Student health insurance in Germany

If you want to study in Germany, you will need student health insurance. If international students do not have valid health insurance in Germany, they cannot enroll in German higher education institutions. Student health insurance in Germany ensures that the insurance system covers the costs of medical care and medication in the event of an accident or illness.

Finding the right health insurance for your studies in Germany is not easy. If you are coming to Germany for the first time, in a country where you do not know the culture and perhaps not even the language, many requirements and regulations have to be taken into account. The aim of this article is to inform you about your health insurance options.

By the way, just as important as health insurance for students coming to Germany is the opening of a blocked account. Vasistdas has analyzed the providers of blocked accounts for students in detail.

What are the health insurance options for students in Germany?

There are two options for health insurance for foreign students in Germany:

1. Public health insurance for students in Germany (GKV)
2. Private health insurance for students in Germany (PKV)

Public health insurance for students in Germany (GKV)

Public health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung or GKV) is the first choice for students in Germany. Up to the age of 29 or until the end of the 14th semester of study, students are eligible for public health insurance. If you are over 30, you are not able to get GKV (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) in Germany.

Companies offering public health insurance for students in Germany:

• Barmer (Fully English support, exclusive for Vasistdas: Turkish support for registration and subscription throughout use)
• TK Techniker Krankenkasse (supported in English)
• DAK Gesundheit
• AOK

In addition to these companies, there are many large, small and regional state-owned health insurance providers. 

Private health insurance for students in Germany (PKV)

People who have come to Germany for the following reasons can only benefit from private health insurance (Privat Krankenversicherung or PKV):

• Students over 30 years of age and students who have not been insured at the student rate for at least 12 months
• Language and preparatory course students (private health insurance for language courses in Germany is available here)
• PhD students and scholarship holders
• Guest scientists
• Students working as freelancers or simultaneously running their own business

In Germany, people over the age of 30 can only benefit from private health insurance, but if you are under 30 you can choose between public or private health insurance. In exceptional cases, such as not being accepted by public health insurance, students can also be admitted to private health insurance.

If you want to get private health insurance as a student, our recommendation would definitely be Ottonova. When you become a member by clicking on the Ottonova link on Vasistdas , you can get faster service at no additional cost.

Legally, the coverage provided by private insurance must be at least equivalent to that offered by public insurance. The basic coverage and coverage are always the same: Your health insurance covers the costs of medical examinations, treatment after illness or accident and some medicines. The general costs of a hospital stay are also covered.

How much is the student health insurance in Germany?

In Germany, all public and private insurance schemes offer special reduced rates for students.

The student rate is around 140 euros per month. The price of health insurance in Germany varies slightly depending on the health insurance you choose, as each health insurance provider may charge individual co-payments.

Prices for student health insurance in Germany according to 2024 data:

Best health insurance for international students in Germany

You may have noticed that the prices of public health insurance in Germany are almost the same. Organizations like Barmer can even give students a bonus refund of over 100 euros every year. In our point of view, Barmer is the best health insurance for international students in Germany while Barmer:

• is the most digital service provider e.g., with Barmer App you can submit your expenses and get forms for coverage in your home country
• supports many languages including English, Turkish and Arabic as it has a special customer care unit for each language
• has extensive coverage in the market including free dental cleaning, which is not available in most providers

So, when choosing health insurance, you should look at the ease of subscription and use before the monthly price. In this sense, with Barmer student health insurance, you can instantly subscribe via Vasistdas with English support and your subscription starts instantly online.

Don’t forget that the regular tariff of public health insurance providers is significantly higher than the student tariff. Private health insurance may therefore be a better option for students who are 30 years old when they start their studies in Germany.

