Getting a travel medical insurance for Germany
Are you planning to visit Germany? Whatever your reasons for traveling to this destination might be, there are some important things that you need to arrange before your trip. Having a proper travel medical insurance is one of those things. Costs for treatments can get really high when you are abroad. You might end up losing a big part of your travel budget if you are not properly covered.
Travelling provides you with a lot of surprises but a high medical bill is not the surprise you want to encounter. Make sure that you stay healthy and that all your medical expenses will be covered. In this article, I will explain more about the insurance requirements for a trip to Germany.
What is a travel medical insurance?
When you travel to Germany, you have the obligation to protect yourself against medical costs. In Germany, you can choose between two health care systems. The first one is the compulsory system, which is a basic package for everyone. The other option is a private contract, which covers the costs of the individual.
Why you need it
You might need medical attention when you get sick or when you get an accident. Being insured means that you are financially covered in the case of these problems. You need to choose an offer that matches the reason for your visit to Germany. A person who comes to Germany for work needs to comply to different requirements than someone who visits the country as a tourist or a student.
Advantages
The major benefit of being properly insured is that you don’t have to worry about any possible medical costs. Whenever something happens, you can focus on recovering instead of having to deal with high bills. Another benefit is the extra support that you get from your insurance company. This could mean that you can use their 24/7 telephone service in case of emergencies, or that you can ask them to arrange an evacuation.
The costs
Costs for insurance contracts differ. It depends on what you want to cover and for what reason you stay in Germany. Obviously, activities which involve high risks like dangerous jobs or adventurous vacations will cost more to cover. It also depends on which health care system you choose. The costs for the compulsory policy are based on a person’s income, while the costs for a private policy are based on health and age.
Where to get it
One easy way to get a travel medical insurance for Germany is by applying online. Various companies offer affordable packages. By using the internet, you can conveniently choose a contract which suits your needs. Another option is to contact your current health insurance company and ask if you can add a travel package that matches the requirements for a journey to Germany.
Be prepared
Remember that a healthy traveler is a wealthy traveler. If you are careful and you take good care of yourself then you might not have to deal with potential health problems and costs, which of course is the most ideal situation. However, it is always good to be prepared for worst case scenarios.
Did you ever visit Germany? How did you find your ideal travel insurance contract for this country?
Useful links
- Covomo.com: This useful site provides independent insurance advice to travelers who want to visit Germany. You can use Covomo to compare insurers and their tariffs. You can also read a lot of general information about the particular insurance requirements for a visit to Germany.
- Brain Dump: Health Insurance in Germany: A while ago, I stumbled up on this very informative article from blogger Andrew Couch. He is an expat living in Germany. In this article, he talks about Germany’s health care system.
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