This is a complete guide to health insurance for students in Germany.
You’ll learn all about:
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.
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.
As mentioned, students in Germany have a few insurance choices:
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:
Here’s why we think this is the best health insurance option for those eligible:
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.
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 2025. 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:
If you fall into one of these categories, you could still opt for private or expat 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:
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.
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.
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…
In 2025, your monthly contribution is about €130. Here’s a breakdown:
These costs are standardized across health insurance companies, except for additional contributions specific to each company. TK has one of the lowest contributions, with 2.45% (€10.26).
Students pay less for private health insurance than employees or self-employed individuals due to special student rates.
However, the actual cost depends on:
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.
At Feather, expat health insurance costs €72 for the basic plan or €134 for the premium plan.
Yet again, this varies depending on what insurance type you picked. However, the law dictates that insurance companies in Germany must cover the following:
If you opt for private or expat insurance, you could also enjoy these benefits:
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.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting student health insurance in Germany:

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:
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:
“Pausing my health insurance took just one form, thanks to Feather's fast, clear help.”
Ardi
“Manthos always has clear and valuable advice about German health insurance.”
Rick
“From the first message, and on, Feather guided me to the best health insurance plan with care and clarity.”
Murtala
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