Insurance

Schreibtisch mit Taschenrechner Tabellen, Laptop und Notizbuch

Social Insurance

Social and Health Insurances

The German social security system covers retirement pension, unemployment, health, and nursing care insurances. If you have a work contract in Germany and earn more than 556 Euros per month, you are required to pay contributions into the social and health insurances.

The contributions are shared by both the employee and the employer. The contribution towards the statutory accident insurance is covered fully by the employer.

Social Security Agreement (external link, opens in a new window)

Germany has social security agreements with several other European countries. For more information, please click here.

Health insurance

Health Insurance

In Germany, there is a general health insurance obligation (VVG § 193). This means that everyone who is resident in Germany is obliged to have health insurance.

Certain groups of people must have statutory health insurance (GKV). Others have the choice between voluntary membership in the statutory health insurance and joining the private health insurance (PKV).

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (external link, opens in a new window)

If you are an EU citizen, please contact your health insurance provider in your home country regarding the validity of your health insurance during your stay in Germany.

Do you have a work contract or are you receiving a scholarship?

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Person, die etwas aus einem Aktenschrank an der Uni Regensburg herausnimmt — Aktenschrank

Research stay with work contract

If you have a work contract with the UR (or another employer) and your salary is more than 556 Euros a month, you are required to take out statutory health insurance. Changing to private health insurance is only an option, if your income exceeds the income threshold (Versicherungspflichtgrenze) for statutory health insurance membership.

If you finance your research stay in Germany through a work contract, you will be included in all branches of the statutory social insurance and are subject to compulsory insurance. Contributions are shared between both, employer and employee. Contributions to accident insurance are entirely covered by the employer.

Please contact your host department in advance regarding formalities for statutory health insurance.

Examples of statutory health insurances:

Some statutory health insurance companies in Regensburg

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Zwei Studierende sehen sich ein Formular für einen BAf?G-Antrag an — Studierende mit BAf?G-Antrag

Research stay with scholarship or self-financed

If you are financing your research project with a scholarship or if it is self financed, it is compulsory for you to take out health insurance - either with a German health insurance company or with a health insurance company from your home country. Please also ask your scholarship institution for recommendations on this regard. There is also the option to take out public health insurance, if you meet certain requirements.

Your will need to sign up personally with the health insurance company of your choice. Please note that sufficient health insurance is mandatory for your entire stay and for all family members.

Examples of private health insurance:

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Scherben eines blauen Tellers auf dem Fu?boden

Additional Insurances..

In addition to the statutory (compulsory) insurance, it is often recommendable to take out private insurances, such as accident, liability or household and personal affects insurances. More detailed information about insurances can be found on the Make it in Germany website.

Make It In Germany (external link, opens in a new window)

Overview of other important insurances in Germany

Additional Insurances

Accident Insurance

Everyone who is enrolled at the University of Regensburg or has a work contract with the UR is automatically covered by the statutory accident insurance if they have an accident at the workplace or on the way to or from work.

You might also consider taking out a private accident insurance to cover accidents in other situations.

Liability Insurance

Sometimes it may be the case someone may unintentionally cause damages to someone else (for example, if you break something in the flat you are renting). A liability insurance will reimburse the insured for these damages.

Please consider that private landlords may require that you have liability insurance, to cover for potential damages to the flat.

Household and personal possessions insurance

Household insurance can cover your home and personal possessions in certain circumstances such as fire or flooding.

Laboratory liability insurance

International visiting researchers conducting lab experiments should also have a special insurance for their work in the lab. It is you own responsibility to get sufficient coverage. Please ask your advisor or the faculty for more information on this regard.

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