Health insurance in Germany is not optional and not an afterthought, it gates your enrolment, your residence permit, and sometimes your visa. The choices are simple once you see them, but one of them is genuinely hard to reverse, so read this before you click "buy."
The two systems
Public (GKV), e.g. TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK
Enrolled students under 30 get a special student rate, roughly €130–€140 a month including long-term care insurance. It covers doctor visits, hospital, most prescriptions, mental health, no claims paperwork. This is what the large majority of students use, and it's accepted everywhere.
Private (PKV)
Premiums vary by age and health and can be cheaper when you're young and healthy, but you pay upfront and claim back, coverage is contract-defined, and it gets expensive later. Some language-course/Studienkolleg students and those over 30 end up here because they can't join the public student rate.
The age and status rules that decide for you
| Your situation | Usual insurance |
|---|---|
| Degree student, under 30 | Public student rate (~€130–140/mo) |
| Over 30, or past the 14th semester | Public "voluntary" (higher) or private |
| Language course / Studienkolleg (pre-degree) | Often private/incoming, until you enrol in a degree |
| Working student (Werkstudent) | Public, often still the student rate |
For the visa: travel insurance first, then German cover
For your student visa appointment you typically show travel/incoming health insurance with at least €30,000 cover for the gap between landing and your studies starting. Once you enrol, you switch to your proper German public (or private) policy, the university often needs proof of this to complete enrolment.
How to actually set it up
- Before flying: buy incoming/travel insurance (€30,000+ cover) for your visa and first weeks.
- After admission: pick a public insurer (TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK are all fine, service differs more than price). Apply online; it's free to set up.
- They issue a confirmation your university needs to enrol you, and later the membership certificate for your residence permit.
- The monthly premium is debited once your German bank account is live (see first weeks).
FAQ
Public or private as a student?
Public for almost all degree students under 30, it's cheap, comprehensive, and accepted everywhere. Private mainly applies to pre-degree language students, over-30s, or specific cases.
How much is student health insurance?
Around €130–€140 per month on the public student rate, including long-term care insurance.
Can I switch from private back to public later?
Usually not during your studies if you signed a public-insurance exemption at the start. That's why the initial choice matters so much, default to public.
Do I need German insurance for the visa?
For the visa you generally show travel/incoming cover of at least €30,000; you move to full German public/private cover once you enrol.
Official source: Make it in Germany: health insurance ↗