Documents required for student insurance

Once you have determined your preferred type of health insurance in Germany, you may also need some of the following

• A valid ID, such as a passport (a residence permit is also acceptable)
• A document showing that you are a student
• IBAN for your German bank account (insurance is automatically withdrawn here)
• Recent passport photo
• Insurance registration certificate required by your insurance
• In addition, if family members are to be insured, their details will also be required

Usually you will need to print out the forms, sign them and send them by post to the insurance provider. Within a few weeks, you will receive an insurance certificate that can be taken to your university as proof of insurance coverage to ensure your enrollment. If you have taken out private health insurance, you may need to apply for a medical examination.

Should I choose public or private?

If you have the right to choose one or the other, you should first understand the differences in coverage between the two types of insurance. However, you should keep in mind that with both types of insurance you will have very comprehensive health insurance.

The most important differences between public and private insurance in Germany:

• Some doctors only accept patients with private insurance.
• If you have public insurance, you may be offered an appointment at a much later date by the hospital or doctor in question. Patients with private health insurance are given priority by doctors.
• If you have private health insurance, you can use the health system in your home country much more easily.
• In public health insurance, the health service is automatically paid to the relevant institution. However, with private health insurance, you pay the full cost of the service and then claim the cost from the health insurance.
• If you want to take out private health insurance, you may have to undergo a medical examination before you are accepted.
• If you switch to private health insurance in Germany, it is very difficult to switch to public insurance afterwards.

Frequently asked questions

In this section you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about student health insurance in Germany.

Should students in Germany take out public (GKV) or private (PKV)?

Health insurance for students in Germany offers insurance combinations that suit your needs according to your age and purpose of stay. Students can therefore choose between public or private health insurance. However, it should be noted that public, i.e. state, insurance is generally chosen.

Is my health insurance in my home country valid in Germany?

If you come to Germany as a student, your existing health insurance in your home country is not valid in Germany. If you come from a non-European country, you are required by law to have German health insurance. Without German health insurance, you cannot get a visa and you cannot enroll in a German university.

For students from within the European Union, the requirements are not as strict. However, we recommend that you seek advice from your health insurance provider.

Which health insurance is valid for students in Germany?

Health insurance for foreign students must fulfill many requirements. Some of the requirements include European Commission regulations, the right to free movement within the European Union (Freizügigkeitsverordnung/EG) and the right of residence in Germany.

Many health insurance providers in Germany, such as AOK, TK and Barmer, offer insurance that fulfills these requirements.

Does the insurance also apply to my family?

Your student health insurance in Germany will also apply to your family. All family members are covered by the same insurance tariff.

Which insurance do I need for my pre-university preparation course in Germany?

Before you start university full-time in Germany, you may need to take a preparatory course. A preparatory course is also a good way to learn vital language skills and generally prepare for living full-time in Germany. Most preparation courses last around two semesters, which is less than a year.

Students are required to enroll in private health insurance for the duration of the preparatory course. After successful completion of the course and admission to a university program, students can enroll in public health insurance through a provider such as Barmer and benefit from reduced student fees.

Which health insurance can students coming to Germany for language school take?

Some students choose to take a language course, usually for about a year or a semester, to improve their German or to learn from scratch. Language courses are preferred by both future undergraduate students and those who want to move to Germany to work.

A language course can be an excellent way to better integrate into German society.

Just like with preparatory courses, those on German courses or at the Studienkolleg are not accepted by public health insurance. These students will need to find a private plan to cover them for the duration of the course. Once you start work or are admitted to a bachelor’s degree program, you will be able to enroll in compulsory health insurance.

What is the scope of the insurance in Germany?

Student health insurance in Germany generally covers all medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospitalization, dental care, prescriptions and medication. You are expected to pay small contributions towards the cost of the health care you receive. For higher premiums, you can also choose optional extras for more comprehensive coverage.

What is a health insurance card in Germany?

After you take out German health insurance, you will receive a health insurance card. Presenting this card to your doctor, hospital, dentist or pharmacy shows that you are covered.

If you have public insurance, you do not have to pay any money to the doctor or pharmacy. If you have private insurance, you can also claim from your insurance company after you have made the payments personally.