To schedule doctor’s appointments, undergo medical treatment, or access other health insurance services in Germany, you need a national electronic health insurance card or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Here, you will find additional information about these cards, their coverage, and what steps to take in a medical emergency.
Temporary stays: Claiming public health care services in Germany
Even if you are in Germany on a temporary basis, such as for several weeks or months as an international student or foreign employee, holding a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) qualifies you to receive medical treatment and insurance services in Germany.
Should you fall ill or sustain an injury during your temporary stay, you can use the EHIC to claim statutory health insurance benefits. Your card is required for doctor visits, appointments with specialists, or medical emergencies. It covers the costs for health insurance services at contractual insurance providers. Bear in mind that you may need to pay for the services upfront, but you will be reimbursed by the respective insurer.
However, the EHIC should not be considered a substitute for travel insurance, as certain health insurance services are not covered under the public insurance system in Germany. Therefore, to claim such services, such as specific treatments or medicine, you must cover the costs yourself. In such cases, you will be asked beforehand to provide written consent.
The European Health Insurance Card offers insurance cover in all EU states as well as many other European countries and even some non-European territories.
How do you apply for the European Health Insurance Card?
Two factors determine your eligibility to obtain the EHIC. You must:
- Be from one of the European Union (EU) member states, the United Kingdom, or countries belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA), like Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.
- As well as be covered by public health insurance in the country of primary residence.
If you meet these criteria, you should contact your public insurance provider to inquire about their specific application procedures and whether it is already included in your international health insurance card.
However, if you are from a country not listed above or are privately insured, and you are temporarily staying in Germany, you are not eligible to apply for an EHIC. In this case, you should also contact your insurer to clarify the extent of your coverage. Taking out additional private insurance may thus be necessary to cover unexpected costs for medical treatments while abroad.
Permanent residents: Using your electronic health insurance card
Under the German health insurance system, permanent residents are legally obligated to enroll in either public or private insurance, given that health insurance is mandatory.
As a member of the public health insurance system, you will be issued the electronic national health insurance card, commonly known as the e-health card. This card must be presented at doctor’s appointments, in emergencies, or for other health insurance services, to confirm your insurance status.
In addition to a photo of the insured individual, the e-health card contains the following information:
- Name and address
- Date of birth
- Details of the insurance provider
- Insurance number
Two cards in one: e-health and EHIC
Residents covered by statutory health insurance in Germany automatically possess the EHIC card, conveniently printed on the reverse side of the e-health card. This EHIC card includes identical data to that on the front of the card, plus the following information:
- A logo that the card was issued in Germany
- The card number
- A separate date of validity specifically for the EHIC
- The insured individual’s signature
Subsequently, German residents with public health insurance can utilize this card to access medical treatment or health insurance services abroad, provided the destination is a member country of the EU, the EEA, or the United Kingdom.
Do I get a card for my private insurance?
While private insurance companies are not obligated to provide insurance cards similar to the e-health card in public health insurance, most insurers issue a chip card displaying the insurance status of their members. This card is designed to streamline medical treatments at doctors’ offices or hospitals. However, private insurance cardholders are not entitled to the EHIC and, consequently, it is not printed on the reverse side of their card. This EHIC system is exclusively intended for members of statutory health insurances in Germany.
