You've finished school, so what now?
The first thought for a young person after those stressful school years and arguments with the parents is: get out of the house and stand on your own two feet.
A convenient and affordable option is a stay abroad as an au pair.
That raises the next question for a young person: what does an au pair do abroad? And above all, what do you need to keep in mind?

Staying abroad as an au pair

Au pairs are young people who travel to a host family abroad of their choice for 6 – 12 months, live there and take care of the children. They support their host family abroad with childcare
and household chores. The tasks can vary widely, since it depends on the host family's circumstances. Au pairs work 30 – 45 hours per week. How you spend your free time is up to you.
In return for their work, au pairs receive room, board and an allowance from their host family. Au pairs must be at least 18 years old.

Au pair insurance

Au pair insurance

Unfortunately, the health insurance au pairs have in their home country doesn't cover all their needs abroad, so additional health and liability insurance designed specifically for au pairs has to be taken out before departure.
Au pair insurance can be vital for young people abroad, because accidents can happen anywhere, which is why it's more than important
to have comprehensive au pair insurance. Anyone who decides to spend time abroad as an au pair should urgently have comprehensive au pair coverage, and that applies in general to au pairs from EU and non-EU countries alike. In Germany, host families are even required to insure their au pairs comprehensively. In Germany this is also prescribed by the Federal Employment Agency.
Taking out au pair insurance is a must before it's too late and the young person can't get medical care abroad after an accident or illness, and enormous costs could arise without au pair insurance.
Hospital stays can get expensive! Unfortunately, an au pair's allowance isn't nearly enough to cover that. So before you decide on a stay with a host family after school, get au pair insurance. Comprehensive coverage means you need international health insurance, accident insurance and, very importantly, liability insurance in case something gets broken, which could get expensive without it. If future au pairs keep these points in mind, then the stay abroad with the host family of your choice can begin.