What Is the Best Health Insurance for Students in Germany? (2026)
The verdict
For students, Expatrio Value Package (DR-WALTER incoming + TK/BARMER GKV bundle) leads at EUR 0/month on the tested profile. Once you are enrolled, statutory student cover (KVdS) is compulsory: at TK it costs EUR 146.29 a month from age 23 without children and EUR 141.16 below 23 (2026). The policies ranked here bridge the weeks before your enrolment.
Under 25, or turning 30
Under 25and in education, you can stay free on a parent's statutory family insurance if your income stays at or below EUR 565 a month (EUR 603 in a minijob, 2026). The student rate ends with the semester in which you turn 30; after that a voluntary statutory rate applies, which TK puts at EUR 275.40 a month without children.
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Which health insurance is best for students?
Sorted by monthly premium, not our recommendation. The default view is our ranking, weights published below.
Sorted by cover, not our recommendation. The default view is our ranking, weights published below.
Expatrio
Expatrio Value Package (DR-WALTER incoming + TK/BARMER GKV bundle)
One-stop visa package for non-EU students
Get a Expatrio quote- Monthly premium
- EUR 0/month
- Waiting period
Waiting period
The gap between signing and the day cover starts. Anything that appears during it is never paid, not even later, so shorter is better.
- None
- Dental
- incoming: emergencies only; GKV phase: statutory
- English support
- Yes
- Visa acceptance
- Yes, package designed for German student/work visas; embassy-accepted incoming certificate plus GKV pre-confirmation
More details
- Tested profile
- Incoming cover FREE during the gap months when bundled with TK/BARMER membership; GKV then at student rate (TK EUR 146.29 / BARMER EUR 151.42, 23+ childless 2026). For non-students 30-44: Expatrio-arranged private cover from EUR 129/mo; 45-59 from EUR 166/mo
- Pre-existing conditions
- Incoming phase: excluded; GKV phase: fully covered
- Claims
- Expatrio portal / fund apps
- Premium varies by
- age band, GKV fund choice, student vs non-student
- Minimum term
- None
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Free incoming insurance in the arrival gap
- Blocked account + insurance in one checkout
Cons
- GKV fund locked to TK/BARMER in the bundle
Best for Students who want the strongest overall fit.
DR-WALTER
DR-WALTER educare24 / Provisit (incoming health cover)
Standard incoming product for language/prep-course students
Get a DR-WALTER quote- Monthly premium
- EUR 34.50/month
- Waiting period
Waiting period
The gap between signing and the day cover starts. Anything that appears during it is never paid, not even later, so shorter is better.
- None
- Dental
- emergency/pain relief
- English support
- Yes
- Visa acceptance
- Yes, embassy- and Ausländerbehörde-accepted for students, language learners, au pairs, exchange visitors
More details
- Tested profile
- educare24 S EUR 34.50/mo; educare24 M EUR 39/mo (age 30+); Provisit Student EUR 79/mo (under 29) / EUR 129 (30-45), 2026 tariff table
- Pre-existing conditions
- Excluded (incoming tariff norm)
- Claims
- online portal
- Premium varies by
- age, tariff line, deductible
- Minimum term
- None
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- 65+ years of incoming-insurance specialisation
- University-recommended (e.g. Coburg University guide)
Cons
- Pre-existing conditions excluded
Best for Students who need a different insurer or price point.
Care Concept
Care Concept (Care Discover incoming / Care College students)
Cheapest named student incoming product (EUR 26/mo)
Get a Care Concept quote- Monthly premium
- EUR 26/month
- Waiting period
Waiting period
The gap between signing and the day cover starts. Anything that appears during it is never paid, not even later, so shorter is better.
- None
- Dental
- emergencies/pain relief
- English support
- Yes
- Visa acceptance
- Yes, incoming tariffs accepted by German embassies for national visas and by Ausländerbehörde for defined temporary stays
More details
- Tested profile
- Care College Basic EUR 26/mo (under 30) / EUR 32 (30+, first 24 months); Care Discover incoming for foreign guests from ~EUR 1.39/day (2026 tariff pages)
- Pre-existing conditions
- Excluded
- Claims
- online
- Premium varies by
- age, tariff, duration
- Minimum term
- None
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Care College Basic from EUR 26/mo for students under 30
- Long-stay incoming cover up to several years
Cons
- Pre-existing conditions excluded
Best for Students who need a different insurer or price point.
Feather
Feather Expat / Incoming Health Insurance
Bridges visa phase for language students and pre-enrolment
Get a Feather quote- Monthly premium
- EUR 72/month
- Waiting period
Waiting period
The gap between signing and the day cover starts. Anything that appears during it is never paid, not even later, so shorter is better.
