Which insurance do I need for a semester abroad? Above all long-stay travel health insurance: for young people about EUR 61 to 80 for 90 days or EUR 476 to 633 for a year. Your German health card pays no repatriation and outside Europe often nothing. Also check whether your parents' liability cover lasts that long and whether your laptop is covered.
Published premiums for long-stay policies for young people, worldwide including the USA and Canada, plus the costs that keep running at home.
Example
Typical range
Long-stay travel health insurance, ages 18 to 42, 90 days
about EUR 61 to 80
Long-stay travel health insurance, ages 18 to 42, one year
about EUR 476 to 633
Own personal liability policy, single
about EUR 40 to 120 a year
Statutory student health insurance, continues
about EUR 145 to 152 a month including long-term care
Long-stay premiums as of July 2025 from published insurer quotes.
The five-month amount in the worked example is a guide value from our quoting practice,
as many tariffs charge by day or month; we obtain the exact quote.
Worked example
Student, 23, five months in Canada, family insured
She stays enrolled and registered in Germany; her parents have family liability and contents insurance.
Long-stay travel health insurance, five months
about EUR 200 to 320
Family health insurance at home
EUR 0, continues
Liability via her parents
EUR 0, duration abroad checked
Laptop via her parents' contents insurance
only the first three months
Around EUR 200 to 320 for the whole semester. The laptop remains open after the third month: either ask the parents' contents insurer or go without cover knowingly.
Health insurance: the essential part
For a temporary stay in the EU, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, the European Health Insurance Card on the back of your German health card applies. It covers treatment that cannot wait until you return, but only as the local public system pays for it. Some practices and hospitals do not accept it, and you then get a private bill.
Your German health insurer (Krankenkasse) does not pay for repatriation, not even within the EU. Outside Europe, without a social security agreement, there is usually no cover at all. A normal travel health policy only covers trips of a few weeks, so for a semester you need a long-stay policy covering the entire period.
What happens to your health insurance in Germany
If you remain enrolled at your German university and keep your German address, your health insurance continues. If you are insured as a student in your own right, you keep paying about EUR 145 to 152 a month. Family insurance through your parents continues until your 25th birthday if your residence stays in Germany.
Tell your insurer before you leave. Cancelling membership to save money is usually a mistake: you need it again the day you return.
Liability and contents insurance
Damage to others, such as a water leak in your flat abroad, is a matter for personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht). Students in their first degree are usually covered by their parents' policy. During a temporary stay, cover in Europe is often unlimited in time, outside Europe usually one to five years. Damage to rented accommodation is not included in every policy.
Your laptop, phone and clothes are usually covered by your parents' contents insurance (Hausrat) away from home only for up to three months, often up to 10 percent of the sum insured. If your semester is longer, ask before you leave.
Insurance
Do you need it?
What to check
Long-stay travel health insurance
yes, always
whole duration, repatriation, extension possible
German health insurance
keep it
inform your insurer before leaving
Personal liability
yes
via your parents? Duration abroad and rental damage
Contents cover for belongings
if you take expensive tech
limit usually three months
Trip cancellation
if your flight is expensive
reasons such as illness before departure
Private accident insurance
not essential
only after liability and health cover
Requirements of the host country and university
Some countries require specific proof of insurance for a visa or enrolment, with minimum sums and no high deductible. Ask your host university which certificate it needs before you buy, and have the confirmation issued in English.
What you do not need
Separate accident insurance just for the semester, phone insurance or expensive all-in packages. What matters is illness, repatriation and damage to others. Luggage insurance often pays little and has many exclusions.
Step by step
Clarify whether you stay enrolled and registered in Germany.
Buy long-stay travel health insurance for the whole period, including repatriation.
Ask your host university which proof of insurance it requires.
Check your parents' liability policy for duration abroad and rental damage.
Ask your parents' contents insurer how long belongings are covered away from home.
Inform your German health insurer about your departure.
Checklist
Long-stay policy covers the whole period plus a buffer
Repatriation when medically sensible, not only when necessary
Extension possible while abroad
Liability cover valid long enough in the host country
Insurance confirmation in English
Common mistakes
Relying only on the European Health Insurance Card
Using your parents' travel health policy, which only covers a few weeks per trip
Buying cover exactly until the return flight and then having to extend
Cancelling German health insurance to save money
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Is the health card enough for a semester abroad in the EU?
For necessary treatment in the public system, mostly yes.
Not for private practices or repatriation.
A long-stay policy closes that gap.
How much does travel health insurance cost for a semester?
For young people about EUR 61 to 80 for three months and EUR 476 to 633 for a year,
worldwide including the USA and Canada.
Do I have to keep paying my German health insurance?
Yes, if you are insured as a student in your own right and keep your residence in Germany.
Family insurance costs nothing.
Am I covered by my parents' liability insurance during a semester abroad?
Usually yes, if you are unmarried and in your first degree.
How long cover lasts outside Europe is stated in your parents' policy.
Is my laptop insured abroad?
Via your parents' contents insurance usually only for up to three months and only against
burglary, robbery or fire, not simple theft.
Do I need accident insurance for the semester abroad?
No, it is not essential.
Medical costs and repatriation are covered by the travel health insurance.
