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Private Health Insurance for Students
Reviewed by
Erkan Boga
Erkan Boga is the founder and CEO of qmedia GmbH, the publishing house behind How-to-Germany.com. He established the platform with the clear vision of creating...
Edited by
Sadie Voss
Content Lead & Editor
Sadie Voss is the Lead Editor for How-to-Germany.com. As an expat who carved her own way into Berlin from the United States, Sadie is deeply...
- International students up to the age of 30 can usually choose between statutory and private comprehensive health insurance in Germany at the start of regular degree studies.
- However, statutory health insurance is not an option for all foreign students in Germany. Students in language courses, preparatory phases, doctoral research, or temporary academic stays may need private student, expat, or incoming insurance.
- Private insurers offer students special tariffs with low monthly premiums and an excellent price-performance ratio.
- Our editorial recommendation is ottonova‘s private student health insurance, which is available in three variants with different levels of benefits.
- Expat health insurance from ottonova and Feather is, for example, suitable for students on language and preparatory courses or visiting researchers.
- Important opt-out warning: Choosing private insurance instead of statutory student insurance usually requires a formal exemption and can be binding for the entire course of studies.
Before choosing private student health insurance, check these points carefully:
- Your exact student status: Are you a regular degree student, language student, Studienkolleg participant, exchange student, PhD candidate, visiting researcher, freelancer, or student over 30?
- Your university requirement: Ask whether your university needs digital confirmation from a statutory health insurance fund, even if you choose private insurance.
- Your visa or residence permit requirement: Confirm that the plan is accepted for your specific visa type and local immigration office.
- Your opt-out deadline: If you are eligible for statutory student insurance but want private insurance, check whether you must apply for exemption within the first 3 months of studies.
- Your long-term plan: Consider whether you want to stay in Germany after graduation, start employment, become self-employed, or leave after a temporary stay.
- Your medical history: Private insurers can ask health questions and may apply exclusions, risk surcharges, or reject applications for certain pre-existing conditions.
- Your everyday service needs: Check whether the provider offers English support, an English-language app, digital claims submission, and clear reimbursement timelines.
Health insurance options for international students
In Germany, health insurance is compulsory, and it is also required by law for foreign students. If you are coming from abroad to study, you must provide proof of health insurance before entering Germany and to obtain a student visa.
Supplemental German travel health insurance is not an alternative to health insurance for students. If you have applied for a student visa, it will not be accepted by the German embassies when issuing visas.
Foreign students can decide between insurance with a statutory health insurance fund or private insurance for German health insurance. However, statutory health insurance is not possible for all students. We explain which options are available for your health insurance in Germany and which requirements you need to fulfill.
Use this quick decision path before choosing a plan:
- Are you under 25 and covered by a parent in German statutory health insurance? Free family insurance may be the cheapest option if income limits are met.
- Are you under 30 and starting a regular degree program? Statutory student health insurance is usually the default route unless you actively choose private insurance.
- Do you want private insurance instead of statutory student insurance? You usually need to request exemption from compulsory statutory student insurance within the first 3 months of studies.
- Are you over 30? Public student rates usually no longer apply, so private student, expat, or voluntary statutory insurance may need to be compared carefully.
- Are you in a language course, Studienkolleg, preparatory course, or temporary academic stay? Statutory student insurance may not be available yet, so incoming or expat insurance may be required.
- Are you a PhD student or researcher without a German employment contract? You may need private, doctoral, or expat insurance instead of regular student GKV.
- Do you plan to work in Germany after graduation? Your next insurance status may depend on employment type and salary, not only on your student policy.
Statutory health insurance for students
In public health insurance, you can choose between 93 statutory health insurance funds in 2026. All of them offer student public health insurance.
All statutory health insurance funds offer health insurance for students with particularly favorable contribution rates. The basic monthly amount for students is currently €87.38 per month (2026), plus additional contributions from the statutory health insurance fund and the contribution to statutory long-term care insurance/nursing care insurance. In 2026, students typically pay around €140 to €151 per month for statutory health and nursing care insurance, depending on age, child status, and the provider’s supplementary contribution.
