Everybody who enters Germany or resides there legally is required by law to acquire health insurance.
This means, as a visitor, scholar, foreign employee, or just legal resident of Germany, you have to be insured in healthcare.
However, this isn’t the case in terms of refugees or asylum seekers.
Those getting into Germany to seek asylum aren’t eligible for coverage under Germany’s statutory health care system like nearly all of the inhabitants in Germany.
The large variety of asylum seekers in the past years has brought along major challenges to the healthcare system in Germany.
Let’s go through all the things you’ll want to know about medical health insurance for refugees and asylum seekers in Germany.
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Where Can I Get Health Insurance coverage as a Refugee in Germany?
Though refugees and asylum seekers can’t get medical health insurance under the statutory medical health insurance suppliers like the rest of the residents, Germany provides a set of basic medical needs to this category of expats.
Upon getting into Germany, a refugee should undergo common medical check-ups to see the health scenario of the person.
Afterwards, if needed, medical medical doctors could require them to undergo additional analyses as a way to conclude more details on their health.
So, in case your asylum procedure is still processing, you’ve gotten a tolerated stay (Duldung), or have been issued a border crossing certificate (Grenzübertrittsbescheinigung);
you’re eligible to request medical help by the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG).
What Does Healthcare for Refugees in Germany Cover?
Medical help is accessible to refugees in Germany as well, however, only to a sure extent. More particularly, the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG) covers the following providers to refugees:
- Proper medical therapy of acute illnesses
- Medical care for pregnant ladies
- Medical care to ladies who’ve recently given birth
- Primary dental care
- Preventive vaccination
- Different essential medical services for a specific illness.
Healthcare providers also depend on your residency status in Germany. More specifically, there are two groups of asylum seekers in Germany:
- People who’ve been in Germany for lower than 15 months.
- People who’ve been in Germany for greater than 15 months.
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Refugees or asylum seekers who’ve been in Germany for less than 15 months are only eligible for emergency healthcare.
They are going to be accepted for medical help only in instances of acute illnesses and the prices of treatment for chronic diseases are sometimes not covered by the state.
In addition, before you go to the doctor, you’re required to apply for a voucher (Krankenschein) from the authorities.
So, you both get a few vouchers from the Social Welfare Office each three months, otherwise you pick up a voucher from them anytime you must see a doctor.
These vouchers only have a three-month validity span, before you must obtain new ones.
Refugees or asylum seekers who’ve been in Germany for greater than 15 months are entitled to obtain services from the German statutory medical health insurance scheme.
These people are issued a “HealthCard for Refugees” by which they’ll be able to access medical care instantly with out the need to apply for vouchers by the authorities beforehand.
Moreover, although these people can profit from all of the services of the statutory medical health insurance scheme in Germany (except the long-term care insurance);
they don’t seem to be official members of the statutory medical health insurance, however are under their supervision.
This is nothing to worry about since the state reimburses the medical health insurance company for the providers they give you and you’re free to choose from any statutory medical health insurance supplier you see fit.
Can Refugee Students Seek Health Insurance in Germany?
Refugees who’ve a recognized refugee status are eligible to enroll in greater schooling in Germany.
They are going to be treated just like some other international student with the same necessities applying to them as to students arriving from overseas.
Nonetheless, this only applies to college students who’re under the age of 30.
These refugee students have the proper to enter the statutory medical health insurance scheme and profit from the identical providers as different residents in Germany.
They may even be required to hold the same monthly premium as the opposite students.
Read also:
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Which German Federal States Give Health Insurance Cards to Refugees?
Obtaining vouchers has confirmed to be a common problem amongst refugees and asylum seekers in Germany.
Since these vouchers are to be taken from medical personnel in initial reception centres, when people are accommodated elsewhere, they still must go to the social welfare workplace of their municipality for the vouchers.
That is especially troublesome in case of an emergency and treatment can also be delayed because of administrative issues.
In consequence, a number of Federal States have determined to issue health insurance cards that allow asylum seekers to see the doctor with out the approval of the authorities or the need to undergo bureaucratic procedures.
These states include:
- Berlin
- Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Hamburg
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Thuringia
Moreover, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate, the well being card has been launched but it has not been applied in all municipalities, only in a number of of them.
The health card has been rejected within the Federal States of Bavaria, Hessen, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Saarland.