Explanation

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

You can go to any public health insurance provider in Germany and show them your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The German public health insurer will issue you a certificate stating that your home country’s health insurance is valid in Germany. You need this certificate to enroll in a university in Germany.

You can get an EHIC card from your home country’s health insurance provider.

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. 

If the German public health insurer doesn’t recognize private insurance from your home country, you must get valid health insurance from Germany.

Guides

• Health insurance for international students

Explanation

You have the EHIC card

• Go to any public health insurance provider in Germany and show them your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
• The German public health insurer will issue you a certificate stating that your home country’s health insurance is valid in Germany.

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

You don’t have the EHIC card

Register for a global health insurance card at NHS.

If that doesn’t work, you must get public or private health insurance from Germany, depending on your eligibility criteria.

Guides

• Health insurance for international students

Explanation

Your parents have public health insurance

Children are insured for free with family insurance in the following cases:

• They are up to 18 years old
• They are up to 23 years old and unemployed.
• The age limit is extended to 25 if the child is in school or vocational training or is doing voluntary service.

Your parents have private health insurance

Privately insured parents cannot insure their children for free in family insurance. They must get a separate private health insurance policy for their kids.

So, you or your parents must continue paying your private health insurance premium.

You can switch from private to public before the start of your studies or within 3 months of your course start. You cannot change your health insurance during your studies.

Guides

• Family insurance

Explanation

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 if you want private 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.

We find TK the best public health insurance provider for expats. It offers its website, mobile app, and customer support in English.

You can register with TK online for free in 2 minutes using our “TK registration service.“

Guides

• Health insurance for international students
• Family insurance
• Private vs public health insurance

Explanation

You are single

You can insure your children under your public health insurance for free. However, if you get private health insurance, you must get a separate private health insurance policy for your kids.

You are married

• Both parents have public health insurance: The child is automatically insured under free family insurance.
• Both parents have private health insurance: The child must have separate private health insurance. The child cannot be insured with statutory health insurance.
• One parent has private and other public health insurance: You can take private or public health insurance for your child. However, you won’t get FREE family insurance if you meet all of the three conditions:
  • The parents are married or life partners under the Civil Partnership Act.
  • The privately insured parent earns more than the publicly insured parent.
  • The total annual income of the privately insured parent exceeds the annual salary limit (73,800€ (as of 2025)).

A private health insurance policy for children costs between 100 € and 250 € per month. So, if you have kids, the savings from private health insurance diminishes quickly.

NOTE: You should never get private health insurance just to save money. The goal should be better coverage than the statutory health insurance. If you save some money in the process, that’s a bonus.

You can clarify your doubts by consulting a fee-based insurance advisor or broker. You can ask your questions to an expert for free here.

Guides

• Private health insurance for children
• Family insurance

Explanation

Individuals without income pay minimum public health insurance premiums (i.e., 279.6€ per month (as of 2025)). Moreover, you can insure your non-working spouse and children under your public health insurance for free.

However, if you get private health insurance, you must get a separate private health insurance policy for everyone.

Thus, public insurance is usually cheaper for individuals without income or with families in Germany.

We find TK the best public health insurance provider for expats. It offers its website, mobile app, and customer support in English.

You can register with TK online for free in 2 minutes using our “TK registration service.“

Guides

• Start here
• Is private health insurance worth it?
• Private health insurance for children
• Family insurance
• Public or private health insurance

Explanation

Students coming to Germany to attend preparatory or language courses cannot insure themselves with a statutory health insurance company. The same applies to internships.

But German law still requires proof of health insurance. Thus, the only choice for students in internship, language, or preparatory courses is to get private health insurance.

You can compare and apply for private student health insurance on the comparison portal Check24*. If you don’t feel comfortable in German, you can check student private health insurance from Feather* or Dr. Walter*.

Guides

• Health insurance for international students

Explanation

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

You must apply for the exemption within three months of starting the course. The public 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.

We find TK the best public health insurance provider for expats. It offers its website, mobile app, and customer support in English.

You can register with TK online for free in 2 minutes using our “TK registration service.“

Guides

• Health insurance for international students

Explanation

Private health insurance

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

We recommend getting private health insurance via an insurance broker. They are experts and can help you find the best plan for your needs. You can book a call with an expert we recommend here.

Expat private health insurance

Expat private health insurance is the better choice if you are in Germany temporarily (up to 5 years). It’s the cheapest health insurance in Germany.

Private health insurance companies are legally required to save part of the premium as retirement provisions. These provisions keep the insurance cost stable as you age.

However, expat health insurance policies don’t save retirement provisions. As you don’t pay for the retirement provisions, the expat insurance cost is very low.

You can get expat health insurance from Feather* or Dr. Walter*.

How can you get public health insurance?

You can apply for public health insurance if you have a resident permit for over 12 months.

Public health insurance is cheaper for individuals with children. This is because they can insure their children for free in public health insurance.

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

We find TK the best public health insurance provider for expats. It offers its website, mobile app, and customer support in English.

You can register with TK online for free in 2 minutes using our “TK registration service.“

Guides

• Health insurance for international students

Explanation

To join private health insurance, you must meet the following criteria.