If you already live in Germany and have public health insurance, you can decide at the start of your studies whether you want to switch to private health insurance. If you prefer private insurance, you must be exempted from compulsory statutory health insurance if you are younger than 30. Your previous statutory health insurance fund will issue a certificate about the exemption. Your new insurance company usually helps with the exemption application.
If you come to Germany from abroad to study, you can decide whether to take out private or statutory health insurance under certain conditions. You can apply for health insurance in Germany with a statutory health insurance fund or a private health insurance provider before you apply for a student visa. If you start a regular course of study straight away and want to take out private insurance, you must apply to any statutory health insurance fund for exemption from compulsory statutory insurance.
The exemption from statutory student health insurance is one of the biggest “gotchas” for international students. It is not the same as simply choosing a different monthly plan. Once the exemption is approved, it is generally binding for the entire course of studies.
This matters if your income changes, your private premium increases, your health situation changes, or you later decide that statutory student insurance would have been easier. Students should only opt out after checking the long-term consequences, not only the first monthly price.
Before applying for exemption from statutory student health insurance, check:
- Deadline: Are you still within the first 3 months after the start of your studies?
- University enrollment: Has a statutory health insurance fund sent the required electronic status notification to your university?
- Visa or residence permit: Does the private plan provide documents accepted for your exact residence purpose?
- Binding effect: Do you understand that the exemption usually applies for the whole course of studies?
- Health questions: Can you answer the private insurer’s medical questions completely and truthfully?
- Future plans: Have you considered what happens after graduation, employment, self-employment, or leaving Germany?
However, the following groups of foreign students are generally not eligible for German statutory health insurance:
- Participants who are not enrolled in a regular degree course, for example students in language or preparatory courses
- Foreign scholarship holders and doctoral students who do not have an employment contract with their German university
- Students over 30
- Visiting academics and foreign researchers
- Foreign students who are freelancers or self-employed
Students with foreign health insurance
Students from the EU, the European Economic Area, and countries with which Germany has concluded a social security agreement may not have to take out new health insurance in Germany. In this case, you can have your home country’s health insurance recognized in Germany. You will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to use healthcare services.
Recognition of your home country’s health insurance will mainly apply to public health insurance. However, in some cases, foreign private policies are also recognized.
Your home country’s health insurance is not sufficient for a paid internship or a part-time job. In this case, you will need German health insurance.
Students over 30
Students over 30 can no longer take out statutory health insurance at the student rate. Although you can remain covered by public health insurance, you will have to pay a standard rate of your health insurance fund, which is usually significantly pricier than the student rate. However, you can switch to private insurance once you reach this age limit, provided the private tariff fits your status and residence requirements.
If you are already over 30 as an international student, only then start your studies in Germany and have not yet had German health insurance, you must usually take out a private policy.
These examples show how different students often end up with different insurance routes:
- Regular master’s student, age 24: Usually starts with statutory student insurance unless they actively opt out into private insurance.
- Language course student before university admission: Usually needs incoming or expat insurance first because regular statutory student insurance often does not apply yet.
- Student aged 31 starting a degree in Germany: Often compares voluntary statutory insurance with private student or expat coverage because the reduced GKV student tariff is usually no longer available.
- PhD student with a scholarship but no employment contract: May not fit regular student GKV rules and may need private, doctoral, or expat insurance.
- Student with chronic health conditions: Should be especially cautious with private insurance because medical underwriting can lead to exclusions, surcharges, or rejection.
Private health insurance for Expat students
In principle, expat private health insurance for students works like any other private health insurance: the insurance company offers one or more tariffs, each with a specific scope of benefits. The amount of the insurance premium depends on the customer’s risk profile. Age, personal health status, and other professional or private risk factors play a role here. Such risks are queried before the insurance contract is concluded as part of the health questions.
The health questions for private insurance must be answered completely and truthfully — otherwise, you risk losing your health insurance coverage in case of a claim.
