Before entering Germany, you should choose between statutory and private health insurance – depending on what system you are eligible for - and apply for membership there. Expatrio can help you with that process and register you with TechnikerKrankenkasse or private health insurance ottonova.
If you enter Germany before the day the semester starts - usually October 1 and April 1 of each year - you will need to purchase incoming insurance for the time between entering the country and starting your studies. The incoming insurance is not expensive and saves hassle when entering the country. As a rule, EU citizens do not need this type of insurance.
German Health Insurance for International Students
Expatrio
2025-03-28
Contents
International students in Germany are required by law to have some form of healthcare cover. While most university students are eligible to apply for student Public Health Insurance, those coming for preparatory courses, language courses, PhD students, students over 30, and also guest scientists may have to look for Private Health Insurance.
This article will look into the different types of health insurance available to international students in Germany and the associated costs.
Health Insurance for foreign students in Germany
It is essential that international students are covered by healthcare insurance before they move to Germany.
Healthcare cover is mandatory by law for all residents in Germany, even those staying for one semester. There are two types of health insurance in Germany: public healthcare contributions or a private healthcare plan.
Degree students under 30 can register for Public Health Insurance but can also choose Private Health Insurance, while others will need to choose a private plan.
Healthcare for foreign students in Germany: private or public?
All students are required to have health insurance before they embark on their degree; this applies to both national and international students. International students will not be granted a student visa without proof of either public or private insurance (or insurance from their home country if this is applicable). Foreign nationals will need to ensure they are fully covered before they start, in order to gain a student visa.
Students often are entitled to choose between Public and Private Healthcare. But some have to go private. So, as a student, you first have to check what system you are eligible for, which depends on your age and the type of your studies.
If you can choose, you should weigh up whether you are better off enrolling in the public or the private system. This depends on different factors like your health status, your age, the coverage you want, and whether or not you are working alongside your studies.
How to get student health insurance in Germany
German nationals can organize Public Health Insurance easily, but international students will need to get this organized before they move. Expatrio offers students the chance to register for discounted student public healthcare insurance through TK, one of the biggest and most well-known providers of Public Health Insurance in Germany. Or they can take out one of the special Private Health Insurance tariffs offered by providers like ottonova, which specializes in digital services and customer support.
Our partnership with TK and ottonova means you have access to the ongoing (including English-language) support offered by these providers. We can help you every step of the way, ensuring your healthcare coverage is organized well before you arrive.
To get your health insurance via Expatrio, check out our Value Package and Health Insurance Plus plans.
TK Health Insurance for foreign students in Germany
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is one of the biggest healthcare funds in Germany
TK administers public healthcare cover for a large percentage of the German population; in fact there are over 8.8 million people signed up with TK.
One of the many benefits of choosing TK is that it offers online and phone support seven days a week and boasts an English-language support portal and an English-language application form.
You can find out more about the TK and Expatrio partnership on our TK page
ottonova Health Insurance for foreign students in Germany
ottonova is the digital way of doing Private Health Insurance in Germany and offers special tariffs for students.
Their highly functional app grants you access to digital services and English-speaking support that make your health insurance experience in Germany much easier.
Alongside that, the tariffs offer excellent health coverage like visual aids, dental treatments, and the free choice of also private doctors and hospitals, as well as worldwide coverage for 6 months.
You can find out more about our partnership on our ottonova page.
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How much does Health Insurane for international students in Germany cost?
Many people choosing to move to Germany to study worry about how much Public Health Insurance will cost for them when they are abroad in Germany.
The good news for international students is that you don’t have to pay more. The same rates of Public Health Insurance and Private Health Insurance for students apply to international and German students.
How much is Public Health Insurance for international students in Germany?
With Public Health Insurance like TK, students under the age of 23 pay around €139 per month. Students aged 23 to 29 a bit more, around €144 for long term care which covers both basic healthcare insurance and nursing care insurance. Their premium isn’t calculated by their income like usual with Public Health Insurance.
The basic contributions will be the same, although all providers are now allowed to charge an additional contribution of an average of 2.5%.
This discounted amount for students is usually less than the cost of standard contributions based on earnings.
When students turn 30, they can no longer get student Public Health Insurance rates anymore. At this point, they can either swap to Private Health Insurance like ottonova and pay around €139 per month, or continue with Public and pay around €257 per month.
