Key takeaways  

• Internation students need a valid health insurance policy to study at a German university.
• Public health insurance providers in Germany offer discounted student health insurance policies. Students under 23 pay around 120 € per month, and those between 23 and 29 pay around 125 €.
• Students who are 30 or older when commencing their studies cannot get public health insurance. They must get private insurance.
• Foreign students in preparatory or language courses can only get private student health insurance.
• Germany recognizes the health insurance policy of students from EU member states. If your insurance policy is recognized in Germany, you need the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).  Your health insurer can issue the EHIC card. You’ll also need an insurance certificate from a German insurer stating that you are exempt from German health insurance.
• Students cannot change from private to public health insurance or vice versa during their studies.

This is how you do it

• Students from EU member states should check if their home country’s health insurance is recognized in Germany.
• Foreign students from other countries must get a valid health insurance policy based on their eligibility.
• You can get public health insurance via Feather*.
• You can apply for private health insurance on the comparison portal Check24*.

Table of Contents

Is taking health insurance for foreign students mandatory in Germany?

Yes, student health insurance is mandatory for studying at a German university. You must have travel health insurance before flying to Germany.

However, you must get public or private health insurance once you arrive in Germany. You need a valid health insurance policy to get a visa/resident card in Germany.

Moreover, medical services in Germany are expensive without a health insurance card. Health insurance covers medical costs like doctor’s fees, medicines, hospital charges, etc.

Students from EU member states can usually use their home country’s public health insurance in Germany. Moreover, some private health insurance companies of EU member states also cover you in Germany.

How much does international student health insurance cost in Germany?

Students age (Single and no children)	Student Statutory Health Insurance Cost	Private Health Insurance Cost
Under the age of 23	120.34 € per month	Private insurers don’t offer any special discounted student health insurance. However, they offer health insurance at competitive prices. You can compare private health insurance on the comparison portal Check24*.90 to 130 € per month
From 23 to 29	125.21 € per month	90 to 130 € per month
30 or older	222 € per month (No longer eligible for the discounted student price)	160 to 250 € per month

How can I get student health insurance in Germany?

You must first check for which health insurance you are eligible – private or public. You can apply for health insurance online directly with the provider or via insurance brokers.

Student health insurance eligibility criteria 

Under 30

Students who are under 30 before starting their studies must get a public health insurance policy. You can apply for an exemption from compulsory statutory health insurance.

However, you must apply for the exemption within three months of starting the course. The health insurance company considers the enrollment date to calculate the three months.

The legal basis for this is (Section 8, Paragraph 1, No. 5, in conjunction with Paragraph 2, Sentence 1 of the Social Code Book V).

NOTE: Once you enroll in health insurance, private or public, you cannot change it during your studies.

30 or above

Students who are 30 or above when starting their studies cannot be insured with statutory health insurance. They must get private health insurance.

However, they can switch to public health insurance within three months of course start.

Turn 30 during the course

Your compulsory student public health insurance ends when you turn 30 during the course. And you can switch your health insurance again.

You can continue to be insured voluntarily with public insurance or take out private health insurance.

On the other hand, if you have private health insurance before you turn 30, you can switch to public insurance.

How do you get student public health insurance in Germany?

Almost every statutory health insurance provider offers online applications. So, you can apply for the student health insurance policy online directly with the insurance provider.

You can also use an insurance broker to get student public health insurance in Germany. We recommend Feather* for its positive reviews and free services in English.

How do you get student private health insurance in Germany?

You can compare and apply for private student health insurance on the comparison portal Check24*.

Private vs public health insurance for students in Germany

Private health insurance	Public health insurance
Private health insurance premium depends on your age and health.	Students under 30 get a discounted student health insurance policy that costs between 120 € and 125 €.
German law doesn’t regulate private student health insurance premiums.	German law regulates the premiums and services of public health insurance.
Private insurance members pay the medical bills themselves and get reimbursed by the insurance company.	Once accepted into the public health insurance system, you’ll receive a health insurance card. You can use the card to get most medical services in Germany without paying a cent.
Switching private health insurance providers is expensive as you lose most of your retirement provisions.	You can switch your public health insurance provider any time you want.
Comprehensive private health insurance offers better services than public insurance

Private health insurance is not automatically better than public insurance. You must weigh the pros and cons of both before choosing one.

Moreover, you must consider the long-term view while deciding which type of health insurance to take. For example, are you planning to settle in Germany, or are you here only for studies? Would you like to have a family in the future, etc.?

Students planning to settle in Germany after their studies should get public health insurance. Similarly, statutory health insurance is the right choice if you plan to have a family and kids in Germany.

The reason is private insurance doesn’t cover your spouse and children for free. On the other hand, public insurance does.

However, if you are only in Germany for a few months or years, you can consider taking cheap private health insurance. 

Married students whose spouses and children come with them to Germany must take separate health insurance for their families.

How do you terminate student health insurance when leaving Germany?