Only benefits that have been explicitly agreed in the contract are covered. In the case of pre-existing conditions, the insurance provider may charge a risk premium, exclude certain illnesses from cover or refuse to insure them. If you have pre-existing conditions, it can be helpful to work with an independent insurance broker. The broker can first make anonymous inquiries with various insurance companies to determine your eligibility for private insurance and the conditions for the policy.
You will receive an invoice from your doctors and other healthcare providers, which you submit to your insurer. The invoice amount will be transferred to your account. Direct billing between the hospital and your health insurance is usually possible for inpatient treatment.
Selection criteria to choose private health insurance
Important selection criteria for private student health insurance are:
- Premium amount
- Deductibles
- Health insurance coverage (outpatient and inpatient care, dental treatment, and dental prophylaxis)
- Additional benefits — for example, treatment by an alternative practitioner, alternative therapies, benefits for remedies and aids such as physiotherapy or visual aids, reimbursement of psychotherapies
- Worldwide cover for study-related stays abroad and private trips abroad
- Contract terms and notice periods
- Age limits for student tariffs
- Quality and accessibility of customer service
- Digital services of the insurance company
Before buying a private student or expat health insurance plan, check whether the provider’s app and online account actually support how you want to use the insurance in Germany:
- English interface: Can you use the app, policy documents, and customer service in English?
- Digital claims: Can you upload doctor invoices directly through the app?
- Fast reimbursement: Does the provider explain how long reimbursements usually take?
- Medical documents: Can you store prescriptions, invoices, sick notes, or reports digitally?
- Doctor support: Does the plan include appointment help, telemedicine, or a concierge service?
- Visa documents: Can the provider issue insurance certificates accepted for visa or residence permit purposes?
- Cancellation rules: Is it clear what happens if you switch status, leave Germany, or move into statutory insurance?
Age limits for student tariffs
Generally, you can expect very affordable insurance premiums if you take out a private policy at a young age and without pre-existing conditions. In addition, the scope of private insurance benefits is almost always significantly higher than statutory health insurance.
Private health insurance companies offer special tariffs for students, although certain age limits apply. Some tariffs, like the student tariff of statutory health insurance, apply up to the age of 30, while other insurers offer training tariffs into the late 30s. Keep these age limits in mind when comparing PKV vs GKV options.
Some private health insurance providers stipulate maximum insurance periods for their student tariffs — up to 60 months, for example. After this period, you must switch to a standard tariff.
| Feature / Factor | Private Health Insurance (PKV) | Public Insurance (GKV) |
|---|---|---|
| Age Limit | Student tariffs may be available into the late 30s, depending on provider; ottonova can be joined until age 38 and used until the 39th birthday. | Student rate typically available only until age 30; higher contributions apply afterward. |
| Coverage Level | Higher benefits with customizable tariffs and reimbursement levels. | Standardized benefits defined by law with limited flexibility. |
| Doctor & Specialist Access | Direct access to specialists and private doctors without referral. | Standard access; referrals may be required in practice. |
| Eligibility (International Students) | Available to many students, including language students, PhDs, and researchers, depending on tariff and residence status. | Not available for certain groups, such as language courses, some PhDs, and researchers. |
| Expats / Short-Term Study | Expat plans available for temporary stays, typically up to 5 years per recommended plans. | Often not available or not applicable for short-term or non-degree stays. |
| Flexibility of Coverage | Adjustable tariffs, add-ons, and benefit levels. | Limited customization; benefits largely fixed. |
| Monthly Cost (Students) | Varies by tariff and provider; student and expat plans are available at lower entry prices. | Approx. €140–€151/month in 2026, depending on age, children, provider, and long-term care contribution. |
Private Student Health Insurance Plan Comparison
The page promises a comparison of private student health insurance options, so students need a quick side-by-side view before clicking into individual providers. The table below gives a practical orientation for common private or expat student insurance routes. Exact benefits, exclusions, deductibles, visa acceptance, and prices can change by tariff, age, health status, and residence purpose, so students should always check the official policy documents before applying.