• You must earn above the income threshold. This is 73,800€ (as of 2025).
• Private health insurance only accepts healthy individuals.

Guides

• Start here
• Is private health insurance worth it?

Explanation

• The state covers 50% to 70% of civil servants’ medical costs. Thus, they need supplementary private health insurance to cover the rest. Hence drastically reducing their insurance premium.
• The state also covers up to 70% of the medical bills of a civil servant’s spouse and children. This is why it doesn’t matter if you are married and have children.

We recommend getting private health insurance via an insurance broker. They are experts and can help you find the best plan for your needs. You can book a call with an expert we recommend here.

Guides

• Start here
• Is private health insurance worth it?
• Essential services private health insurance must cover

Explanation

You can insure your spouse or registered partner for free in your public health insurance if they meet the following requirements.

• The family member to be insured must live in Germany.
• They do not work full-time as self-employed.
• The family member must not be exempt from public insurance. For example, they are a high-earning employee or civil servant.
• People from certain professional groups, such as civil servants, judges, soldiers, or clergy, cannot be included in family insurance.
• Their monthly income doesn’t exceed the minimum income limit. The income limit is 535€ (as of 2025).
• The income shouldn’t exceed the mini-job income limit for family members working part-time. It’s 556 euros per month (as of 2025).

TIP: You can exceed the income limits up to twice a year.

For example, suppose you earned 600 € each in August and September, and your income was below the income limit for other months.

In this case, you remain insured for free in family health insurance. But if you exceed the income limit by more than twice a year, you must pay for health insurance.

NOTE: Only people part of the public health insurance system can insure their families for free in family insurance. People with private health insurance must get a private insurance policy for their relatives.

We find TK the best public health insurance provider for expats. It offers its website, mobile app, and customer support in English.

You can register with TK online for free in 2 minutes using our “TK registration service.“

NOTE: The purpose of getting health insurance is to have good coverage when you or your loved ones are sick. Thus, you should not base your decision solely on which health insurance is cheaper.

If you are confused and don’t know which health insurance is best for you or your family, consult a fee-based advisor or a broker for personalized advice.

You can book an appointment with an insurance broker we recommend for free here.

Guides

• Family insurance in Germany

Explanation

Table of contents

• Explanation
• How much do you save with private health insurance?

As your spouse also earns, they pay their own health insurance premium. It doesn’t matter which health insurance your spouse has.

So, you can save on insurance costs by getting private health insurance. Moreover, you get better services in private health insurance than public.

You can also insure your kids in private health insurance for better coverage. Your employer also contributes to your children’s private health insurance.

The maximum employer’s contribution to your and your family’s private health insurance is up to the amount the employer would have paid if you were in public insurance.

The maximum employer subsidy is 471€ (8.55% of 5512.5€). So if you have a private health insurance contribution of 600 €, the employer will contribute 300 € (50% of 600 €). This leaves you with 171 € in subsidy that can be used for your children’s private insurance.

If your child has a private insurance contribution of 200 €, your employer will contribute 100 € (50% of 200 €). You’ll still have 71 € in subsidy that can be used for your second child.

The following applies to children’s health insurance.

• Both parents have public health insurance: The child is automatically insured under free family insurance.
• Both parents have private health insurance: The child must have separate private health insurance. The child cannot be insured with statutory health insurance.
• One parent has private and other public health insurance: You can take private or public health insurance for your child. However, you won’t get FREE family insurance if you meet all of the three conditions:
  • The parents are married or life partners under the Civil Partnership Act.
  • The privately insured parent earns more than the publicly insured parent.
  • The total annual income of the privately insured parent exceeds the annual salary limit (73,800€ (as of 2025)).

Example

Consider a married couple. One parent has private insurance and earns 10,000 euros gross monthly. Other parent has state health insurance and earns 5,000 euros gross per month. 

In this scenario, the privately insured parent satisfies all the three conditions. 

• They are married.
• The privately insured parent is the main earner or earns more than their partner.
• The privately insured parent’s income surpasses the annual salary limit.

Hence, the child must get a separate health insurance policy.

You can decide whether to get public or private health insurance for your child. However, you must pay a monthly premium for your child regardless of whether your child has public or private insurance.

NOTE: The purpose of getting health insurance is to have good coverage when you or your loved ones are sick. Thus, you should not base your decision solely on which health insurance is cheaper.

If you are confused and don’t know which health insurance is best for you or your family, consult a fee-based advisor or a broker for personalized advice.

You can book an appointment with an insurance broker we recommend for free here.

How much do you save with private health insurance?

We made the following assumptions.

• Your partner is working.
• Your spouse pays for their health insurance themselves.
• You earn more than the income threshold (i.e., 73,800€ (as of 2025)) to be eligible for private health insurance.

