Some types of insurance, such as health and long-term care insurance, are compulsory for students, while others can be taken out voluntarily. Particularly if you work alongside your studies, you must observe further regulations.
Health and long-term care insurance
In principle, all students who are enrolled at state or state-recognised universities in Germany are subject to health and long-term care insurance. They are insured for nursing care where they have health insurance.
Every student must submit a certificate of insurance from a statutory or private health insurance company when enrolling. This serves as proof of valid health insurance. The certificate is valid for the entire duration of your studies; you only need a new insurance certificate if you change universities.
Choice of health insurance
There are four different health insurance options during your studies:
Family insurance
Compulsory student insurance (statutory and private)
Voluntary membership (statutory)
private health insurance
Family insurance in statutory health and long-term care insurance
Bundesagentur für Arbeit | Julien Fertl
Anyone who is covered by statutory family insurance through a parent is entitled to non-contributory insurance benefits up to the age of 25. The entitlement is extended by the corresponding period for students who have completed voluntary military service, federal voluntary service, youth voluntary service or a voluntary ecological or social year. For students with disabilities, the entitlement is unlimited under certain conditions. There is no age limit for those with statutory family insurance with their spouse or registered partner.
Anyone with family insurance must not regularly exceed a certain earnings limit: 535 euros per month, or a maximum of 556 euros in the case of a mini-job. The total income is decisive. In other words, all taxable income (gross) is totalled; if income fluctuates, an annual average is calculated. Maintenance payments from parents, the social welfare office and BAföG are not taken into account. Once you reach the age limit or if your total income is higher, you will be subject to compulsory health insurance as a student.
Compulsory student insurance in statutory health and long-term care insurance
Compulsory insurance ends when you complete your studies or until you reach the age of 30. In exceptional cases, you can still take out student health insurance up to the age of 37.
There is a standardised monthly health insurance contribution of around 87 euros for all compulsorily insured students in the statutory health insurance funds. However, there is also an additional contribution, which varies from health insurance fund to health insurance fund. Childless students over the age of 23 pay around 34 euros per month for long-term care insurance, while all other students pay around 29 euros. You must pay the contributions in advance to the relevant health insurance fund before enrolment or re-registration. Otherwise, the universities may refuse enrolment or re-registration. In order to maintain student status in the statutory health insurance scheme, you must not work more than 20 hours per week. Exceptions are jobs that are limited to a maximum of two months or are only carried out during the semester break, as well as night and weekend work.
Voluntary membership of the statutory health insurance scheme
If you leave the compulsory insurance scheme as a student, you can continue to take out statutory insurance voluntarily if you have completed certain previous insurance periods. However, you must do this within three months of the end of your student insurance, otherwise the statutory health insurance fund will no longer accept you.
Statutory health insurance funds offer a standardised transition tariff from student insurance to voluntary insurance. This is valid for a maximum of six months following compulsory student insurance and is based on the financial capacity of the voluntary member. Voluntary health insurance is also available to students who have already reached the age of 30.
Membership of a private health insurance scheme
Health insurance for foreign students
For foreign students who are enrolled at a German university, the same conditions apply as for German students. Students up to the age of 30 from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland who are insured with a statutory health insurance fund in their country of origin can have their health insurance recognised by a statutory health insurance fund in Germany. To do this, they need the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland who are insured with a private health insurance company in their country of origin must present a confirmation from this health insurance company when enrolling in Germany. Students who do not come from EU/EEA countries or Switzerland must take out health insurance in Germany. Up to their 30th birthday, this is possible with a statutory or private health insurance company. After that, you can only insure yourself with a private health insurance company.
Information on health insurance can be obtained from the local health insurance companies at the university, the health insurance companies in your home country, the social counselling service of the student services and the International Offices.
Accident insurance
Students at universities are insured free of charge under the statutory accident insurance scheme. Accident insurance cover is very strictly limited to the university and its immediate sphere of influence, as well as to the journey to and from the university. For this reason, some student unions have taken out additional private accident insurance for their students. Information is available from the local student services organisations.
In principle, accident insurance also exists for all jobs during your studies, during the semester break or during an internship (whether compulsory or voluntary) - regardless of the amount of pay received. The employer pays the insurance contributions. There is no statutory accident insurance for fee-based jobs or freelance work; here you must insure yourself.
Other insurances
Personal liability insurance is virtually indispensable for students and trainees. It protects you and others from unexpected costs due to damage caused.
Students are usually covered against damage to household contents for the duration of their studies by their parents' household contents insurance, regardless of whether they live with their parents or in a shared flat. But be careful: the common property of a shared flat is generally not insured. And if you set up your own household during your studies, you must also take out your own insurance. Please note the insurance conditions in each individual case. Detailed information can be obtained from the consumer advice centres in the federal states.
Bicycle theft insurance may also be useful. However, this service is often cheaper with household contents insurance than with a separate insurance policy.
If you are travelling during the semester break, you can take out international health insurance with repatriation cover. This is particularly necessary if you are travelling to a country with which no comprehensive social security agreement has been concluded, e.g. the USA, Australia or South Africa. Statutory health insurance does not usually provide benefits in these countries.
