Health insurance for international students in Germany

Health insurance is not optional in Germany. You need proof of cover for the visa, and no university will complete your enrolment without it. Most degree students under 30 join the statutory scheme at the student rate of roughly €120–€140 a month.

Your situation	What you need	Indicative cost
Enrolled degree student, under 30	Statutory (gesetzlich) student cover — TK, AOK, Barmer and similar	€120–€140 / month
Enrolled student, 30 or over	Private student cover — the statutory student rate no longer applies	varies by age and provider
Language course or Studienkolleg (not yet enrolled)	Private incoming/travel cover accepted for the visa	€30–€90 / month
PhD candidate on an employment contract	Statutory cover through your employer	deducted from salary
Scholarship holder (DAAD and similar)	Often insured through the funder — check your award letter	usually covered

Statutory or private — how to choose

Statutory (gesetzlich) is the default and the safer choice for degree students: a flat student rate regardless of your health, no medical questions, and every university and Ausländerbehörde accepts it without discussion. You can switch insurer freely, but once you opt out of the statutory scheme as a student you generally cannot switch back for the rest of your studies — so think twice before choosing private cover to save a few euros.

Private cover is the route when the statutory scheme will not take you: language-course students who are not yet enrolled, students starting a degree at 30 or older, and some visiting researchers. Read what is excluded — pre-existing conditions, dentistry and pregnancy are common gaps.

The order that actually works

Take out cover (or an insurance confirmation) before the visa appointment — it is on the document list.
After arriving, register your address and open a German bank account.
Ask your insurer for the electronic enrolment confirmation (M10) — German universities now receive it digitally from the insurer.
Complete enrolment (Immatrikulation), then apply for your residence permit.

What students get wrong

Buying travel insurance instead of student cover — travel policies are not accepted for enrolment.
Letting cover lapse between the language course and the degree, which blocks the residence-permit extension.
Forgetting that cover must be valid from the day you enter Germany, not from the semester start.

Frequently asked questions

Is health insurance compulsory for students in Germany?

Yes. You need proof of cover for the student visa, and universities cannot complete your enrolment without an insurance confirmation.

How much does student health insurance cost?

Enrolled degree students under 30 pay the statutory student rate, roughly €120–€140 per month including the long-term care contribution. Private cover for language-course students is often cheaper but covers less.

Can I use my travel insurance instead?

No. Travel policies are not accepted for enrolment at a German university. Language-course and Studienkolleg students can use private incoming cover, but degree students need student health insurance.

What happens if I am over 30?

The statutory student rate normally no longer applies, so you take out private student cover instead. Compare carefully — premiums depend on age and the level of cover.

Can I switch from private back to statutory later?

Generally no. Once you are exempted from the statutory scheme as a student, that decision usually binds you for the rest of your studies, so choose carefully at the start.

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General information only, not insurance advice. Rates and eligibility rules are set by the insurers and German law and change over time — confirm directly with the insurer and your university before you decide.