Health Insurance for Students in Germany
Health insurance for students in Germany: GKV student rates (~€130/month), when PKV makes sense, international options, and what changes at 25.
Reviewed by MyHealthcareBroker, licensed German insurance broker · 2026-03-01
Health insurance is mandatory for all students enrolled at a German university, including international students. The good news: students get access to one of the cheapest GKV rates available. The less obvious news: PKV can be significantly cheaper for some students, and the choice you make now can affect your insurance situation for years.
How student health insurance works in Germany
As a student in Germany, you have two main options:
- GKV (public health insurance): available to all students at a heavily subsidised rate until age 25 (or 30 for most), regardless of income
- PKV (private health insurance): available to students under certain conditions, often cheaper than GKV
You must prove health insurance coverage when you enrol at a German university. GKV providers issue a confirmation letter (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung-tauglich) that you submit to your Studentensekretariat. PKV providers issue an equivalent document.
GKV for students, the subsidised rate
The student GKV rate in 2026 is approximately €120–140/month: a flat rate that applies regardless of whether you work part-time or receive financial support from your parents. This rate includes nursing care insurance (Pflegeversicherung).
This subsidised rate is available to students who are:
- Enrolled at a German university (Hochschule)
- Under 25 (or under 30 in most cases)
- Not earning more than €505/month on average (mini-job threshold works differently, check current rules)
If you were previously covered by a parent's GKV (Familienversicherung), free family coverage, you lose this automatically when you turn 25 or finish school, and you must switch to the student rate or your own policy.
Which GKV provider should students choose?
All statutory health insurers (GKV) provide the same legally mandated core coverage. What differs is price (Zusatzbeitrag), digital services, English-language support, and extra benefits (Zusatzleistungen). For students, these are the most practical considerations:
| Provider | Zusatzbeitrag 2026 | Why students choose them |
|---|---|---|
| TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) | ~1.2% | Best English-language support, strong digital app, widely accepted by German universities, popular with international students and expats. |
| DAK | ~2.2% | Strong mental health services and psychotherapy coverage, relevant for the student demographic. |
| Barmer | ~2.19% | Good digital services and branch network; accepts international students. |
| AOK | Varies by state (1.8–2.5%) | Regional coverage; rates vary. Strong local presence but less consistent nationwide. |
For most students, especially expats or international students, TK is the practical default. Its English support and digital infrastructure make the bureaucratic parts much easier. At the student flat rate of ~€130/month, the Zusatzbeitrag difference between providers is small in absolute terms.
Working while studying, Werkstudent rules
Germany has a special employment category for working students: Werkstudent (Werkstudentenprivileg). If you work up to 20 hours per week during the semester, you keep your student GKV rate, and your employer does not have to pay into health insurance, pension, or unemployment insurance on your behalf.
This is a significant benefit for both you and your employer:
- You stay on the cheap student GKV rate (~€130/month) regardless of what you earn
- Your employer saves on social security contributions
- During semester breaks, you can work more than 20 hours without losing the status, up to 26 weeks per year total
Important: If you consistently work more than 20 hours per week during the semester, you lose Werkstudent status. You'd be treated as a regular employee, your employer would have to contribute to GKV, and you'd leave the student rate. Keep your hours documented.
One common question: do I pay more for health insurance if I earn more as a Werkstudent? No. The student flat rate (~€130/month) applies regardless of your part-time income. This does not change until you graduate or lose student status.
When PKV makes sense for students
PKV is not the default for students, but in two situations it's worth considering seriously:
If one or both parents are civil servants (Beamte), you may be eligible for Beihilfe, a state subsidy that covers 50–80% of healthcare costs. In this case, a PKV plan designed to cover the remaining percentage is often far cheaper than GKV.
Monthly PKV cost for Beihilfe-eligible students: typically €30–60/month.
If you were already in PKV (e.g. as a child on a parent's PKV policy, or you switched before starting your degree), staying in PKV during your studies is usually cheaper than switching to GKV and then switching back.
For most students without Beihilfe eligibility, GKV's ~€130/month student rate is hard to beat. PKV plans for students without Beihilfe typically cost €80–130/month, savings exist but are smaller.
