Guides
Health Insurance for International Students in Germany (2026): Public vs Private, Costs and Timing
Health insurance is mandatory twice: for your visa and for enrolment at a German university. Most students under 30 join a public insurer at the standardised student rate — roughly €140–€152 per month in 2026. Private insurance can be cheaper, but choosing it means an exemption from public insurance that usually binds you for your entire studies.
Key facts
- Public student rate (2026)
- about €140–€152 / month
- Student rate applies
- until age 30 (with exceptions)
- Needed for
- visa application and university enrolment
- Over 30
- roughly €270–€300+ / month in public insurance
Why do you need health insurance to study in Germany?
Health insurance is compulsory for everyone living in Germany. For students it matters at two specific points: the embassy will not issue a student visa without proof of coverage, and your university will not enrol you without confirmation from a German insurer (or proof that you are exempt).
Public or private insurance: which should you choose?
| Public (statutory, GKV) | Private (PKV) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost (student, 2026) | about €140–€152, fixed student rate | varies by age and tariff; often lower for young students |
| Who can join | students up to age 30 at the student rate | anyone, but requires exemption from public insurance |
| Coverage | broad, set by law | depends on the tariff — read the exclusions |
| Switching back | not needed | usually impossible until your studies end |
For most students under 30, public insurance is the safer default: the price is regulated, coverage is comprehensive, and nothing locks you in. Private insurance makes sense mainly if you are over 30, or attending a language course or Studienkolleg where the public student rate does not apply.
If you ask to be exempted from public insurance to take a private plan, the exemption normally applies for the whole duration of your studies. Decide carefully — it is not a choice you can undo next semester.
How much does student health insurance cost in 2026?
Public insurers charge students a standardised contribution plus each fund’s own supplementary rate and long-term care insurance. In 2026 that lands between about €140 and €152 per month for students under 30 — for example, Techniker Krankenkasse quotes roughly €141–€146 depending on age and whether you have children. Once you turn 30 (or exceed the standard study period), you move to the voluntary rate, typically €270–€300+ a month.
Budget this alongside rent and food: on a €992 monthly blocked-account payout, insurance is around 15% of your budget. The living cost calculator includes it automatically.
What insurance do you need for the visa application?
The embassy usually wants proof of coverage from your arrival until you enrol. Many students solve this with an incoming or travel health policy for the first weeks, then switch to public student insurance at enrolment. Several blocked-account providers sell both in one package, together with the confirmation letter the embassy needs.
Before you arrive
Paid partnership
Expatrio
Blocked account, health insurance and incoming transfer in one package.
- Blocked account accepted for the student visa
- Public or private health insurance included
- Opened online before you arrive in Germany
We earn a commission if you open an account through these links. It costs you nothing extra and does not change what we list or how we rank it.
How do you sign up, step by step?
- Before the visa appointment, arrange coverage for your arrival period (incoming/travel insurance or a package with your blocked account).
- After admission, choose a public insurer (or confirm your private plan and request the exemption).
- Get the electronic insurance confirmation sent to your university — enrolment cannot be completed without it.
- After arrival, set up the monthly payment from your German bank account.
What if you are over 30, a language student or from the EU?
- Over 30: the student rate ends; you pay the voluntary public rate or choose private insurance.
- Language course or Studienkolleg: the public student rate usually does not apply yet; private or incoming insurance is the norm until you enrol in a degree.
- EU/EEA students: your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is generally recognised; you may be exempted from German insurance on that basis.
What comes next?
With insurance and a blocked account in place, the remaining step is the student visa application.
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- Study in Germany (DAAD) — Health insurance
- Make it in Germany — Health insurance
- Federal Ministry of Health
We check these figures against official sources, but rules and amounts change. Confirm the current requirements with your embassy or university before you act.