Studying abroad is an exciting and enriching experience, but it can also be challenging – especially when it comes to health emergencies. The following tips are designed to help international students navigate and deal with medical emergencies during their stay in Germany.
Preparation before arrival
Before you come to Germany, you should make some important preparations:
Write down emergency contacts: Make sure you have the contact details of your health insurance, the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country and the emergency numbers in Germany (110 for police and 112 for fire and rescue services) ready.
Bring medical documents: If you have chronic conditions or take medication regularly, bring all relevant medical documentation and a sufficient quantity of the medication. It is also useful to have a list of these medications in English or German.
Take out health insurance: Insurance is compulsory in Germany. International students must have either statutory or private health insurance. Find out early on which insurance options are suitable for you and take out the insurance in good time.
Tip:
With the IHSCP TARIF, for example, the IHC Company offers very good health insurance cover for international students, as well as foreign scholarship holders, prize winners, visiting academics, doctoral students and language students who stay in Germany for up to a maximum of 4 years and have a permanent residence outside Germany.
The ISHCP-STT TARIFF is suitable for all international academics who are in Germany for a short time and need short-term health insurance.
And the FLEXMED GLOBAL IMPAT TARIFF is specially tailored to foreign scholarship holders of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and THE NEW INSTITUTE gGmbH as well as other scholarship providers based in Germany. In cooperation with AXA Krankenversicherung AG, this tariff offers first-class health insurance cover.
In an emergency: first steps
If you get into a health emergency in Germany, proceed as follows:
Stay calm: Keep calm and try to assess the situation as best you can.
Dial the emergency number (112): For serious injuries or life-threatening conditions, dial 112. The emergency call center will ask you about your location and the nature of the emergency. Provide this information as accurately as possible.
Seek help from others: If you don’t feel well or are unsure, ask passers-by or neighbors for help. Many people in Germany speak English and are willing to help.
In hospital
If you have to go to hospital, please note the following points:
Bring your insurance card: Show your health insurance card or documents. These are necessary for the billing of treatment costs.
Communication: Many medical professionals in Germany speak English. If you still have communication problems, you can ask for an interpreter or use a translation app.
Documentation: Make sure you keep all the documents you receive at the hospital (such as discharge reports, prescriptions or x-rays) in a safe place. These could be important for follow-up care or for your health insurance.
After the hospital stay
Submit bills: If you have received medical bills, submit them to your health insurance company as soon as possible. Find out in advance about the reimbursement guidelines of your insurance company.
Organize follow-up care: If necessary, arrange follow-up appointments with specialists or therapists. Your family doctor or hospital doctors can advise you on this.
Prevention and general tips
Find a family doctor: Find a family doctor in your area. This is your first point of contact for health problems and can refer you to specialists if necessary.
Set up an emergency pharmacy: Keep a small emergency first-aid kit with the most important medicines and first-aid materials in your accommodation.
If you have any further questions or need support, you can contact the international offices at your university or the relevant advice centers. They specialize in helping international students in various situations.
Of course, we hope that you stay healthy and that you can enjoy your studies in Germany to the full!