- 0 for accidents; plan-specific for illness
- Dental
- accidents and pain relief only
- English support
- Yes
- Visa acceptance
- Yes, German embassies and Ausländerbehörde for national visas/residence (first arrival phase); NOT a substitute for employment-based long-term cover
More details
- Tested profile
- Basic EUR 72/mo; Premium EUR 134/mo (2026, adult under ~40; max term 5 years; EU/Schengen-wide; home-country visits up to 6 weeks/year after year 1)
- Pre-existing conditions
- NOT covered, only conditions arising after policy start; psychotherapy, check-ups and routine dental excluded
- Claims
- Feather app, English
- Premium varies by
- age band, plan (Basic/Premium)
- Minimum term
- None
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Buy online in English before arrival, no Anmeldung needed
- Visa certificate issued instantly
Cons
- Pre-existing conditions excluded entirely
Best for Students who need a different insurer or price point.
HanseMerkur
HanseMerkur Young Travel (incoming for foreign students/guests in Germany)
Test-winning long-stay incoming cover
Get a HanseMerkur quote- Monthly premium
- EUR 36/month
- Waiting period
Waiting period
The gap between signing and the day cover starts. Anything that appears during it is never paid, not even later, so shorter is better.
- None
- Dental
- emergencies in Basic; broader in Profi
- English support
- Yes
- Visa acceptance
- Yes, direct BaFin-licensed insurer; embassy-accepted incoming certificates
More details
- Tested profile
- Under-35 incoming guests: Basic ~EUR 36/mo, Profi ~EUR 53/mo equivalent (day-rated: ~EUR 1.15-2.99/day depending on direction, tier and month 13+; reiseversicherung.com tariff listing 2026)
- Pre-existing conditions
- Excluded
- Claims
- app/online
- Premium varies by
- age, tier (Basic/Profi), duration (rates rise from month 13)
- Minimum term
- None
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Finanztest 05/2026 'sehr gut (1.0)' for Profi tier
- Direct insurer, not a broker
Cons
- Rates rise from month 13
Best for Students who need a different insurer or price point.
MAWISTA
MAWISTA (incoming health insurance: Classic/Comfort/Premium)
Cheapest, but check claim reviews first
Get a MAWISTA quote- Monthly premium
- EUR 28/month
- Waiting period
Waiting period
The gap between signing and the day cover starts. Anything that appears during it is never paid, not even later, so shorter is better.
- None
- Dental
- emergencies; Premium adds more
- English support
- Yes
- Visa acceptance
- Yes for visas; CAUTION: independent expat guides (insurancy.de 2025) flag 'mixed claim reports', verify recent claim reviews before choosing
More details
- Tested profile
- Age 18-29: Classic EUR 28 / Comfort EUR 36 / Premium EUR 74 per month; age 30-40: EUR 44 / 56 / 104 (2026 tariff page)
- Pre-existing conditions
- Excluded
- Claims
- online
- Premium varies by
- age band, tier, duration
- Minimum term
- None
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Cheapest headline incoming rate (EUR 28/mo, 18-29)
- Three clear tiers
Cons
- Mixed claim-payment reports in expat guides
Best for Students who need a different insurer or price point.
Also a strong fit
Compare two insurers
Head-to-heads computed from the catalogue's structured fields.
How we ranked this for students5 criteria, weights published
A reader on a student budget is not the average reader, so this page does not use the average weights. Cover breadth carries 5% here against 25% on the general ranking, and Eligibility carries 25% here against 15% on the general ranking. The weights were fixed on 17 August 2026, before the prices were collected.
Criteria weighting
Fixed 17 August 2026, before pricing was collectedEvery Policy We Compared
The three above are picked from 10 incoming and expat health policies in the catalogue by this reader's weighting. The full table lives on the price research page.
Compare every policy in the cataloguePremiums, waiting periods and cover side by sideFrequently Asked Questions
How much is student health insurance in Germany in 2026?
The statutory student rate is calculated on a fixed basis of EUR 855 a month. At TK that gives EUR 87.38 for health cover at 10.22%, EUR 23.00 Zusatzbeitrag at 2.69%, and long-term care on top: EUR 146.29 a month in total from age 23 without children, EUR 141.16 below 23. Other funds differ only by their Zusatzbeitrag.
Until what age can I use the student rate?
Until 30. Section 5(1) No. 9 SGB V makes enrolled students compulsorily insured at most until their 30th birthday, and beyond it only where the type of training or family or personal reasons justify it. The current text sets no semester cap. TK ends the student rate with the semester in which you turn 30.
Can I stay on my parents' health insurance as a student?
Yes, if a parent is in statutory insurance. Section 10 SGB V covers children in education until 25, longer after voluntary military or volunteer service. Your regular income must stay at or below one seventh of the monthly reference figure, which is EUR 565 in 2026, or EUR 603 in a minijob.
Can I opt out of the student rate and buy private cover?
Yes, but only once. Under section 8 SGB V you can apply to your fund for an exemption within three months of enrolment, and the exemption cannot be revoked. It holds for your studies, so you cannot return to the cheaper student rate later if private premiums rise.
Do I need incoming cover if I will join the student rate?
Usually for the weeks before enrolment, because the visa and the journey come first. Expatrio's package covers that gap at EUR 0 when you join TK or BARMER through it, and Care Concept and DR-WALTER sell standalone student tariffs. Every incoming policy in this ranking excludes pre-existing conditions.
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