Anyone leaving Germany after completing their studies, a research stay or a scholarship usually focuses first on their departure, their next destination or their return to their home country. Health insurance is easily overlooked in this process – even though it is precisely this transitional phase that requires careful planning.
After all, a stay does not always end on a specific date. Sometimes you move straight to a new country, sometimes back home, and sometimes the stay is extended or shortened at short notice. To avoid gaps in cover, missing proof of insurance or unresolved issues with bills, it is worth taking a timely look at your existing insurance cover.
If you are moving on to another country after Germany
Anyone moving directly to another country after a stay in Germany should check well in advance when their current insurance cover expires and when the next cover begins.
Above all, it is important that the transition is planned carefully. Otherwise, gaps can quickly arise, particularly with international moves – for example, if the new insurance only starts later or if there are a few days between departure and arrival.
Returning to your home country: Make sure you keep your documents safe
When returning to your home country, it is also a good idea to make thorough preparations for the end of your insurance cover. This isn’t just about the policy expiring, but also about the documents that may be needed later on.
These include, in particular:
• Insurance confirmation
• Policy
• Proof of the insurance period
• Any invoices or reimbursements already submitted
These documents may still be important later on for new health insurance, government agencies or other administrative processes.
Avoiding gaps in cover at the end of your stay
A common mistake is to arrange health insurance only until the official end of a programme – rather than until the actual date of departure or the start of the next insurance cover.
It is therefore particularly important, especially in the final days of a stay, that cover actually extends until the appropriate date. This is especially true if travel plans change at short notice or if you are planning to travel on to another destination.
Particularly during short transitional periods or in the event of changed travel plans, it is worth looking into suitable solutions for shorter stays.
Keep track of bills even after departure
Not all medical documents are available in full straight away. It is common for bills or receipts to arrive just before or even after departure.
If treatment took place within the insured period, the relevant documents should still be kept safe and – if necessary – submitted at a later date. It is therefore advisable to save medical bills and important documents digitally before departure.
Report changes to your stay in good time
Not every stay goes exactly as originally planned. If your departure date, length of stay or onward travel plans change, this should be taken into account as early as possible.
This applies, for example, to:
• an earlier return journey
• an extension of the stay
• a later departure
• a move to another country
This allows you to check in good time whether your existing insurance cover remains suitable or needs to be adjusted.
Key points at a glance
Anyone leaving Germany should not wait until the last day to consider their health insurance cover. It is particularly important to:
• check the insurance period in good time
• plan transitions without gaps in cover
• secure important documents before departure
• keep track of outstanding bills
• clarify any changes to your stay at an early stage
Good preparation makes the next step – whether returning home or travelling on – much easier to organise.
And if you are still in the planning stages of a stay in Germany, you can find information here on which health insurance is required for your visa.
