The right to use health care services financed by the National Health Fund is available to students who have been registered for health insurance. Depending on the situation, this may be done by a parent, legal guardian, university or employer.
It is worth remembering this, especially at the beginning of the academic year. Changing jobs, ending summer employment or turning 26 may mean that you need to take out insurance again.
Who can register a student for insurance?
A student who does not have his or her own health insurance coverage may be registered as a family member. In the case of students, this right is generally valid until the age of 26.
Reports may be made by a parent or a parent's spouse, and in certain situations also by grandparents. If a student cannot be reported by a family member, he or she may contact the university.
However, the university does not automatically report the student. It is necessary to submit an appropriate application, usually to the dean's office or the unit dealing with student affairs. It is also important to remember that if a student has his or her own insurance claim, he or she cannot be registered as a family member or by the university.
Summer job and return to studies. This is easy to forget
Many students take up work during the holidays. If employment is based on an employment contract, the employer registers the employee for health insurance.
The problem may arise after the end of such a contract. After termination of employment, the student should be registered as a family member again by a person who has the right to do so, or - if this is not possible - by the university.
This is important because the mere start of a new academic year does not automatically mean that your previous registration will be reinstated.
What about the mandate contract?
The situation is different for people who work under a mandate contract before the age of 26. In such a case, if the conditions applicable to student status are met, the client does not report such a person to social and health insurance.
Therefore, the student should arrange for another source of insurance - for example, notification by a parent or, if this is not possible, by the university.
How do I check if I have insurance?
You can check your health insurance status without leaving your home. One way is to use the Internet Patient Account (IKP) or the MojeIKP application. Information regarding insurance can also be obtained from a branch of the National Health Fund.
It is worth checking your status, especially when your job has recently ended, your parents' professional situation has changed or the student has started the next stage of study.
Parent changed job? The application must be repeated
Students registered for insurance by their parents should pay special attention. If a parent changes job, retires or the contribution payer changes, family members may be deregistered. In such a situation, the child must be registered for health insurance again.
Therefore, the mere fact that a student has previously been reported by a parent does not always mean that the report is still valid.
What happens after you turn 26?
Turning 26 is an important moment for students. As a rule, from this point on, the student can no longer benefit from his or her parent's insurance as a family member, even if he or she is still studying.
If there is no other right to insurance, he or she should inform the university and submit an application for health insurance coverage by the university.
An exception applies to people with a significant degree of disability - in their case, the possibility of reporting by parents is not limited by age.
What after graduation?
Completion of studies or removal from the student list means that the obligation to have health insurance in this respect expires.
At the same time, the graduate retains the right to health care services for four months from the end of insurance. This is the time to find another insurance claim, for example by taking up a job.
If you continue your studies in another field or university, it is worth ensuring that the new application takes place without unnecessary interruption.
Are you studying away from home? You can choose a doctor on site
The student does not have to return to his or her hometown to use primary health care.
If he studies in another city, he can choose a primary health care doctor, nurse or midwife in the place where he lives while studying.
You can submit a declaration of election, among others: via the Online Patient Account, the MojeIKP application or directly at a selected primary care facility. There is no need to inform the previous facility about the change.
Better to check sooner rather than later
It is worth checking the insurance status, especially in periods when the student's situation changes - after the end of summer work, a change in parent's employment, turning 26 years of age or graduation.
