Health Insurance in Germany
It is mandatory from day one, it unlocks your university enrolment and your visa, and the wrong choice can be hard to undo. Here is public vs private, the rules for your exact situation, and what it costs in 2026.
The one thing you cannot skip
Everyone living in Germany must have health insurance — you cannot enrol at university, get a visa, or start a job without it.
Right for almost everyone.
- ✓Income-based contribution, split 50/50 with your employer
- ✓Covers non-earning spouse & children for free
- ✓Cheap flat student rate for under-30s
- ✓Same core medical benefits at every fund (TK, AOK, Barmer…)
- ✓Your card doubles as an EU health card (EHIC)
Only for specific cases.
- •Available to higher earners (above the ~€77,400/yr threshold), the self-employed and some students
- •Can mean faster appointments and private-room cover
- •Priced by age & health — each family member is separate
- •Premiums rise with age and are hard to leave later
- •A student who opts into PKV usually cannot return to GKV during studies
🔎 Find your health insurance
Tap your situation — see exactly which insurance applies, what it costs, and what to do.
You qualify for the reduced public student rate (KVdS) — and you must be enrolled in it before you can matriculate at university.
- 1Apply to a public fund online (TK, AOK, Barmer…) — many have English forms.
- 2Give the membership confirmation to your university to enrol.
- 3Switch off your pre-arrival travel policy the day GKV starts.
1. Bridge the gap before you arrive
Public insurance usually starts when you enrol at university or start work. For the days/weeks before that (and for the visa), take incoming/expat travel health insurance so you are never uninsured.
2. Pick a public fund
Choose an insurer (TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK…). For students, apply online — many have English application flows. You will get a membership confirmation (Mitgliedsbescheinigung).
3. Use the confirmation for enrolment / your employer
Students give the confirmation to the university to matriculate. Employees give their insurer choice to HR, who register you from day one.
4. Get your health card (Gesundheitskarte)
The insurer posts you a chip card after your Anmeldung and Tax ID are in place. Carry it to every doctor visit; it also works as your EU EHIC card.
5. Set up direct debit
Students pay the monthly rate by SEPA direct debit from a German account. Employees have it deducted from payroll automatically.
The same flat student rate at every public fund (KVdS, under 30). It does not rise with your income.
Care insurance is a little higher (~€36) once you turn 23 with no children. 2026 figures.