When international students come to study in Germany it’s the law for them to have some form of German student health insurance - it’s also something that you’ll be asked to prove during your student visa application.
If you can’t show valid health insurance, you may be denied entry to the country.
There are various types of German health insurance that international students can apply for, so in this guide, we’ll be telling you everything you need to know about student health insurance Germany.
We’ll be covering topics like how to pick the best policy for you, how much does health insurance in Germany cost for students, and what does German health insurance cover.
The German healthcare system is one of the best in Europe, and all residents are required to have some sort of health insurance policy.
Even if you’re an international living or working in Germany, you’re still eligible to apply for German healthcare. Once you become a resident, you have to register with either a public or private healthcare provider.
Public health insurance known as the Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV) is provided by the German state and covers around 90% of residents, this includes both EU and non-EU nationals working in Germany.
German public health insurance includes care in hospitals and care from doctors. Some specialist care, for example, eye or dental care may be limited, or not included at all, in public health insurance policies.
German public health insurance also covers:
People in paid employment or vocational training who earn less than €60,750 per year
Spouses, civil partners, and children (up to age 23, or 25 if studying) of someone covered by public health insurance
Pensioners and people who receive unemployment benefits
Private health insurance is the policy offered by private health organisations, rather than the German state. 1 in 10 German residents have private health insurance policies that come from around 40 private medical insurance companies.
You normally sign up for private health insurance in terms of 18 months, and will usually have to give a 2-month notice period if you want to end your policy before this time.
Some of the main private health insurance companies in Germany include:
Eligibility for private healthcare is dependent on your employment status and salary. If you earn less than €60,750 a year, you’re recommended to stay on a public healthcare insurance policy.
You can apply for private healthcare if you fall into one of the groups below:
Residents with salaries higher than €60,750 a month
Civil servants
Self-employed
Mature students (International students older than 30 years old)
Students in preparatory and language courses
Guest scientists, post-graduate students, scholarship holders (without a contract of employment)
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The main difference between public and private health insurance is that public health insurance is based on your income, whereas private insurance is based on your risk profile - things like your age and previous medical history.
Also, with private health insurance, you’ll be asked to pay your doctor’s fees up front and get reimbursed later so there will be times when you’re left out of pocket - which won’t happen if you’re on public health insurance.
Private health insurance will usually cover more extensive and specialised services, and you’ll have shorter waiting times for treatments, however it can cost more monthly and will not cover children and partners for free.
For public health insurance in Germany, you get charged a healthcare contribution based on your income which comes out of your salary automatically and is currently around 14.6%. You’ll have to pay half of the 14.6%, and then your employer will pay the remainder.
The amount charged is capped at wages of €4,538 a month, which means the maximum amount that you could pay monthly for public health insurance in Germany is €360.
You may also have to pay an additional ‘contribution rate’ which is set by state German health insurers, which changes every year.
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Yes, all students have to have healthcare insurance in Germany. Whether you get it privately or publicly, it doesn’t matter. Without proof of insurance, you may not be granted a German student visa.
Students over 30, can only go with private insurance throughout the whole period of their studies.
If you’re a student at a German university under the age of 30, you must have public health insurance. Without a certificate proving your insurance, you won’t be able to register at university.
If you’re under 30 but want to apply for private health insurance, you will have to request a certificate of exemption from public health insurance within the first 3 months of your studies.
If you’re over the age of 30 you only have the possibility of getting private health insurance.
You can also use this tool to estimate how much you can expect to pay for health insurance in Germany and find which is the cheapest health insurance in Germany for students.
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If you’re from one of the countries below, your home public health insurance policy is valid in Germany:
Member states of the European Union (with your European Health Insurance Card)
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Morocco
Macedonia
Montenegro
Norway
Switzerland
Serbia
Tunisia
Turkey
You should always check the details with your health insurance provider to make sure that it will be valid in Germany - just to make sure.
Student health insurance Germany will cover:
In-patient hospital care
Out-patient care (e.g. visiting the doctor)
Medical check-ups
Medication
Basic dental care
Treatment for pregnancy
Emergency services
To get proof of your German health insurance, you should contact the company you started your plan with. They will be able to provide a certificate that includes details of your insurance plan, how much it covers, and how long the plan lasts.
If you’re on private health insurance or using health insurance from your home country, you may also need to get proof of being exempt from public health insurance in Germany. You can do this by contacting the public health insurance provider in your area.
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No, healthcare in Germany is not free for international students. The only exception is if your home health insurance plan is valid in Germany.
On average, students will have to pay around €110 a month for health insurance. Some of the most common providers of health insurance charge the following:
TK – Techniker Krankenkasse 108,81 €
AOK Baden Württemberg 108,06 €
Barmer 108,77 €
KKH – Kaufmännische Krankenkasse 111,75 €
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is the most popular as it’s one of the cheapest health insurance in Germany for students. TK also has 24/7 support available in English, so it’s perfect for international students who don’t speak German.
Private German health insurance for students can start at around €33 for a basic plan, but most insurance providers will have various plans at different prices. The more you pay monthly, the more cover you will get.
One of the most popular private health insurance plans for international students is EDUCARE24 as it’s flexible and made specifically for students. The premiums for EDUCARE24 are:
Other popular private health insurance providers include:
AXA - www.axa.de
CareMed International Insurance - www.study-abroad-insurance.com
Hanse-Merkur Reiseversicherung AG - www.hmrv.de
Mawista Reise- und Krankenversicherung - www.mawista.com
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