Health Insurance for International Students in Germany

You’re going to study abroad in Germany, you will need health insurance.

You will need one certificate to prove you have travel insurance (for your visa application) and another certificate/digital confirmation to prove you have health insurance (for university enrollment).

The travel insurance you need for your visa application is private insurance, this applies to all students who need a visa. We’ll tell you how and where to get this.

Once you are in Germany (for your university enrollment), you will either be eligible for public or private health insurance. Your eligibility depends on your student status, your age, and other factors like your health status. We’ll also tell you how and where to get this.

Public Health Insurance in Germany: Who Can Get It?

If you’re under 30 and will be studying for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, you can get public health insurance.

Use the online tool by TK and DR-Walter to see the type of insurance you can get.

How Much Does Public Health Insurance in Germany Cost?

Public health insurance costs in Germany range from €140 to €150 per month as of January 2025.

The cost depends on factors such as age, whether or not you have children, and, of course, the provider — although there is not a big difference in cost among providers, as you will see listed below in just a while.

Public health insurance policies usually come at a discounted price for students, so the prices you see are some of the best in Germany in terms of affordability. Students only pay 70% (§245 SGB V) of the general contribution rate (§241 SGB V).

Here’s a list to get a better idea of how much students pay for public health insurance in Germany:

Health Insurance Provider	Health Insurance Contribution	Nursing Care Insurance Contribution	Total/Month*
BKK firmus	€103,11	€35,91	€139,02
hkk Krankenkasse	€106,11	€35,91	€142,02
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)	€108,33	€35,91	€144,24
HEK – Hanseatische Krankenkasse	€108,76	€35,91	€144,67
BKK ProVita	€112,09	€35,91	€148,00
Heimat Krankenkasse	€113,89	€35,91	€149,80
BKK24	€115,17	€35,91	€151,08

*Remember, these amounts can vary slightly, either up or down, depending on factors such as your age and whether or not you have children (+ the number of children you have). So, if you simply contact the company of your choice, they will be glad to let you know their specific rates for your circumstances.

What Does Public Health Insurance Cover?

Public health insurance in Germany covers the following:

• GP (general practitioner) appointments.
• In-hospital treatment.
• Out-patient treatments.
• Prescription medication.
• Surgery.
• Cancer screening.
• Maternity benefits.
• Basic dental care.

If you want to visit a doctor, you must set an appointment with any doctor registered in the public healthcare system, known as Kassenärzte. Such doctors usually have signs on their doors specifying they are part of the public health insurance scheme.

Remember that purchasing additional private health insurance is possible if you want to claim more benefits, such as more advanced dental services or private hospital rooms.

Private Health Insurance in Germany: Who Can Get It?

If you are a student aged 18-37 years old, you may be eligible for the new and exclusive private health insurance plan Study Secure Premium by ottonova (ottonova). Other options include Provist Student for those over 30 years old (Provisit Student), Preparatory and language course students (Educare24), Post-graduate students, guest scientists, and scholarship holders without an employment contract. (Provisit Science), Freelancers or self-employed students (Feather Insurance).

If you belong to any of the groups mentioned above, you should know there are some pretty convenient private health insurance plans out there. So, don’t worry about costs, benefits, or visa requirements.

For example, Study Secure Premium by ottonova offers affordable and comprehensive coverage that is fully accepted for your university enrollment.

For example, EDUCARE24 by DR-WALTER is made specifically for students who belong to the above categories, meaning it will provide exactly what you need to meet all the requirements set by German authorities.

On the other hand, Provisit Student is an extremely convenient alternative to public health insurance for students who are not eligible. It’s ideal for students over 29 years old and it meets all the regulatory requirements!

There are other private health insurance plans and companies you can choose from, apart from the ones we mentioned here. But, this information gives you a good idea in terms of what’s out there and how private plans can be beneficial and affordable, so you don’t need to stress about that.

How Much Does Private Health Insurance in Germany Cost?

You can purchase a plan for as little as €33 per month with Educare24 if you’re attending a Studienkolleg (preparatory course), internship, a summer university, or taking a language course in Germany.

On the other hand, plans for degree students (meaning those enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s program) start at €79 per month with Provisit Student.

Overall, the cost is pretty much the same as public health insurance.

Let’s make it simpler and more specific! If you’re planning to study at the Bachelor’s or Master’s level, and for one reason or another, you do not want to get public insurance or are not eligible, here’s what you would pay with Provisit Student:

Monthly Premium	Health and Long-Term Care Insurance*
Up to 29 years	€79.00
Up to 59 years	€129.00

*There are variations of costs for people over 59 years old or for accompanying spouses and children; you can take a look at them on the official health insurance provider website.

What Does Private Health Insurance in Germany Cover?

Private health insurance in Germany covers the same services as public (statutory) health insurance, such as GP appointments, in-hospital treatment, outpatient treatments, dental treatment, operations, and maternity services.

One difference is that private health insurance allows you to include additional benefits, such as advanced dental treatment or other benefits, depending on your circumstances and needs.

For this reason, many people eligible for public health insurance combine some part of private insurance with their existing insurance policy.

Where and How to Get This?

You have two options:

1. Apply Directly Through the Insurance Provider

Once you arrive in Germany, you should contact a health insurance provider if you haven’t already done so.

As we said, some private providers collaborate with public providers, so you can get both your travel insurance (free for visa application) and health insurance (for university enrollment) in one place. 

If you choose such providers, e.g., DR-Walter (private) & Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), you will have your health insurance ready when you arrive, you simply have to contact the provider and tell them you’ve arrived.

Once you make it to Germany, you can submit the remaining documents needed (bank account & enrollment certificate from the university) to activate the insurance plan.

We recommend this because registering with TK will give you up to 31 days of free private insurance with DR-WALTER, which you will use before beginning your studies (for your visa application).

Begin your application here.

---

2. Apply Through Popular Intermediaries

You can also use third-party companies who will get your health insurance for you.

If you want to sign up for public health insurance today and get a price estimate in just a few clicks (all in English), simply go to Feather-Insurance.

We recommend this because: 

The signup is 100% digital (without unnecessary paperwork).

They will help you for free because they’ve partnered with public insurance providers to help you sign up easily.

Click here to see how much public health insurance would cost you.