PhD students (without a separate employment contract) are not obliged to hold statutory health and nursing care insurance for students (Section 5 [1] no. 9 of the German social security code, SGB V). Nevertheless, it is a requirement to take out health insurance and provide proof at registration and to the immigration office. PhD students can take out voluntary insurance with a statutory health insurance or substitute fund if they can prove preceding insurance periods. The monthly contribution fees are currently approx. 200 EUR. Advantages of statutory health insurance:

• Visit the doctor without any red tape by presenting a health insurance card
• Affordable rate
• Any pre-existing conditions are not relevant
• All statutory and substitute health insurance funds have more or less identical rates although individual services differ
• Family members without their own income can be co-insured at no additional cost

It is possible to compare statutory German health insurance funds on this consumer website.

You can also obtain private health insurance. Compare some providers here. Disadvantages of private health insurance:

• A prior examination of your state of health may be required
• Pre-existing conditions may not be covered
• Some insurance companies require you to pay for treatment in advance and then claim back the costs
• Scope of services under primary health care
• Increases in premiums
• No co-insurance for dependants
• Waiting periods (e.g. for pregnancies)

Taking out a low-cost private (travel) insurance policy is not advised because exclusions and waiting times (e.g. in the case of pregnancy) have led to difficult situations in the past.
If PhD students do however opt for this solution, they should make sure that the private health insurance provider confirms in writing that they are entitled to use primary health care services to which those insured by the statutory health system are entitled in accordance with Section 11 [1-3] of the German social security code, SGB V. Otherwise, problems may arise with the Foreigners' Authority in Magdeburg. Please have the insurance provider fill in this form as proof. Students can find out from the Foreigners' Authority or the International Office which private health insurance providers have already confirmed this to the Foreigners' Authority in Magdeburg. Please carefully check the scope of services covered by private health insurance. Note that low-cost (travel) insurance policies can only be taken out for a maximum of five years.