Please note that the mandatory health insurance requirement in Germany applies to you starting from the beginning of your first semester (October 1st for the winter semester, April 1st for the summer semester). It is essential that you clarify the potential implications with a statutory health insurance provider in Germany (e.g., Techniker Krankenkasse, AOK, DAK, etc.) if you are unable to enter Germany until the official start of the semester. If you fail to arrange statutory health insurance or obtain an official exemption from the mandatory insurance requirement in a timely manner, you risk incurring high costs in the form of retroactive payments. Therefore, please attend to this matter while still in your home country.
Health Insurance during your Studies
Health insurance is generally mandatory for students in Germany. You need proof of existing health insurance for enrollment. Here you will find the most important information on how to provide this proof to Ruhr University Bochum and which health insurance options there are.
All students must provide proof of their insurance status when enrolling. Doctoral students,"Zweithörer*innen", "Gasthörer*innen" and German course participants are not affected by this procedure and do not have to provide proof.
Contents of this page
- Proof of health insurance status
(statutory health insurance | private health insurance | foreign health insurance | health insurance change during studies) - Health insurance options for students
(statutory health insurance - family insurance, student health insurance | private health insurance)
If you have any questions about student health insurance and in cases of doubt (e.g. if you are insured abroad), please always contact your health insurance provider directly or seek advice from a statutory health insurance provider in Germany. On this page we provide information on how to prove your insurance status and which forms and options of insurance are available.
Proof of Statutory Health Insurance
Ask your german health insurance company to send proof of your insurance status to Ruhr-Universität Bochum (sender number H0002220). Please make sure that your full name in the information provided by your health insurance company is identical to the information provided to the Ruhr-Universität.
The health insurance company will then send us your proof (notification M10) digitally as part of the student notification procedure (SMV). We cannot process any form of paper proof or PDF files.
For online enrollment
- enter the company number of your health insurance fund.
You can find the company numbers of the statutory health insurance funds on the Company number health insurance funds page. - enter your health insurance number, which you will usually find on your insurance card. We need this for the data comparison with the health insurance company.
- upload a scan of your insurance card so that we can correct any typing errors in the health insurance number or company number more easily.
Please note this:
- If the digital notification is not submitted, you may be de-registered as your insurance cover has not been verified.
Proof of Private Health Insurance
The required digital proof is transmitted by a statutory health insurance company; your private health insurance company cannot send this notification to RUB itself.
Therefore, if you are privately insured and wish to remain so during your studies, you must apply for a so-called exemption from the statutory insurance obligation from your last statutory health insurance company or, if you have never been insured by a statutory health insurance company, from any statutory health insurance company.
Please state the sender number of Ruhr-Universität Bochum: H0002220
The statutory health insurance company will send the required certificate digitally directly to the Ruhr-Universität as part of the student registration procedure (SMV). We cannot process any form of paper certificates or PDF files for system-related reasons.
Please note this:
- If the digital notification is not submitted, you may be de-registered as your insurance cover has not been verified.
- If you want to be exempted from the statutory insurance obligation as a privately insured person, a maximum period of 3 months applies after the start of the insurance obligation as a student, i.e. the start of your studies. After this exclusion period has expired, exemption is no longer possible and you must take out statutory health insurance (legal basis §8 SGB V).
Make sure you obtain the necessary certificates in good time and seek advice on the formalities from a statutory health insurance provider. Further general information can be found below.
Proof of Foreign Health Insurance
Foreign health insurance is only sufficient for studying in Germany in a few cases. This is the case, for example, with some health insurance companies within the EU or in certain non-European countries with which corresponding social security agreements have been concluded.
Please seek advice from a statutory German health insurance fund in good time before starting your studies, as we must receive a digital notification from this statutory German health insurance fund about your insurance status. The statutory German health insurance company may ask for a sender number from the university. The sender number of Ruhr-Universität Bochum is: H0002220
Please take care of this important formality in good time before the start of your studies, as otherwise you may incur higher costs.
This is the case, for example, if you can be exempted from compulsory insurance in Germany due to your foreign health insurance, but the notification described above is not received on time within a maximum of three months after the start of your studies - in this case you must take out additional insurance.
Changed Health Insurance during your Studies?
For social law reasons, the Student Secretariat always needs the current data on how and where you have health insurance.
If you change your health insurance company or health insurance provider, apply to your new insurance company for a "Notification of change of health insurance company" (M11) to the sender number of Ruhr-Universität Bochum (H0002220).
The insurance company will then send the proof directly to the Ruhr-Universität.
Statutory Health Insurance
As a student, you are generally assigned to statutory health insurance. In the case of statutory health insurance, students under 25 are often still covered by their parents' family insurance. Otherwise, the health insurance companies offer discounted student insurance.
Family Insurance in a Statutory Health Insurance Scheme
Students can be insured free of charge with the statutory health insurance of their parents, spouse or registered partner. However, there are conditions and regulations for this:
Family-insured persons may not exceed a regular gross income of 470 euros per month (as of 2022). This does not apply to short-term employment during the semester break, i.e. jobs that are limited to three months or 70 working days in advance. Here, the amount of earnings is generally irrelevant.
Benefits under the BAföG or parental support are also not taken into account when determining the total income.
Student Health Insurance
Students who are no longer insured free of charge under family insurance can join the low-cost student health insurance scheme. However, this option is generally only available up to the age of 30.
The prerequisite is that your studies take priority over employment, i.e. you do not work more than 20 hours a week (the so-called working student contract).
Exceptions:
- During semester breaks, you may also work more than 20 hours during the week on a total of 182 calendar days per year (26-week rule).
- In some cases there are further exceptions, please consult your health insurance provider.
If you exceed these limits, you will lose your student health insurance and have to pay significantly higher contributions.
Student Health Insurance: Extension Options
Under certain conditions, student health insurance can be extended up to a maximum of the 37th birthday. This is possible, for example, for
- the time required to obtain a higher education entrance qualification via the second-chance route
- Caring for family members
- Personal illness of at least 3 months (at a time)
- Own disability (max. extension: 7 semesters)
- Birth of a child and subsequent childcare (max. extension: 6 semesters)
- Voluntary social or ecological year, military or civilian service or now federal voluntary service
- Participation in university committees (such as student council, AStA, StuPa, Senate, etc.)
Private Health Insurance: Exemption from the Statutory Insurance Obligation
As a student, you are generally assigned to the statutory health insurance scheme. Before enrolling, you can choose to take out private health insurance and thus be exempted from the statutory insurance obligation.
Please Note: Possibilities and Consequences of Exemption
Students who were compulsorily insured immediately before their studies (e.g. through training, FSJ, Federal Voluntary Service) cannot be exempted from compulsory insurance. You must also remain in private health insurance if you are privately insured yourself and are over 30 years old.
Students who are insured with a private health insurance company through their parents or who wish to take out private health insurance should take note:
- If you have private health insurance during your studies, you cannot switch back to statutory health insurance if you subsequently become self-employed. Even if you don't get a job straight away, you will have to bear the costs of the insurance yourself.
- Exemption from the statutory health insurance obligation applies for the entire course of study, regardless of age and for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
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