This is a complete guide to health insurance for students in Germany.
In this brand-new guide, you’ll learn all about:
- What health insurance is best for students
- How much do different options cost
- All the steps needed to get covered today
So if you want to ensure that your health coverage is up to speed and that you don’t ruin yourself doing so, you should get a lot of value from today’s guide.
Do students need health insurance in Germany?
Students must have proof of valid health insurance to join a German university. This is required by law because it ensures that students can get the healthcare they need in the country.
To do this, students have three options: private, statutory (public), and expat insurance (some students can stay on their home country’s insurance; more on that in a minute).
Let’s explore each in more detail.
What options do students have for health insurance?
As mentioned, students in Germany have a few insurance choices:
- Public insurance: You should choose this option if you are eligible.
- Home insurance: If you have coverage from your home country and Germany recognises it, continuing it can save you some money.
- Expat or incoming health insurance: If you can’t use the two options above, this is your best choice.
- Full private insurance: This is rarely available, as you or a family member needs to earn a lot annually to qualify. However, if you do, this offers the best benefits.
Which health insurance is best when studying in Germany?
Best choice: Continue your home country’s insurance
The best health insurance option for eligible people is to continue their home country’s health insurance. Students statutorily insured in one of these countries are allowed to stay on their home insurance for the duration of their studies:
- EU member states (find the complete list here).
- Norway
- Liechtenstein
- Iceland
- Switzerland
- The UK
- Serbia
- Montenegro
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Turkey
- Tunisia
- Macedonia
Here’s why we think this is the best health insurance option for those eligible:
- By choosing to stay on your EU/EEA home insurance, you are not losing eligibility for German public insurance. This means that if you decide to stay in Germany after your studies, no worries, you can easily switch to German insurance at that point.
- If your home insurance ends at any point during your studies, you can easily switch to German student public insurance.
- You won’t need to pay to access healthcare in Germany; you can use your EHIC/GHIC, or the document issued by your country’s social security institution.
If you choose to stay on your home country’s insurance, you will need to prove to your university that you are exempt from German statutory health insurance. You can do this by emailing a public insurance provider like TK and asking them to complete the “M10 Meldung.” This article will teach you the necessary steps, but TK should also help you complete this step.
Please note, if you start working during your studies (e.g., mini job or working student contract) you will have to switch to German insurance. More info in this article.
Strong alternative: Statutory health insurance (public)
If your home country does not have an agreement with Germany, public health insurance is the best for you.It provides good coverage at a discounted rate of around 125 EUR per month in 2024. Plus, you can continue with public insurance as a voluntary member after your studies, which will ease the process of getting a Chancenkarte (job-seeking visa).
However, there are a few reasons why you would not be eligible for public student insurance:
- You are over 30 years old
- You are studying at a non-state-accredited university
If you fall into one of these categories, you could still opt for private or expat health insurance.
Premium option: Full private health insurance
Full private health insurance for students is a high-quality health plan that provides more services and quicker access to healthcare than standard plans.
There is technically no rule stopping students from joining a private health insurance plan. However, these plans often have a minimum income requirement set by the insurance companies. Typically, students must earn at least €30,000 annually to qualify for these plans.
Unfortunately, most students don’t make enough money to meet this income requirement and, therefore can’t get full private health insurance. For students who do qualify, this type of insurance offers several benefits:
- Discounted rates, specifically for students, are usually more affordable.
- Covers a broader range of services compared to standard health insurance.
- Allows you to access healthcare services faster than than other types of insurance.
If you’re interested in this option but your income doesn’t meet the requirement, it’s still worth applying. You can talk to the insurance provider about other possible solutions, like considering a family member’s income, to help you qualify for the plan.
Ideal for non-eligible students: Expat health insurance
If you’re not eligible for any of the options above, you can choose expat health insurance. Some providers also call it incoming insurance.
It is the most affordable insurance in Germany, starting at €72 monthly, but provides limited coverage compared to public insurance. Rest assured, it meets all the legal requirements to stay in Germany as a student for up to 5 years.
Remember that your university will still request a notice of exemption from public insurance.
How much is health insurance for students in Germany?
Health insurance for students in Germany can cost between €72 and €400 per month, depending on the type of insurance plan chosen.
Let’s look at this in more detail…
Public health insurance cost for students
In 2024, your monthly contribution is about €130. Here’s a breakdown:
- Student Health Insurance: Students’ general contribution rate is 10.22% instead of 14.6% for employees. Since students don’t usually earn a salary, the government assumes their monthly income is €855, totaling €87.38.
- Statutory Nursing Care Insurance:
- For parents and childless students under 23 years old, the rate is 3.4%, or €29.07.
- The rate for childless students over 23 years old is 4.0%, or €34.20.
- Additional Contributions: Each health insurance company charges extra contributions beyond the standard rates. In 2024, the average between all insurers was 1.7%, or €13.68.
These costs are standardized across health insurance companies, except for additional contributions specific to each company. TK has the lowest contribution, with 1.2% (€10.26).
Private health insurance cost for students
Students pay less for private health insurance than employees or self-employed individuals due to special student rates.
