Independent guide 2026

Student Health Insurance in GermanyGKV, PKV and what it costs

Health cover is mandatory to enrol at any German university. Here is how the statutory student rate, free family insurance and private options actually work in 2026.

Family insurance: 0 EURStatutory student rate: about 146 EURMandatory for enrolment
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Students on a German university campus comparing health insurance options

In Germany, health insurance is compulsory and you cannot enrol at a university without it. Most students use statutory insurance (GKV): free family insurance up to age 25, then the reduced student rate of about 146 EUR per month, generally until the semester you turn 30. Private insurance (PKV) is possible, but the choice is binding for your whole degree.

The key facts

  • •Mandatory: proof of cover is required for both your visa and university enrolment
  • •Family insurance: free up to age 25 if a parent is in the GKV and your income stays under 565 EUR per month
  • •Student rate: 110.38 EUR health plus long-term care, totalling 146.29 EUR per month in 2026
  • •PKV exemption: binding for the entire study period, with no return to GKV in between
  • •International students: EU students can use the EHIC; non-EU students need German cover

Your options as a student

Which route fits you depends on your age, whether a parent is in the statutory system, and your nationality. Here are the four main paths.

Family insurance (Familienversicherung)

0 EUR
Age limit:Up to age 25
Requirement:At least one parent in statutory insurance (GKV); your own income below the limit

Free of charge. The income limit in 2026 is 565 EUR per month, or 603 EUR from a mini-job.

Statutory student insurance (studentische GKV)

About 146 EUR per month
Age limit:Generally until the semester in which you turn 30
Requirement:Enrolment at a German university or recognised higher-education institution

The standard route once family insurance ends. BAföG recipients receive a fixed supplement towards the cost.

Private health insurance (PKV)

Depends on tariff, age and health
Age limit:No age limit
Requirement:Formal exemption from GKV at the start of your studies

The decision is binding for the whole period of study. You cannot switch back to GKV while you are a student.

Voluntary statutory insurance (freiwillige GKV)

Higher than the student rate
Age limit:No age limit
Requirement:For students who have passed the age 30 / 14th-semester limit

Income-dependent contribution. The usual route for doctoral and mature students who stay in the GKV.

What student health insurance costs in 2026

The statutory student rate is fixed by law and is almost identical across all health funds, because it is tied to the BAföG reference rate. Small differences come from each fund's supplementary contribution.

ComponentPer monthDetail
Health insurance (Krankenversicherung)110.38 EURSame student rate across all statutory funds (2026)
Long-term care (under 23 or with children)30.78 EURReduced Pflegeversicherung rate
Long-term care (23 and older, no children)35.91 EURIncludes the childless surcharge
Total (23 and older)146.29 EURHealth plus long-term care, per month

Figures for the 2026 academic year, based on Techniker Krankenkasse and the GKV-Spitzenverband. BAföG recipients who are no longer in family insurance receive a fixed supplement towards these costs.

Private student tariffs are not quoted as a single "from" price here, because the premium depends on your age, health and the cover you choose. Compare current offers before deciding.

GKV or PKV: which is better for students?

For most students, statutory insurance is the sensible default. Private insurance can be attractive for some, but it comes with a commitment that is easy to underestimate.

Statutory (GKV)

  • + Fixed student rate, no health check
  • + BAföG supplement if you qualify
  • + Flexible if you change course or situation
  • − Standard benefits, with co-payments for some items
  • − Voluntary GKV after the limits is noticeably higher

Private (PKV)

  • + Can offer broader benefits depending on the tariff
  • + Premium not tied to income
  • − Binding for the whole study period
  • − No return to GKV while you study
  • − Pre-existing conditions can raise the premium
Important: exemption from the GKV to take out private insurance is decided at the start of your studies and is binding for the entire degree. Think it through before you sign.

Planning to stay in Germany after graduation? Our overview of private health insurance in Germany and the general health insurance guide explain what changes once you start working.

International students: EU vs non-EU

The rules differ by where you come from. In every case, you must show proof of cover to enrol, and for a visa where one is required.

EU / EEA / Switzerland students

Your home-country cover plus the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is normally accepted at enrolment.

You still have to show proof of valid cover when you register. For a long stay, German insurance can be the simpler option.

Students from countries with a social-security agreement

Cover from your home country may be recognised. Check with a German statutory fund before you arrive.

If it is not recognised, you take out German student insurance instead.

Non-EU students (no agreement)

You need German statutory student insurance, or substitutive private insurance if you are exempt from GKV.

Proof of cover is required for both your visa application and university enrolment.

Key dates and deadlines

Before you enrol

3-month exemption window

Check your insurance status. If you want PKV, apply for exemption from GKV.

At enrolment

Required for matriculation

Submit electronic proof of health insurance. Without it you cannot register.

Your 25th birthday

Automatic change

Family insurance ends. Move to the statutory student rate.

The semester you turn 30

Contribution rises

The reduced student rate ends. Move to voluntary GKV or stay in PKV.

After graduation

Within 3 months of de-registration

Employment usually means compulsory GKV again; the self-employed can choose.

Compare student health insurance tariffs

Once you know which route fits you, compare current offers from different providers. The comparison is free and non-binding.

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Advertising note: we receive a commission from the insurer if a contract is concluded, at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our editorial content.

Frequently asked questions

Is health insurance mandatory for students in Germany?

Yes. Anyone who enrols at a German university must prove they have valid health insurance, and you cannot register without it. If you need a visa, you also have to confirm cover on the visa application.

How much does statutory student health insurance cost in 2026?

The student rate is the same across all statutory funds: 110.38 EUR for health insurance plus long-term care of 30.78 EUR (under 23 or with children) or 35.91 EUR (23 and older). The total for most students is 146.29 EUR per month.

Can I stay in my parents’ family insurance as a student?

Family insurance is free up to age 25 if at least one parent is in the statutory system and your own income stays below the limit (565 EUR per month in 2026, or 603 EUR from a mini-job). After your 25th birthday you move to the statutory student rate.

Should students choose GKV or PKV?

For most students the statutory GKV is the practical choice: a fixed student rate, no health check, and a BAföG supplement if you qualify. Private insurance can suit healthy students from PKV families who plan to stay private long term, but the exemption is binding for your whole degree.

Can I switch from PKV back to GKV during my studies?

No. If you are exempted from GKV at the start of your studies, that decision is binding for the entire study period. You can normally return to the statutory system only afterwards, through compulsory insurance in a job.

What happens after I turn 30?

The reduced student rate generally ends in the semester you turn 30. You usually move to voluntary statutory insurance (freiwillige GKV), which is income-dependent and higher, or you stay in private insurance if you are already there. Exceptions can extend the student rate, for example for raising children.

What do EU and non-EU students need?

EU, EEA and Swiss students can usually enrol with their home-country cover and an EHIC. Students from countries without a social-security agreement need German statutory student insurance, or substitutive private cover if exempt, for both the visa and enrolment.

Am I insured as a working student (Werkstudent)?

Working students who stay within roughly 20 hours per week during term keep the student rules and pay the student insurance rate. Outside those limits the status can change, so check with your fund before taking on more hours.

Sources and References