| Plan / Route | Monthly from | Best suited for | Key strengths | Main cautions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feather Expat Basic | €72 | Language students, preparatory courses, temporary stays | Low entry price, English digital process, temporary expat focus | Not the same as full long-term private health insurance; check exclusions and residence acceptance |
| Feather Expat Premium | €134 | Temporary students wanting broader expat cover | Higher expat coverage level than Basic, English support | Still designed for temporary expat situations, not every long-term student path |
| ottonova Study Secure Premium | From about €125.86 under 30; about €144.97 ages 30–38 | Regular degree students choosing private student insurance | Student-specific private tariff, digital service, English support | Must verify active student status; student rate ends at 39 or after graduation/status change |
| Traditional Private Student Tariff | Varies individually | Students wanting broader PKV benefits from established insurers | Can offer strong hospital, dental, and outpatient coverage depending on tariff | Medical underwriting, age limits, deductibles, and tariff duration vary by insurer |
| Voluntary Public Insurance After 30 | Often much higher than student GKV | Students over 30 who want to remain in GKV | No private health underwriting, predictable statutory system | Usually significantly more expensive than the reduced student tariff |
The cheapest plan is not always the safest choice. A language student may need a temporary expat plan, while a regular degree student may need a student-specific private tariff or statutory student insurance. Students over 30 should compare voluntary public insurance with private options before assuming one system is automatically better.
Private expat health insurance
An alternative to private comprehensive health insurance for students can sometimes be health insurance for expats, which some insurance companies offer. This type of insurance is suitable for customers who need health insurance for a limited period — usually for a maximum of five years.
Such offers can, for example, be an adequate solution for students in language and preparatory courses who want to opt later for public health insurance or foreign researchers and postdocs who are not eligible for public health insurance.
Private expat insurance can be useful, but it is not always the same as regular student health insurance. Before choosing it, check:
- Maximum duration: How many years can the policy run?
- Residence purpose: Is it accepted for your visa, residence permit, or university status?
- Coverage limits: Are dental care, psychotherapy, vaccinations, preventive care, and pre-existing conditions excluded or limited?
- Switching plan: Can you move into statutory insurance once your regular degree program begins?
- End date: What happens when the policy expires after several years?
Best Private Health Insurance for Students in Germany (2026 Guide)
By comparing different student health insurance offers, you can find a private policy that best meets your requirements. To make an intelligent choice, it can be helpful to seek expert advice before deciding on a particular health insurance provider and tariff. For example, you can contact the Berlin-based FinTech Getsafe.
Getsafe offers various insurance products, but the company also acts as a consultant and broker for private health insurance and other insurance products. Advice is provided digitally or by phone and E-Mail in English or German.
In addition to traditional insurance companies, several modern digital insurance companies have established themselves in Germany recently. Here we present the private student health insurance from ottonova and the expat health insurance from ottonova and Feather. Both insurers operate their websites in German and English, and customer communication in both languages. You can handle all insurance matters quickly and easily online or in the providers’ mobile app.
ottonova — Private Student Health Insurance and Expat Health Insurance
ottonova is a FinTech insurance provider that specializes in health insurance products. In addition to private comprehensive health insurance, it also offers private supplementary dental insurance and supplementary hospital insurance for private consumers. In independent evaluations, ottonova has received top marks for its private health insurance and impresses with its very high service quality.
The insurer bundles its services in a mobile app, which also stores medical documents such as X-rays and medical reports. Medical appointments including video chats with doctors and other medical services are ordered via a concierge service. Insurance bookings, sick notes and the billing of insurance benefits are also carried out directly in the app.
The private student health insurance from ottonova is, also against this background, a compelling offer and therefore our editorial recommendation.
In addition to student health insurance, ottonova offers expat insurance with comprehensive coverage and a maximum insurance period of five years, which students can also take out.
ottonova Private Student Health Insurance
ottonova’s student health insurance is available in three tariffs:
All tariffs support free choice of doctor, treatment by head physicians in hospital, preventive check-ups without age limits, access to doctors and clinics that only accept private patients. When traveling, you enjoy worldwide insurance, including repatriation service.