However, the actual cost depends on:
- Your coverage
- If you have a deductible and its amount
- Your age
- Your health condition when signing up
Private health insurance can cost as little as €130 monthly, but a high deductible can reduce monthly premiums to about €90. Plus, you may get a cashback bonus if you don’t make any claims in a year.
Expat health insurance cost for students
At Feather, expat health insurance costs €72 for the basic plan or €134 for the premium plan.
What is covered by German student health insurance?
Yet again, this varies depending on what insurance type you picked. However, the law dictates that insurance companies in Germany must cover the following:
- Doctor visits (Outpatient medical treatment)
- Hospitalization (Inpatient treatment)
- Prescription drugs
- Medical coverage in the EU & Schengen
- Basic dental treatments
- Psychological counseling
If you opt for private or expat insurance, you could also enjoy these benefits:
- Visual aids
- Fitness/health apps
- Private hospital rooms
- Physiotherapy
While these treatments and therapies are generally covered by insurance, it’s important to check the terms and conditions of your preferred plan to understand exactly what your provider offers.
How to get health insurance as a student in Germany
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting student health insurance in Germany:
- Check eligibility: First, determine if you qualify for public or private health insurance in Germany. Our health insurance recommendation tool will give you the answer in less than 2 minutes.
- Choose a provider: Research and pick a health insurance company. Look for one that matches your needs regarding benefits, coverage, and costs. Most importantly, look for providers like Feather, which is known for great reviews and English-speaking support.
- Apply: Get the health insurance application form from the provider’s website or apply online.
- Receive certificate: Once your application is approved, you’ll get a health insurance certificate (Versicherungsbescheinigung). You need this to obtain your visa.
- Provide address and IBAN: Once in Germany, finalize your public insurance application by giving a local address and IBAN. This step isn’t required before arrival but is necessary for processing.
- Obtain a residence permit: Use your valid public insurance to apply for a residence permit in Germany.
Pay your premiums: After receiving your insurance certificate, pay the premiums promptly according to your chosen provider’s terms and payment schedule (usually monthly).
Student Health Insurance FAQ
International students are automatically covered by accident insurance provided by their school. This insurance protects them if they get injured on campus or during school activities. However, it’s important to know that this insurance only covers accidents. It doesn’t replace personal health insurance, which is still required by law.
To cancel your health insurance after finishing your studies, take the following steps:
- Notify your insurance company: Let your insurance company know you want to cancel your coverage by calling, emailing, or writing a letter.
- Follow their instructions: The insurance company will tell you how to complete the cancellation. Follow their instructions carefully.
- Confirmation of cancellation: Once the insurance company receives your cancellation request and you complete whatever instructions they gave you, they will usually terminate your contract.
- Get proof of cancellation: Ask the insurance company for a document that confirms your coverage has been terminated.
If you opted to stay on your home country’s insurance: you can use it for at least another 6 months during your job search. To take advantage of this option, you must go to the Job Center and register as a job seeker. While it doesn’t entitle you to job benefits, it does allow you to stay insured on your EHIC.
If you had private (incoming / expat) health insurance while studying, it’s most likely limited to 5 years. As long as you are within these 5 years, it generally meets the requirements for a job-seeking visa. Just be aware that the job-seeking visa for students is 18 months, and if your expat health insurance expires before this visa ends, it’s almost impossible to use it.
If you had statutory insurance, it would expire when you complete your studies or turn 30. You can, however, continue as a voluntary member. Just contact your insurance provider (Krankenkasse). Remember that you will be paying a different amount for your voluntary insurance. If you do not have any income, it will be around €220 per month.
If you are a student under 30 years old and enrolled in a regular degree program, you can switch from public to private health insurance after being in the public system for at least 12 months.
Once you choose private health insurance, switching back to public insurance is usually impossible while you’re still in the same degree program. If you try to switch back to public insurance from private during that time, you’ll find it quite tricky.
You can only switch back to public health insurance under certain conditions, such as changing your degree program, completing your studies and finding a job, or turning older than 30.
Public health insurance provides coverage for everyone, regardless of any health conditions they may have had before getting insurance.
Private health insurance might not cover health conditions that someone had before getting insurance. This could mean those conditions aren’t covered, or the insurance cost might increase. In any case, your insurer should inform you of this.
You don’t have to pay on the spot when you receive medical care. Just make sure always to take your health insurance card to medical appointments. Show it at the clinic or hospital so they can bill your insurance directly for any services you receive that are covered by your insurance.
Private health insurance can be beneficial for students in several ways:
- Students can easily switch back to statutory health insurance once they finish their studies.
- Choosing private health insurance early gets you excellent terms for the entire contract period. This is especially beneficial if students plan to continue with private insurance after they graduate.
- Due to their young age, students typically need fewer medical services, so they may pay lower premiums if they opt for private health insurance.
Conclusion
That’s all for our guide to student health insurance in Germany.
Now let’s hear from you:
- What health insurance from this guide will you use?
- Or maybe you want to ask us another question?
Either way, let us know by leaving a comment or by booking a call with our experts.
