Yes, BARMER covers all medically necessary healthcare services and treatments. This includes:
- Healthcare from doctors, specialists, and approved therapists
- Hospital treatments
- Basic dental care
- Prescription medication
- And much more
No matter your healthcare needs, BARMER ensures that a service or treatment is always available to you.
Absolutely! BARMER offers many extra benefits that go beyond standard public health insurance, including:
- Access to leading treatments
- Faster appointments with specialists
- Free medical advice via telephone
- Modern digital apps and online services for convenient healthcare management
These additional benefits ensure that BARMER members receive superior care and support.
In Germany, students benefit from reduced health insurance contribution rates. These rates are standardized for all students:
- Under the age of 23: €146.29 per month
- From the age of 23: €151.42 per month
Students with children receive a reduction in their long-term care contribution rate of 0.25% per child (applicable for two to five children under the age of 25).
Yes, students are allowed to work while studying, but there are restrictions. The key rule is that your primary focus must remain on your studies.
Public health insurance is mandatory for employees earning below a certain salary threshold. In 2025, this threshold is set at:
- Annual gross salary: €73,800
- Monthly gross salary: €5,512.50
Employees earning above this limit can opt for voluntary insurance.
At BARMER, the contribution rates for public health insurance in 2025 are as follows:
- Employee’s share: 8.945% of gross salary
- Total rate (shared 50/50 between employer and employee): 17.89%
This includes the standard statutory rate of 14.6% and an additional individual contribution rate of 3.29%.
Your employer handles this process. They deduct your share from your salary and transfer the total contribution directly to BARMER.
Yes, your spouse or registered civil partner and dependent children can be co-insured at no extra cost, provided they meet certain conditions:
- Income limit: Co-insured family members must not earn more than €505 per month (or €538 with a mini job).
- Age limits for children: Apply based on specific circumstances.
To maintain family insurance, you’ll need to complete an annual questionnaire and inform BARMER of any changes in your family’s situation. It’s best to contact BARMER directly for personalized advice on family insurance.
Yes, BARMER fully covers the costs of preventive medical checkups for children and youth. These include statutory examinations from the U1 (newborn) through the U9 (preschool) and the J1 (youth examination). Consult your paediatrician to ensure these checkups are conducted on time.
BARMER covers:
- Doctor consultations, specialists, and medical exams.
- Inpatient hospital stays, surgeries, and necessary medical procedures.
- Prescription medications.
- Preventative care such as vaccinations and health screenings.
- Emergency care such as ambulance service and emergency room visit and treatment.
- Mental health treatments and counseling sessions.
- Partial dental care.
- Partial vision care.
To ensure a smooth insurance process, have the following ready:
Letter of Acceptance
- A formal admission letter from a German university.
Blocked Account
- Proof of financial security during your stay in Germany.
- If you have a scholarship, you might be exempt from this requirement.
Incoming Travel Insurance
- Covers you from the moment you arrive in Germany until your university enrollment.
Proof of Public Health Insurance
- Required for your visa application. BARMER will send you the necessary confirmation quickly, so you can include it in your visa submission to the German Mission.
You need a blocked account for Germany if you're from a country other than a European Union or Schengen Member State and you're applying for one of the ensuing German visas. It includes students and job seekers.
While it’s possible to open a blocked account directly with a German bank, not all bank branches offer this service, which can make the process complicated. Moreover, transferring finances through Indian banks may not always be accepted by the German delegacy or consulate, as these banks are not registered in Germany.
Even if your student visa is approved using an Indian bank, you would still need to transfer your funds to a German bank upon arrival to obtain your residence permit. This creates unnecessary delays and extra steps. To avoid these challenges, it’s best to open your account with an approved provider like Fintiba.
Fintiba acts as a conciliator between you and a German bank. Partnered with reputable German banks, they simplify the process by opening the restricted account on your behalf for a fee. With extensive experience supporting international students and visa applicants, Fintiba ensures a seamless, entirely online process—making it ideal for those applying from abroad.
Alternatively, a blocked account can be opened directly with a traditional German bank such as Postbank or Sparkasse. However, this option is better suited for those already in Germany, as it requires an in-person visit to the bank. For applicants abroad, direct dealings with banks can be more cumbersome due to document submission by mail, leading to longer processing times.
A blocked bank account is a crucial requirement for applying for a German visa or residence permit. In most cases, you will need to open the account while still in your home country. The process can vary depending on the provider you choose, but here are the general steps:
Step 1: Confirm the Required Amount
- Contact the German Embassy or Consulate in your home country to verify the exact amount you need to transfer into the blocked account.
- While the minimum required amount is typically the same for all applicants, it's important to double-check with the Embassy before making any transfers.
Step 2: Open the Blocked Account
- With an Intermediary (e.g., Fintiba): You can easily open a blocked account online through a service like Fintiba.
- Directly with a Bank: If you prefer to go directly through a German bank, you will need to submit a paper application, often through the German Embassy if you are not yet in Germany.
Step 3: Wait for Application Processing
Once you've applied, your provider will process your request.
Step 4: Transfer the Funds
- Your provider will send you the IBAN (International Bank Account Number) and provide detailed instructions on how to transfer the funds.
- You can transfer the money via a bank or an international money transfer service/app. The transfer typically takes 3-5 days to complete.
Step 5: Receive the Confirmation Letter
After the transfer is successful, your provider will issue the Confirmation Document for a Blocked Bank Account. This is the document you need to submit to the German Embassy.