You can join ottonova’s student tariffs until age 38 and remain insured under the student rate until your 39th birthday. The student rate is not unlimited: it depends on active student status and must be supported by enrollment verification. After graduation, loss of student status, or reaching the age limit, you must switch to a standard adult tariff or another suitable insurance solution.
ottonova expat health insurance
ottonova’s health insurance for expats is not a special offer for students, but is aimed at all expats with a temporary stay who want a high-performance insurance solution.
The insurance can be taken out for a maximum of five years. It is suitable, for example, for post-docs and students who are not completing their entire studies at a German university.
ottonova offers its expat health insurance in a total of 4 tariffs:
The First Class Expat tariff offers the best health insurance coverage for expats at an excellent price-performance ratio. All relevant healthcare services are reimbursed, including professional dental cleanings twice a year, dentures, visual aids, and healthcare costs for alternative therapies, depending on the tariff conditions. This insurance cover also applies worldwide, including medically necessary repatriation to Germany or your home country.
Feather expat health insurance
Feather is a Berlin-based FinTech insurer whose portfolio includes various digital insurance products. With its insurance products, the company specializes strongly in expats in Germany.
Feather offers access to several health insurance routes in Germany, including public health insurance sign-up support, expat health insurance, and private health insurance options for eligible long-term residents. For temporary students, language learners, preparatory course participants, post-docs, and guest researchers, Feather specifically recommends its flexible expat health insurance.
If you opt for Feather expat health insurance, you can choose between the Basic plan for €72 per month or the Premium plan for €134 per month.
Feather expat health insurance can be taken out for a maximum of five years. It is valid in the EU and the entire Schengen area. If the policy has been in place for at least one year, you are also insured for a maximum of six weeks per year in your home country if it is not part of the Schengen area.
The insurance covers medical treatment for causes arising after the policy was taken out. Pre-existing conditions, dentures, and regular dental treatment except accidents and pain treatment are not covered, nor are preventive medical check-ups, vaccinations, and psychotherapy. Costs for medically necessary repatriation to the home country are covered.
Conclusion
Health insurance is also required by law for foreign students in Germany. You have the choice between public health insurance for students or private insurance, depending on age, enrollment status, residence purpose, and whether statutory student insurance is available.
Private health insurance can offer more comprehensive benefits than public health insurance. Students can also take advantage of particularly favorable rates in private insurance. However, choosing private insurance at the start of studies requires a formal exemption from statutory student insurance and can be binding for the whole course of studies.
Among the modern digital health insurers, ottonova in particular offers attractive options for different needs and budgets.
As an alternative, ottonova and Feather offer private expat health insurance policies that are also suitable for some international students. The scope of benefits of ottonova’s expat health insurance includes comprehensive coverage with many benefits that are important for private health insurance, even in the cheapest tariff.
Before choosing a plan, students should use the decision wizard and comparison table above to confirm eligibility, university enrollment requirements, visa acceptance, digital service quality, and long-term switching options. This is especially important for students over 30, language students, Studienkolleg participants, and anyone considering an exemption from statutory student insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Health insurance providers are not yet required to set up age provisions for privately insured students and can, therefore, offer them student rates at particularly favorable conditions. To qualify for these rates, you must provide proof that you are studying at a state-recognized German university.
If you become self-employed or a freelancer after graduating, you can keep your private policy without problems. As a rule, you can switch to an adult tariff without undergoing another health check. If employed, you can only take out private insurance if your income exceeds the current compulsory insurance threshold.
If your income is lower, you must switch to statutory health insurance. In this case, it is advisable to take out qualifying insurance so that you can return from the public health insurance system to private insurance later without undergoing another health check.
Many, but not all, insurance companies offer private health insurance for students. We particularly recommend modern digital insurers such as ottonova, which not only offer transparent, favorable conditions and comprehensive benefits, but also meet the requirements of foreign students and other expats particularly well.
High-performance rates for student health insurance are also offered by Allianz, AXA and Nürnberger Versicherung, for example. However, no standard rates apply here — the insurance company will provide you with an individual offer on request.