Your checklist

Student health insurance in Germany: rules, costs and the age-30 limit

In German: Krankenversicherung der Studenten (KVdS)

Is it required?
Mandatory
When:
Before enrolment (Immatrikulation); for non-EU students, before the visa appointment
Time:
About 15 minutes online; confirmation is sent to the university
Cost:
Public: a fixed student contribution. Private: depends on the tariff
Last checked:
Short answerYou must prove health insurance to enrol at a German university. Students under 30 are usually in public insurance at a special student rate: about about €87 per month plus the fund's additional contribution and care insurance. You can opt out for private cover within three months, but that choice lasts your whole studies. EU students can often use their EHIC instead.

Proof of health insurance is required to enrol, and for a student visa.

On this page
  1. Who needs it
  2. When
  3. What you need
  4. How to do it
  5. The age-30 limit
  6. Opting out of public insurance
  7. Working while you study
  8. Common problems

Who needs it

Every student needs health insurance. Universities will not enrol you without proof. Which kind you get depends on your age and where you are insured now:

Your situation Usual cover
Under 25 and a parent is in German public insurance Often free family insurance through the parent
Under 30, enrolled at a state or state-recognised university Public student insurance (Krankenversicherung der Studenten) is mandatory, unless you opt out
EU/EEA student insured at home and not working in Germany Often your EHIC from home is enough
30 or older Student insurance usually no longer applies (see below)
Language course or preparatory course (Studienkolleg) students Different rules may apply. Ask your institution and a Krankenkasse

When

  • Non-EU students: you need proof of health cover for the visa, often from the day you enter Germany. Many applicants use incoming insurance until they enrol, then switch to student cover. Check your embassy's checklist.
  • Before enrolment: get your insurance status confirmed. Your Krankenkasse usually sends it electronically to the university.
  • Within three months of your insurance obligation starting: the deadline to opt out (see below).

What you need

  • Passport or ID
  • Letter of admission (Zulassungsbescheid) from your university
  • An address (a foreign address is fine at first)
  • For EU students: your EHIC
  • For opting out: proof of your other health cover

How to do it

  1. Choose a Krankenkasse. You can pick any public fund. The student contribution base is the same everywhere, but each fund sets its own additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag).
  2. Apply online with your admission letter.
  3. Let the fund notify your university. The fund usually sends your insurance status to the university electronically.
  4. Enrol at the university.

What it costs

Student contributions are fixed by law, not based on your actual income:

  • Contribution base: €855 per month, tied to the BAföG need rate.
  • Health insurance at 7/10 of the general rate: about €87 per month.
  • Zusatzbeitrag: about €25 per month at the average rate. Your fund may charge more or less.
  • Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) comes on top. It is higher if you are 23 or older and have no children.

The age-30 limit

Student public insurance lasts until the end of the semester in which you turn 30. It can last longer only for specific reasons, for example the type of study, family reasons or personal reasons such as illness or disability. You need to show these reasons to your Krankenkasse.

After student insurance ends, you usually continue as a voluntary member at a higher contribution, if you are allowed to stay in public insurance. Ask your fund early.

Students over 30

If you start studying in Germany at 30 or older, you usually cannot join student public insurance. Your options depend on your history:

  • If you were in German public insurance before, you may be able to join as a voluntary member.
  • Otherwise, you usually need private health insurance. Some insurers offer special tariffs for international students.

Check what your university and immigration office accept before you buy a policy. Short-term or incoming policies may not meet German requirements for longer stays.

Opting out of public insurance

You can apply for exemption (Befreiung) from compulsory student insurance. Rules:

  • Apply to a Krankenkasse within three months after your insurance obligation starts.
  • The exemption only takes effect once you prove you have other health cover.
  • It cannot be withdrawn. You stay out of student public insurance for your whole studies, even if the private policy becomes expensive.

Working while you study

As a rule, you keep student insurance if studying remains your main activity. For Werkstudenten, the usual guideline is working no more than 20 hours a week during the lecture period. More hours, or jobs outside term time that change your status, can make you insured as an employee instead. See working as a student.

For students in family insurance, the income limit is €565 per month (€603 if the income is from a minijob).

Common problems

Can I use my EHIC as an EU student?

Often yes, if you are insured at home and do not work in Germany. You then cannot join German student public insurance. Show your EHIC to a Krankenkasse to get the confirmation the university needs.

I am 29. Should I still join student insurance?

If you are eligible, you can join until the end of the semester in which you turn 30. After that, ask your fund what voluntary membership would cost.

My visa insurance ends when I enrol. Is there a gap?

Plan the dates so cover starts before the old policy ends. Ask your Krankenkasse from which date your student insurance begins.

Official sources

Rules can change. These are the pages we checked — they have the final word. How we check facts

This guide explains how the insurance system works. It is not medical or insurance advice for your individual situation.