How much is Private Health Insurance for international students in Germany?
The premiums for Private Health Insurance are based on your age when signing up for the tariff, your health status, and the tariff and scope of health coverage you choose.
With our partner ottonova, you’ll pay around €119 (under 30), or €139 (over 30) in their tariff Study Secure.
Health Insurance for preparatory course students in Germany
Sometimes, international students will be asked to attend a preparatory course ahead of their degree
This may be because a school leaving certificate from a certain country is not recognized by the German university, so the admissions department will require students to prove their skills and knowledge via a short course.
This will culminate in an exam known as a Feststellungsprüfung, and passing this exam will be essential for progression to the degree course. Some short language courses at universities also fall under the banner of preparatory courses.
A preparatory course is also a good way to learn vital language skills and prepare for living in Germany full-time. Most preparatory courses last around two semesters, which is just under one year. What is important to note is that those enrolled in preparatory courses are not eligible to enroll in Public Health Insurance but are still required to have health insurance coverage under German law.
This means that students will need to register for Private Healthcare Insurance like ottonova for the duration of the preparatory course.
You can find out more about the private healthcare system on our Private Healthcare in Germany page.
After successful completion of the course and acceptance into a university degree, students can choose to sign up for Public or Private Healthcare Insurance through providers such as TK or ottonva.
Health Insurance for language students in Germany
Some students choose to take a language course, typically for around one year or one semester, in order to improve their German. Language courses are undertaken by both future degree students and also by those looking to move to Germany to work. A language course can be an excellent way of integrating better into German society.
Just like preparatory courses, those taking German language courses or a Studienkolleg are not eligible for Public Healthcare Insurance and will need to find tailored Private Health Insurance like ottonova to cover them for the duration of the course. Once in work or accepted onto a degree course, you will be able to register for public healthcare if you wish.
Some language courses are short, lasting for a semester or less. In this case, students from EU countries (as well as Norway, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland) can be covered by the terms of their EHIC card.
Health insurance for exchange students in Germany
Students living in Germany through an exchange program, such as the Erasmus program, are also required by law to have healthcare cover. Because the length of an exchange can be for as little as one semester, it is sometimes possible to rely on cover from your EHIC for the duration of the exchange. Unlike preparatory or language courses, those on exchange courses as part of a degree are eligible for public health care insurance at the student discount rate.
Here at Expatrio, we can help students who are embarking on a year-long exchange to register with the public healthcare system through our partners, TK or ottonova. Please visit our Health Insurance page for more information.
Health insurance for PhD students in Germany
International PhD students are also required by law to have healthcare cover for the period that they are living in Germany.
As most PhD students are aged over 30, they do not qualify for the discounted public healthcare rate for students. The situation with PhD students is a little more complex, as some students are employed by their university whilst others are not.
PhD Students employed by the university
Many PhD Students are employed by the university as lecturers or research assistants, in which case they will be automatically enrolled in the public healthcare system and pay the usual contribution of 14,6% plus additional contribution of averagely 1,7% and up to 4% long-term nursing care, matched by their employer of the half of the contribution.
It is highly unlikely that PhD students in such a role are earning above the threshold which allows them to choose private healthcare. The good news about being employed by the university is that you do not necessarily need to organize the healthcare cover yourself, as it will often be taken care of by the university. You can find out more about the public healthcare system on our Public Healthcare in Germany page.
PhD students not employed by the university
Many PhD students residing in Germany are not employed by their university. Those aged under 30 will be able to register for discounted student public healthcare through a provider such as TK or can choose a Private Health Insurance like ottonova.
Those aged over 30 have two choices: they can’t take out the public health insurance for students anymore but either sign up for this voluntarily public healthcare or they can take out a private plan
Those visiting Germany to undertake part of their PhD for a period of less than one semester can simply use their EHIC card as cover.
Health insurance for Guest Scientists in Germany
Guest researchers and guest scientists are also required to have healthcare insurance cover, regardless of how short their stay in Germany is. Those from an EU or EEA country with an agreement with Germany may be covered with an EHIC card, depending on the length of stay.
You may also be covered by the terms of private health insurance from your home country, but you need to check with your provider first as German law has strict guidelines about what cover is acceptable.
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