Travel Insurance for Germany from India

If you are looking for Travel insurance for Germany from India, then you are on the right page.

One of the most important things you need to get done before your trip to Germany is your travel insurance. Proof of insurance is mandatory. Without it, there is no chance of getting a visa to Germany.

Even if you were going to a country where travel insurance is not required, you should get it anyway. It is a boon in times of emergencies.

Why do you need Travel Insurance for Germany?

Travel insurance is necessary as it financially compensates you in case of unexpected incidents, such as accidents or cancellations.

Usually, basic policies cover only medical expenses, whereas comprehensive policies also include compensation for cancelled flights, lost luggage, and other unforeseen expenses.

Additionally, even though Germany is one of the safest European countries, pickpocketing and other petty crimes could take place. Travel insurance compensates you in case of such incidents.

Here is a list of officially approved travel health insurance providers for your travel from India to Germany. It will help you start your search for a suitable and affordable insurance plan.

Every single person who travels to Germany is required to have travel health insurance. This is because in Germany you have to be mandatorily insured all the time during your stay.

Depending on your reason for travelling to the country, there are different kinds of insurance.

Travel Health Insurance for Visitors/Tourists

If you want to go to Germany for tourism, visiting family, or attending a business conference, you will most probably have to file for a Schengen Visa.

The Schengen Visa allows you to visit 26 countries in Europe for up to 90 days, or 3 months. This is more than enough time for a casual visit.

For the Schengen Visa, you need to have some form of health insurance. If you have not applied for health insurance, you will be rejected immediately, and will not be granted the visa.

Now, instead of buying health insurance that covers only your medical expenses, you can get travel insurance that will cover other aspects of your trip as well, such as lost baggage and stolen items.

The German embassy requires that you provide travel insurance proof that is valid across the 26 European countries, and that covers a minimum of 30,000 EUR (25.5 Lakh INR) worth of medical costs.

As you can see above, health insurance is important to avoid the possibility of paying such a huge sum of money out of your own pocket.

Travel Health Insurance for Indian Students

Students will have to obtain travel insurance that is different from a regular Schengen visa holder. This is because they will have to stay for a longer time in Germany. Accordingly, insurance plans will differ.

Health insurance is again compulsory for students. It is an ironclad requirement to be accepted into any German university.

To receive your student visa, you need to have appropriate travel health insurance. This needs to be valid from your arrival date in Germany till your university enrollment date (which should be mentioned in your admission letter).

Student travel health insurance will help you manage medical costs as well as other unexpected expenses. Some of these unforeseen expenses include things such as lost baggage, cancelled flight, etc.

Cheap Student Travel Insurance

Some companies that offer good international student insurance policies are Bajaj Allianz, Bharti AXA, and many more. Here is an article that lists the best student travel insurance plans in India.

One way you can get a cheaper insurance premium is by buying an insurance plan online, which normally has good discounts.

Additionally, try buying insurance as soon as your admission is confirmed, as it usually results in a lesser premium.

Another tip to save on travel insurance is to choose the appropriate deductible for your needs. You can find more information in the article I linked above.

Once in Germany, you can hold either public (statutory) health insurance or private health insurance. You can also continue holding private health insurance from India, as long as it is recognised by your German university.

Travel Health Insurance for Employees and Expatriates

Congratulations if you have found a job and are moving to Germany! As always, health insurance is a requirement to get your visa.

Normally, employers will register their employees with a German health insurance company. For your visa, you will have to show a certificate from your employer about compulsory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung). This certificate should be valid from your date of employment.

If this compulsory insurance does not cover the period between your arrival date and the start of employment, you will have to provide separate travel insurance for that period.

Here is a list of approved travel health insurance companies that I had already mentioned above. You can use a suitable policy from one of them for the initial period between your arrival and employment start date.

With these important travel health insurance certificates in hand, you should not have any problem getting your visa.

After Reaching Germany

There are two types of health insurance in Germany, statutory (public) or private.

Private Health Insurance versus Public Health Insurance

Nearly 90% of the population in Germany uses public insurance over private. One reason is that you need to meet certain criteria before you can qualify for private health insurance.

You can apply for private healthcare if you:

• are self-employed
• are a civil servant
• earn above the salary threshold (EUR 60,750)
• have no basis to join a state insurance scheme
• are a student who renounces their state insurance, and whose age is over 23 but below 30

If you fit in with any one of the above criteria, you have the choice to go for either statutory or private.

However, German public healthcare is one of the best in the world. For this reason, most people who meet the above criteria do not bother with private health insurance.

Signing up for Private Health Insurance

The advantages of a private insurance scheme are lesser waiting time, increased services, and more attention paid to your needs. There is not much difference between the two systems apart from these few bonuses.

In some cases, you can register for public health insurance and also sign up for some private healthcare aspects. For example, you can add private dental insurance to your public healthcare.

One thing to keep in mind is that it is not easy to return to the public system once you have switched to private healthcare.

There are about 40 private insurance companies on the market. So if you are planning to switch to private healthcare, make sure to research well and choose the company which suits your needs and budget.

Here are some of the top private health insurance companies in Germany.

Liability Insurance

While health insurance is by far the most important, liability insurance comes in a close second. Accidents and robberies can happen anytime, so it is important to keep your property insured.

Liability insurance is not compulsory in Germany unless you own a vehicle or work in a dangerous profession.

However, it is a good idea for people who are going to live in Germany for a longer period to have liability insurance.

Here is a comparison of some of the best liability insurance companies in Germany.

Cheap Travel Insurance to Germany from India

While it is a good idea to look at low-cost insurance, do not compromise on quality. Make sure you read all the terms before you decide whether a certain insurance plan is a good fit for you.

Having said that, I can help you get started with a few companies that offer good, affordable insurance.

Schengen Visa (Short-term)

For Schengen visa travellers, I have already attached a link to the approved insurance companies above. These are the top insurance companies in India, and you can’t go wrong with any of them.

For more insight, here is a website that goes more in-depth about most of the organizations mentioned in the above link. This can help you decide which one is best suited to you.

Once you have short-listed the ones that stand out to you, you can research their policies and zero down on one that is cheap and provides good coverage.

Students and Expatriates (Long-term)

For students, there are plenty of private travel insurance plans offered by Indian companies that provide good coverage. As mentioned before, here are some of them.

German public healthcare is one of the finest worldwide. For both students and expatriates, it is the best and cheapest option once you land in Germany.

Hopefully, all this information will help you decide what kind of insurance would be the best for your needs.

Travel health insurance will help you get your visa without any issues. Most importantly, it will prevent you from dredging up high costs in case of accidents or emergencies. Good luck!