You must send a contract termination request in writing to your health insurance company. You can send the letter via a registered post or upload it on the insurer’s website.

You also need to provide proof that you are leaving Germany. The health insurer considers your plane ticket or de-registration certificate from the Rathaus as proof. You cannot cancel your health insurance policy without proof of leaving Germany.

Every public health insurance company has its contract cancellation letter that you can use. Here is the form from TK.

You can use our sample letter to cancel a private health insurance contract.

Health insurance for students from EU member states

The statutory health insurance of students from other EU member states is also valid in Germany. But you must get your insurance policy recognized by a statutory health insurer in Germany.

The public insurance provider in your home country can tell you more about it. You’ll also need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that your insurance provider can issue.

Even the private health insurers from other EU member states are recognized in Germany. But you cannot switch to a statutory health insurance provider in this case. 

NOTE: You need to obtain a certificate if the student insurance from your home country is recognized in Germany. The certificate confirms that you are exempt from taking statutory health insurance in Germany. You can get this certificate from the public health insurers in Germany. 

You need the certificate to enroll in a university in Germany.

Which health insurance can you get based on your course?

Health insurance for preparatory course students in Germany

Students coming to Germany to attend preparatory courses cannot insure themselves with a statutory health insurance company. But German law still requires proof of health insurance.

Thus, the only choice for students in preparatory courses is to get private health insurance.

You can compare and apply for private student health insurance on the comparison portal Check24*.

NOTE: Students with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) might only need travel health insurance. You should check with the international office of your university for more details. 

What is a preparatory course in Germany?

Some German universities don’t recognize the schooling certificate from your home country. Thus, the university requires you to attend a preparatory course to assess your skills.

The course is usually two semesters long and ends with an exam. Once you successfully finish the course, you can enroll at your university.

Health insurance for language students in Germany

German health insurance system treats the language students like the preparatory students. It means you cannot get student insurance from a statutory health insurance provider in Germany. So, the only choice is private health insurance.

Your EHIC card is usually enough if your course lasts only a semester. But always confirm it with your home country’s or German health insurer.

Health insurance for exchange students in Germany

Exchange students or Erasmus students can take statutory health insurance in Germany. It is because the exchange students are part of a university degree.

Erasmus students can also check with a German health insurer if their EHIC card works in Germany.

Health insurance for PhD students in Germany

Working PhD students 

You are automatically insured by compulsory public health insurance if you work in Germany. Assuming that you earn less than 69,300 € gross per annum (as of 2024).

PhD students working in Germany don’t get discounted student health insurance. 

Non-working PhD students

• PhD students under 30 can get discounted public student health insurance.
• PhD students aged 30 or older cannot take discounted student health insurance. They can take private or standard public insurance (without a student discount).

Health insurance for DAAD-scholarship holders

Your DAAD scholarship already includes health insurance that is accepted in Germany. Here is what the official website of DAAD says.

The DAAD offers combined health, accident, and personal liability insurance for trainees, students and academics – as well as their partners and children – who come to Germany. DAAD scholarship holders receive this insurance automatically.

Health insurance for international students working part-time

Foreign students under 30 working part-time alongside their studies can still enjoy discounted student insurance. The condition is that the working hours should not exceed 20 hours per week.

If you work more than 20 hrs per week, you are no longer eligible for the student insurance. In this case, you must inform your health insurance provider.

Discounted student insurance is relevant if you want public health insurance. To private health insurers, it doesn’t matter if you are a student or not. Private health insurance premium depends on your age and health.

FAQs

Difference Between Student Travel Insurance vs Student Health Insurance

You must show valid health insurance while applying for a German travel visa in your home country. Unfortunately, you must be in Germany to get German health insurance. Thus, getting travel health insurance is the only option to obtain a visa. 

Travel health insurance covers you till you get student health insurance in Germany.

Is healthcare free for students in Germany?

No, healthcare is not free for students in Germany. Students under 30 get discounted health insurance. But they still pay 120 € to 125 € per month (as of 2024) as an insurance premium.

Students who are 30 or older don’t get the student discount. They must get standard health insurance from private or public insurers.

References

• https://www.studierendenwerke.de/themen/studieren-mit-behinderung/finanzierung/krankenversicherung/private-krankenversicherung-sinnvolle-alternative-fuer-studierende-mit-beeintraechtigungen
• https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/120841082/Krankenversicherung_f%C3%BCr_internationale_Studierende
• https://www.finanztip.de/krankenversicherung/krankenversicherung-student/
• https://www.tk.de/en/service-faqs/life-change/leave-germany-permanently-health-insurance-cover-2092300
• https://www.studierendenwerke.de/themen/studienfinanzierung/kosten-des-studiums/versicherungen/studienvoraussetzung-kranken-und-pflegeversicherung
• https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/gesundheit-pflege/krankenversicherung/studentische-krankenversicherung-diese-moeglichkeiten-gibt-es-10352