GKV vs PKV cost calculator
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International students and Erasmus
International students from outside the EU can typically choose between GKV and PKV, but there's a catch: not all GKV providers accept international students. TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), DAK, and Barmer are among those that do.
Some international students arrive with travel health insurance (Reisekrankenversicherung) from their home country. This is usually not accepted as proof of German health insurance for enrollment. You need a proper German GKV or PKV policy.
Note for non-EU students: Your visa application will require proof of health insurance. Make sure your policy explicitly covers Germany and is accepted by German universities. A cheap travel policy or a policy valid only in your home country will not work.
International students over 30 (or those who don't qualify for the student GKV rate) must pay the standard GKV rate, which is much higher. PKV becomes worth comparing seriously in this case.
Erasmus and semester abroad
If you're studying in Germany and go on exchange (e.g. Erasmus+), your German GKV policy stays active while you're abroad:
- Within the EU/EEA: Your German GKV covers you via the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), issued by your German GKV provider. You get access to state healthcare in the host country at local terms. Request the card from your insurer a few weeks before departure.
- Outside the EU (USA, UK, Asia, etc.): GKV coverage is very limited or absent. You'll need additional travel health insurance for the duration of your stay. This typically costs €30–80/month and is cheap relative to the risk.
If you're an international student coming to Germany on Erasmus from another EU country, your home country's EHIC card may be accepted for the duration of the exchange, check with your German university's international office whether this meets their enrollment requirements.
Age limits and what happens when you graduate
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| You turn 25 while studying | Familienversicherung (free family coverage) ends. You must get your own student GKV policy or PKV. |
| You turn 30 while studying | Student GKV rate ends. You pay the standard contribution rate (based on income, or minimum floor ~€200/month). |
| You finish your degree | Student GKV rate ends at the end of the semester you graduate. You have 3 months to choose your next insurance. If employed, GKV is automatic unless you opt out to PKV. |
| You start a job above €77,400/year | You can choose to stay in GKV or switch to PKV. This is often the ideal moment to join PKV, you're young, healthy, and premiums are lowest. |
The 3-month window after graduation is important. If you do nothing, GKV will enroll you automatically. If you want PKV, you must actively apply, and do it while you're still young and the premium is low.
After graduation, the PKV decision window
For most expats in Germany, the moment you graduate and start your first professional job is the most important health insurance decision of your career. Here's why:
PKV premiums are calculated at entry based on your age and health at the time you join. If you join at 24, your base premium is locked in at the 24-year-old rate, and while premiums do increase over time, your base is significantly lower than if you joined at 35 or 45. The younger you are when you join PKV, the cheaper it is for life.
The 3-month window after graduation
When you finish your degree, your student GKV rate ends at the end of the graduation semester. You have approximately 3 months to decide:
- Stay in GKV: you move to the standard contribution rate (income-based). If you start a job below €77,400/year, this is your only option.
- Switch to PKV: if your first job is above €77,400/year, you can apply for PKV. You must opt out of GKV actively by notifying your employer and submitting your PKV confirmation within 2 weeks of starting the job.
If your starting salary is below €77,400: You'll be in GKV for now, that's fine. Keep PKV in mind for when your salary exceeds the threshold. The threshold applies based on your current year's salary; you can switch at any point in the year after you cross it.
Should you join PKV right after graduation?
If you qualify (salary above €77,400), the case for joining PKV early is strong for typical expat professionals:
- At 24–28 years old, you're likely healthy with no chronic conditions, this is when insurers offer the best terms
- Your premium is at its lifetime low, an identical plan costs significantly more at 35 or 40
- You'll likely be earning well above the GKV ceiling, meaning GKV saves you little while PKV gets cheaper relative to your income
- PKV typically offers better coverage: shorter wait times, specialist access without GP referral, private rooms in hospital
The main reason to not join PKV right after graduation: if you plan to have children soon (PKV doesn't cover family members for free, unlike GKV) or if you anticipate returning to lower income (e.g. parental leave, career change). These scenarios make GKV more practical.