You arranged coverage before flying — now make it real:

Confirm your start date with your Krankenkasse (it should match your enrolment or first working day).
Give them your German address and IBAN (they'll collect premiums by direct debit — students — or via your employer — workers).
You'll receive your electronic health card (eGK) by post within a few weeks. You show this card at every doctor visit; care is billed directly, no upfront payment for standard treatment.
Students: your university needs the insurance confirmation digitally from your Krankenkasse (the M10 student reporting procedure) — ask them to transmit it; a photo of your card is not it.

Find a GP (Hausarzt) near you early — you don't want to search while sick. Many practices list languages spoken; university towns always have English-speaking doctors.

Emergencies: 112 is the emergency number (free, English works). Pharmacies (Apotheke) handle minor issues and give solid advice.

Red flags:

Unpaid premiums don't disappear — they grow with late-payment surcharges, and insurance debt is exactly the kind of thing that surfaces at permit-extension time. If money is tight, call the Krankenkasse — payment plans are routine and they are used to it.
Letters asking about your income or student status have deadlines — ignored questionnaires can get you re-classified and back-charged at a higher rate.
Assuming you're covered because you applied — coverage runs from the confirmed start date, not the application date.
In-practice offers of paid extras ("IGeL" services) — legal and sometimes useful, but never required; standard care costs you nothing at the point of use.

You arranged coverage before flying — now make it real:

Confirm your start date with your Krankenkasse (it should match your enrolment or first working day).
Give them your German address and IBAN (they'll collect premiums by direct debit — students — or via your employer — workers).
You'll receive your electronic health card (eGK) by post within a few weeks. You show this card at every doctor visit; care is billed directly, no upfront payment for standard treatment.
Students: your university needs the insurance confirmation digitally from your Krankenkasse (the M10 student reporting procedure) — ask them to transmit it; a photo of your card is not it.

Find a GP (Hausarzt) near you early — you don't want to search while sick. Many practices list languages spoken; university towns always have English-speaking doctors.

Emergencies: 112 is the emergency number (free, English works). Pharmacies (Apotheke) handle minor issues and give solid advice.

Red flags:

Unpaid premiums don't disappear — they grow with late-payment surcharges, and insurance debt is exactly the kind of thing that surfaces at permit-extension time. If money is tight, call the Krankenkasse — payment plans are routine and they are used to it.
Letters asking about your income or student status have deadlines — ignored questionnaires can get you re-classified and back-charged at a higher rate.
Assuming you're covered because you applied — coverage runs from the confirmed start date, not the application date.
In-practice offers of paid extras ("IGeL" services) — legal and sometimes useful, but never required; standard care costs you nothing at the point of use.

Activate your health insurance

Activate your health insurance