entitlement to benefits in kind under supranational or intergovernmental law and are not yet 30. Your health insurer confirms in writing whether this applies to your master’s programme.
Which master abroad health insurance rule applies to you?
Whether you remain insured in Germany depends mainly on three points: Your enrolment, the host country and your age. The law sets out compulsory insurance for students and makes clear that a residence in Germany is not required. It does not address every case abroad explicitly, so there is room for interpretation, which your health insurer checks.
| Situation | What needs to be clarified |
|---|---|
| Master at a university in the EU with an entitlement to benefits in kind | Whether the entitlement under the host country’s system replaces German insurance |
| Master outside the EU | Private health insurance abroad that you arrange yourself, and whether compulsory insurance in Germany still applies |
| Enrolment only abroad, residence in Germany | Whether you remain enrolled at a German university |
| Age over 30 | Student health insurance ends with the semester of your 30th birthday |
What does this mean for the costs?
If you remain insured in Germany, you keep paying the contribution for as long as compulsory insurance applies. If you take out private health insurance abroad, its premiums come on top. A flat sum cannot be named, because it depends on your age, tariff and scope of cover.
Example calculation: You are 26, enrolled in a master’s programme at a university abroad, and compulsory insurance in Germany continues to apply. Then the student contribution remains in place until you turn 30. From the semester of your 30th birthday, a different rule applies, which is described in the guide Health insurance for students over 30. Your health insurer can tell you the exact contribution.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose my insurance cover if I study abroad?
Not automatically. Whether your insurance is suspended, ends or continues depends on your enrolment and the host country. A gap mainly arises if you miss the notification or exemption deadline.
Can I be exempted during my master’s?
An exemption from compulsory insurance is subject to conditions and can be irrevocable for the duration of your studies. Get advice on the consequences before you apply.
Do I need private health insurance abroad?
If the host country does not grant you an entitlement to benefits in kind, or German insurance does not cover you sufficiently abroad, private health insurance for abroad makes sense. Benefits differ between tariffs, so compare treatment and repatriation cover carefully.
What to do now
- Clarify in writing with your health insurer how your insurance works during your master’s.
- Check whether the host country grants an entitlement to benefits in kind, and keep the proof ready.
- If needed, take out private health insurance for abroad before you leave.
- If your insurance status changes, notify your insurer in good time to avoid a gap.
Information, not individual advice.
Editorial team: Academycon · Last updated: October 2026
Sources: § 5 para. 1 no. 9 and para. 7 SGB V in the current version. Joint circular of the statutory health insurers on compulsory insurance for students.
You can find the online check at check.academycon.de.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