Total health insurance costs in the public and private system

Employed

	Monthly public insurance premiums	Monthly private insurance premiums	Monthly Savings in private insurance
Maximum employer’s contribution	570.5€ (as of 2025)
1 child	Your premium: 570 € (after deducting employer’s contribution) Your child’s premium: Free	Your premium: 350 € (after deducting employer’s contribution) Your child’s premium: 60 € (120 – 60 (employer’s contribution))	🟢 160 € (570 – (350+60))
2 children	Your premium: 570 € Your children’s premium: Free	Your premium: 350 € Child 1: 60 € Child 2: 60 € (120 – 60 (employer’s subsidy))	🟢 100 € (570 – (350+60+60))

Self-employed

	Monthly public insurance premiums	Monthly private insurance premiums	Monthly Savings in private insurance
1 child	Your premium: 1140 € Your child’s premium: Free	Your premium: 700 € Your child’s premium: 120 €	🟢 320 € (1140 – (700 + 120))
2 children	Your premium: 1140 € Your children’s premium: Free	Your premium: 700 € Child 1: 120 € Child 2: 120 €	🟢 200 € (1140 – (700 + 240)

As you can see, you can save with private health insurance even if you have children. However, you should not base your decision solely on which health insurance is cheaper.

You should consult a fee-based insurance advisor or broker for personalized advice. You can ask your questions to an expert for free here.

Guides

• Start here
• Health insurance for children
• Family insurance in Germany
• Public or private health insurance
• Is private health insurance unaffordable in old age?

Explanation

A good private health insurance plan offers better services than public health insurance. Moreover, high-earners can save a few hundred euros every month in private health insurance.

Even if you have two children, the cost of private health insurance for your family is less than public health insurance.

However, private health insurance becomes costly for families with three or more children. Thus, public health insurance is a better choice from a financial perspective. This is because children are insured for free in public health insurance.

We find TK the best public health insurance provider for expats. It offers its website, mobile app, and customer support in English.

You can register with TK online for free in 2 minutes using our “TK registration service.“

Savings in private health insurance

We made the following assumptions.

• You are single
• You earn more than the income threshold (i.e., 73,800€ (as of 2025)) to be eligible for private health insurance.

Total health insurance costs in the public and private system

Employed

	Monthly public insurance premiums	Monthly private insurance premiums	Monthly Savings in private insurance
Maximum employer’s contribution	570.5€ (as of 2025)
1 child	Your premium: 570 € (after deducting employer’s contribution) Your child’s premium: Free	Your premium: 350 € (after deducting employer’s contribution) Your child’s premium: 60 € (120 – 60 (employer’s contribution))	🟢 160 € (570 – (350+60))
2 children	Your premium: 570 € Your children’s premium: Free	Your premium: 350 € Child 1: 60 € Child 2: 60 € (120 – 60 (employer’s subsidy))	🟢 100 € (570 – (350+60+60))

Self-employed

	Monthly public insurance premiums	Monthly private insurance premiums	Monthly Savings in private insurance
1 child	Your premium: 1140 € Your child’s premium: Free	Your premium: 700 € Your child’s premium: 120 €	🟢 320 € (1140 – (700 + 120))
2 children	Your premium: 1140 € Your children’s premium: Free	Your premium: 700 € Child 1: 120 € Child 2: 120 €	🟢 200 € (1140 – (700 + 240)

As you can see, you can save with private health insurance even if you have children. However, you should not base your decision solely on which health insurance is cheaper.

You should consult a fee-based insurance advisor or broker for personalized advice. You can ask your questions to an expert for free here.

Guides

• Start here
• Health insurance for children
• Family insurance in Germany
• Public or private health insurance

Explanation

Individuals with high incomes and no children can save a lot of money with private health insurance. However, you must consider the long term before deciding.

Getting private health insurance is a lifelong decision. You cannot return to the public health system later.

You should educate yourself about the German health system before deciding.

You might be single or have no children today, but your life situation may change over time. So, always consider the future when deciding which health insurance to take.

NOTE: The purpose of getting health insurance is to have good coverage when you or your loved ones are sick. Thus, you should not base your decision solely on which health insurance is cheaper.

Savings in private health insurance

Let’s see how much you can save if you get private health insurance. We have made the following assumptions.

• you are a high-earner
• you are 30 years old
• you took a top-tier private health insurance plan

We also include contributions to long-term nursing care insurance while calculating the premiums. 

	Monthly public insurance premiums (TK)	Monthly private insurance premiums	Monthly Savings
Employed	Total: 1170 € You pay: 600 € Employer pays: 570 €	Total: 700 € You pay: 350 € Employer pays: 350 €	250 €
Self-employed	1170 €	700 €	470 €
Civil Servants	1170 € (only a few federal states cover half the health insurance cost)	400 € (State covers 50% to 70% of medical bills)	770 €

As you can see, civil servants benefit the most from private health insurance. That’s also why around 93% of civil servants and 39% of self-employed in Germany have private health insurance.

In our comparison and test, we found Haellesche’s and Signal Iduna’s private health insurance plans among the best.

Private health insurance is a complicated product. So, we recommend consulting a fee-based advisor or an insurance broker for personalized advice.

Guides

• Start here
• Is private health insurance worth it?
• Health insurance for children
• Family insurance in Germany
• Public or private health insurance