Health insurance for students in Germany

The rule: no insurance, no enrolment

German universities won't enrol you without proof of health insurance - the insurer sends an electronic confirmation (M10) straight to the university. So insurance is a week-one task in the The international student guide to Germany chain, right after admission and before enrolment closes. The system behind all of this - GKV vs PKV, how the funds work - is covered in Health insurance in Germany; this guide is the student-specific layer.

The student rate (KVdS): the deal of the system

Enrolled students at state-recognised universities get the Krankenversicherung der Studenten (KVdS) - a legally discounted public rate that doesn't depend on income:

The exact figure varies a few euros by fund (the Zusatzbeitrag differs - The cheapest Krankenkasse in 2026); TK and the other big funds all offer English service on the same student terms. Full cover, same benefits as everyone else, family doctors and hospitals included.

Eligibility limits - the two clocks:

• Age 30: KVdS ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30.
• After that: voluntary GKV at roughly €270+/month - the "over-30 cliff" that surprises every PhD and second-degree student. Budget for it in advance.

Under 25? Check family insurance first

If a parent is in German public insurance, you may qualify for free Familienversicherung until 25 (income limits apply) - €0/month beats €130. Mostly relevant for students whose parents live and work in Germany; international students whose parents are abroad don't qualify.

EU students: the EHIC route

EU/EEA students can often study on their home country's EHIC card instead of German insurance - the fund certifies the exemption for enrolment. Fine for a semester or two; but note that once you take up regular German employment (a Werkstudent job), German insurance usually takes over. Weigh convenience against the fact that KVdS is what your Werkstudent employer expects.

Non-EU arrivals: the incoming-insurance bridge

Your visa needs coverage before you're enrolled - and KVdS only starts with enrolment. The standard bridge is incoming/travel insurance for the application and the arrival gap (often sold bundled with the The blocked account (Sperrkonto) providers), switched to proper KVdS the day you enrol..

The private-tariff trap (read before you sign anything)

Private student tariffs can look cheaper than €130 - and for some over-30s or short-stay exchange students they're the right call. But for a degree-seeking student under 30 the trap is real:

• Opting out of GKV is binding for your entire studies. You file an exemption (Befreiung) from compulsory student insurance, and you cannot return to KVdS later in the same degree - even when the private premium rises or your situation changes.
• Private tariffs price by age/health and often exclude things KVdS covers flat.
• The savings are small; the lock-in is total. The full public-vs-private logic is in Public vs private health insurance in Germany.

Rule of thumb: under 30, degree-seeking → take KVdS. Consider private only if KVdS is genuinely unavailable to you (over 30, certain programmes) - and even then compare the voluntary GKV rate first.

Which fund to actually pick (they're not all equal)

Since KVdS is the same legally-set price at every public fund, you choose on service, English support, and small extras - not price. For international students:

• TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) is the usual pick - the largest fund, a full English website/app and English support, and it handles the enrolment confirmation smoothly. AOK, Barmer, and DAK are the other big names with some English service.
• The tiny price differences come from each fund's Zusatzbeitrag (a few euros/month) - real but secondary to being able to understand your insurer. Full comparison in The cheapest Krankenkasse in 2026.
• Switching funds later is easy and free (12-month rule, then two months' notice) if your first pick disappoints - Switching Krankenkasse.

The enrolment mechanic: the M10 confirmation

The piece that actually unblocks your Immatrikulation: once you sign up with a public fund, it sends an electronic confirmation (the "M10" / Meldung) directly to your university, digitally - you don't carry a paper letter. Practical points:

• Sign up with your chosen Krankenkasse as soon as you have your admission and can prove enrolment intent - the university won't complete registration without the M10.
• If you're privately insured or EHIC-exempt, the fund still issues the electronic message (an exemption confirmation) that the university needs - you can't just skip it.
• Give the fund your university and student number so it routes the confirmation correctly.

What KVdS does and doesn't cover (the dental gap)

Student public insurance gives the same core benefits as everyone else - GP and specialist visits, hospital, prescriptions (with small copays), mental-health care, emergencies. The gaps students most notice:

• Dental: routine check-ups and basic treatment are covered, but crowns, quality fillings, and orthodontics for adults are mostly not - the same limitation all GKV members face. Cheap supplementary dental insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung, ~€10-15/month) plugs it if you expect dental work (Dental insurance in Germany).
• Glasses/contacts: adults get little to no allowance - budget separately.
• Otherwise you're fully covered from day one; carry your insurance card (eGK) to every appointment.

The 20-hour work rule

Your cheap student insurance depends on being a student *first*, worker second:

• Work ≤20 hours/week during the semester and you keep student status - your Werkstudent job stays free of normal social contributions (except pension) and KVdS continues.
• Exceed 20 hours regularly in semester and you're treated as a regular employee - full contributions, KVdS gone.
• Semester breaks are exempt: full-time work in the breaks is fine.
• This interlocks with the visa's 140/280-day rule (The German student visa); the jobs guide (Working as a student in Germany) runs the combinations.

Frequently asked questions